Tupolev ANT-16

The Tupolev ANT‑16 was a heavy bomber prototype developed in the early 1930s by the Central Aerohydrodynamic Institute (TsAGI) under the direction of Andrei Nikolayevich Tupolev. Conceived as a response to the Soviet demand for a long‑range, high‑payload aircraft capable of striking strategic targets, the ANT‑16 first flew in 1933 at the Khodynka aerodrome near Moscow. Its all‑metal stressed‑skin construction, twin‑engine layout (initially powered by two M-34 liquid‑cooled V‑12 engines), and a split‑cabin arrangement for crew and bomb‑load distinguished it from contemporary designs. The aircraft featured a fully enclosed bomb bay with a capacity of up to 2,000 kilograms, retractable landing gear, and defensive armament of three dorsal and ventral gun stations. Despite promising performance – a maximum speed of about 380 km/h and a range exceeding 2,300 km – the ANT‑16 suffered from structural vibration problems and insufficient engine reliability, leading to the cancellation of further production. Nevertheless, the program provided valuable data on high‑wing monoplane aerodynamics and large‑scale metal airframe techniques, influencing later Tupolev bombers such as the TB‑3 and contributing to the Soviet Union’s rapid advancement in strategic aviation during the pre‑World War II era.

Central Aerohydrodynamic Institute

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Production & History

Design & Classification