Скачать или смотреть The Soviet Bomber That Became a Flying Aircraft Carrier.

The Soviets once turned a bomber into a flying aircraft carrier. The Tupolev TB‑3 carried up to five fighters under its wings, launching them deep into enemy territory. #FlyingAircraftCarrier #SovietAviation #WWII
In 1941, these airborne carriers even struck targets in combat, including bridges over the Danube. The idea? Take fighters where they couldn’t normally reach, then release them to strike and return. It didn’t last long, but the Zveno system proved the sky could be a base, not just a route. #ZvenoProject #MilitaryInnovation #AviationHistory

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The Zveno Project: How It Worked

· Mothership: A modified Tupolev TB‑3 heavy bomber served as the airborne launch platform.
· Parasite Fighters: Up to five small fighters (initially I‑4s, later I‑16s) were attached under the TB‑3’s wings and fuselage via mechanical locks.
· Mission Profile: The bomber would carry the fighters beyond their normal range, release them near the target, and the fighters would conduct strikes before returning to base independently.

Combat Use & Notable Missions

· 1941: Zveno units were deployed in combat against Axis forces, notably in raids on bridges over the Danube River in Romania.
· Tactical Role: The system allowed short‑range fighters to hit strategic targets far behind enemy lines—a revolutionary concept in pre‑guided missile warfare.
· Logistical Limits: The complexity of coordination and vulnerability of the slow TB‑3 limited widespread use.

Why It Was Revolutionary

· Range Extension: Effectively turned fighters into long‑range strike aircraft.
· Airborne Deployment: Predated modern concepts like airborne aircraft carriers and drone‑carrying motherships.
· Innovative Engineering: Demonstrated daring Soviet experimentation in aerial warfare during the interwar period.

Legacy & Influence
Though the Zveno system was phased out by mid‑WWII, it inspired later projects such as:

· U.S. experiments with parasite fighters (e.g., the F‑85 Goblin carried by B‑36 bombers).
· Modern concepts involving drone‑launching aircraft and airborne aircraft carriers.

Did You Know?
Some Zveno configurations allowed the parasite fighters to reattach to the bomber in mid‑air after their mission—a feat of precision flying rarely replicated since.

👇 Could flying aircraft carriers make a comeback in the drone age?
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