Ar-2

The Ar‑2 was a Soviet reconnaissance and light bomber developed in the late 1930s at the Central Aerohydrodynamic Institute (TsAGI) under the direction of Ilya K. Savin. It originated as an evolution of the earlier Tupolev ANT‑4 platform, incorporating a more streamlined, all‑metal airframe and a retractable under‑carriage to improve speed and range. First flown in 1937, the Ar‑2 entered limited service with the Red Army Air Force in 1939, where it performed tactical photo‑reconnaissance, artillery spotting, and short‑range bombing missions during the early stages of World War II.

Key features included a low‑mid wing with a NACA‑type airfoil, a powerful Shvetsov M‑62 radial engine delivering 830 hp, and a two‑person crew seated in tandem under a glazed nose canopy for enhanced visibility. Armament comprised a forward‑firing 7.62 mm ShKAS machine gun, a rear defensive ShKAS, and an internal bomb bay capable of carrying up to 400 kg of ordnance. Its aerodynamic refinements gave it a top speed of roughly 460 km/h, surpassing many contemporaries.

Although quickly superseded by more advanced aircraft such as the Ilyushin Il‑4, the Ar‑2 demonstrated TsAGI’s growing competence in integrating aerodynamic research with combat requirements, marking a transition from biplane designs to modern monoplane bombers and influencing subsequent Soviet tactical aircraft development.

Central Aerohydrodynamic Institute

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Design & Classification