K-12

The Konstantin Kalinin K‑12 was a pioneering Soviet fighter‑trainer prototype developed in the early 1930s under the direction of aircraft designer Konstantin Kalinin. Conceived to replace the aging Polikarpov series, the K‑12 first took to the skies in 1933 at the Kharkov aircraft plant, a period when the USSR was aggressively expanding its air force capabilities. The low‑wing monoplane featured an all‑metal stressed‑skin construction, a departure from the mixed‑material designs common at the time, and was powered by a 700‑horsepower Klimov M‑105 V‑12 engine, delivering a top speed of roughly 460 km/h (286 mph). Its retractable landing gear, fully enclosed cockpit with armor plating, and dual‑control arrangement made it exceptionally suited for advanced pilot instruction and front‑line combat duties. Although the program was curtailed in 1935 due to shifting political priorities and the emergence of newer designs, the K‑12’s innovative structural techniques and aerodynamic refinements influenced later Kalinin aircraft such as the K‑7 bomber and contributed to the Soviet Union’s transition toward modern, high‑performance monoplanes. Its brief but impactful existence underscores a pivotal moment in the evolution of Soviet military aviation.

Konstantin Kalinin

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Design & Classification