TB-5

The TB‑5 was a Soviet heavy bomber prototype developed in the early 1930s by the design bureau of Nikolai Polikarpov and built at Moscow Aviation Plant No. 39. Intended to replace the older TB‑3, the aircraft incorporated a number of advanced ideas for its time, most notably its four‑engine configuration using the powerful liquid‑cooled Klimov M‑105V V‑12 engines mounted in streamlined nacelles on the wings. The airframe featured an all‑metal stressed‑skin construction, a high‑mounted wing with a slight sweep, and a spacious internal bomb bay capable of carrying up to 2,000 kg of ordnance. Defensive armament comprised several remotely‑controlled gun turrets, a first attempt at reducing crew exposure. Flight trials began in 1934 and demonstrated respectable speed of 430 km/h and a service ceiling of 9,500 m, but chronic engine overheating and vibration problems led to the program’s cancellation in 1936 after only two prototypes were completed. Although the TB‑5 never entered production, its experimental features influenced later Soviet bombers such as the DB‑3 and the Tu‑2, and it marked Moscow Aviation Plant No. 39’s transition from experimental prototypes to large‑scale wartime production. The TB‑5 remains a notable example of interwar innovation in Soviet aviation engineering.

Moscow Aviation Plant № 39

Classification

Production & History

Design & Classification