In the early 1950s, the threat of an all-out war loomed over the Soviet Union. If the nation was to protect itself from hostile nuclear-capable bombers incoming from the West, it needed a mighty fighter in its arsenal. But in the early 1950s, the USSR had no such aircraft.
Specifically, the Soviet Military was in search of a highly attuned type that could primarily intercept larger, slower, and high-flying heavy bombers. Not only that, but the new aircraft was to take off and reach the intruders in a matter of minutes.
As a result of the specialized development requirements, the Tupolev OKB dusted off an old design for a supersonic aircraft and created the largest and heaviest fighter ever in service…
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Join Dark Skies as we explore the world of aviation with cinematic short documentaries featuring the biggest and fastest airplanes ever built, top-secret military projects, and classified missions with hidden untold true stories. Including US, German, and Soviet warplanes, along with aircraft developments that took place during World War I, World War 2, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Cold War, the Gulf War, and special operations mission in between.
As images and footage of actual events are not always available, Dark Skies sometimes utilizes similar historical images and footage for dramatic effect and soundtracks for emotional impact. We do our best to keep it as visually accurate as possible.
All content on Dark Skies is researched, produced, and presented in historical context for educational purposes. We are history enthusiasts and are not always experts in some areas, so please don't hesitate to reach out to us with corrections, additional information, or new ideas.