Polikarpov TIS

To meet a requirement for a heavy escort fighter, or TIS (Tyazhely istrebitel soprovozhdeniya), formulated in the autumn of 1938, the Polikarpov OKB designed a low-wing monoplane of all-metal construction powered by two 1,400hp Mikulin AM-37 engines. Fixed forward-firing armament comprised four 7.62mm and two 20mm guns, rear protection being provided by single flexible 7.62mm guns fired from dorsal and ventral positions by the second crew member. The first prototype, Samolet A, was flown in September 1941, but evacuation of the Polikarpov facilities to Novosibirsk delayed the programme, and an improved second prototype, Samolet MA, was not flown until 13 June 1944. The MA was intended to be powered by 1,700hp Mikulin AM-39 engines, but their non-availability dictated installation of 1,665hp AM-38 engines. Fixed forward-firing armament was changed to two 37mm cannon and two 12.7mm machine guns. The flight testing of the MA was in its early stages when, on 30 July 1944, Polikarpov died and his OKB was almost immediately disbanded, the TIS programme being abandoned.

3-View

A three-view drawing (1278 x 858)