The Soviet Myasischev M-4 Molot Made America Fear the Bomber Gap

When one thinks of the Soviet Union’s early Cold War-era heavy bombers, especially ones with the alphanumeric designation ending in “-4,” chances are the Tupolev Tu-4 (NATO reporting name “Bull”) comes to mind.

However, it was a few years after the advent of the “Bull” that the Russians developed another “-4” bomber that genuinely scared the hell out of America’s military and political establishment: the Myasishchev M-4 Molot (“Hammer;” NATO reporting name “Bison”).

How and Why the Scare?

As noted by my friend Francis Gary Powers Jr. in his excellent book, Spy Pilot: Francis Gary Powers, the U-2 Incident, and a Controversial Cold War,

“On May 1, 1954, Nikita Khrushchev assumed his position of authority ... Khrushchev carefully watched the traditional May Day parade of tanks, troops, antiaircraft guns, and airplanes. Included among the display of Soviet military might was the new Myasishchev M-4 Molot (“Hammer”) long-range bomber, which pleased him greatly. He knew the Americans were watching ... Even as the B-52 Stratofortress, a massive eight-engine monster designed to deliver nuclear payloads and provide a new level of deterrent, moved toward operational status in 1955, many American military and political leaders believed the Soviet Union was closing the gap in the arms race, particularly in the deployment of long-range strategic bombers. The so-called bomber gap became a source of intense debate and a political burden for President Dwight D. Eisenhower, especially when word began to leak to the West about the M-4, which was seen as a significant leap forward in Soviet technology.”

M-4 Initial History and Specifications

The Myasishchev M-4 made her maiden flight on January 20, 1953, and was officially introduced into the service in 1956 (which indicates that the specimens on display for Khrushchev at the 1954 May Day parade were still prototypes as opposed to production models). The bomber had the following specifications and vital stats:

· Crew: 8

· Fuselage length: 47.2 m (154 ft 10 in)

· Wingspan: 50.5 m (165 ft 8 in)

· Height: 14.1 m (46 ft 3 in)

· Maximum takeoff weight: 181,500 kg (400,139 lb)

· Powerplant: 4 × Mikulin AM-3A turbojets, 85.75 kN (19,280 lbf) thrust each

· Max airspeed: 947 km/h (588 mph, 511 kn, Mach 0.76)

· Combat range: 5,600 km (3,500 mi, 3,000 nmi)

· Service ceiling: 11,000 m (36,000 ft)

· Armament:

      o Guns: 9 × 23 mm Nudelman-Rikhter NR-23 cannon or 6 × 23 mm Afanasev-Makarov AM-23 cannon in ventral, dorsal and tail barbettes. 1,100 rounds in ventral and dorsal barbettes, 2,000 rounds in tail barbette.

      o Missiles: Up to four cruise missiles carried externally.

      o Bombs: 12,000 kg (26,000 lb.) of internal stores as standard loadout. Max payload 24,000 kg (53,000 lb.) could be carried, such as:

• two nuclear bombs
• two 9,000 kg FAB-9000 or 5,000 kg FAB-5000 general-purpose bombs
• four 6,000 kg BRAB-6000 armor-piercing bombs
• six 3,000 kg FAB-3000 general-purpose bombs
• 28 x 500 kg FAB-500 general-purpose bombs
• 52 x 250 kg FAB-250 or 100 kg FAB-100 general-purpose bombs

Production of the “Bison” ended in 1963.

Operational Performance (or Lack Thereof)

For all of the hubbub about that perceived bomber gap, the M-4 turned out to be much ado about relatively little. As my colleague Caleb Larson noted in a July 2020 article for The National Interest, the infrastructure necessary to effect mass production of the Molot never came to fruition, and moreover, though some improvements were made to the airframe, those upgrades weren’t sufficient to give the warbird the range to hit targets of strategic value in the United States and return safely home. Ergo, the M-4 never saw combat. However, several of them served as tanker aircraft until their retirement in 1994. Meanwhile, a modified Molot also served as an outsize cargo transport for the USSR’s short-lived Buran space shuttle program.

Where Are They Now?

Out of the ninety-three “Bisons” built, most were broken down for scrap, leaving a grand total of four that survive today. Unfortunately for Western military museum buffs, none of those four are displayed at museums located within the borders of NATO countries, but are rather ensconced within Russian museums, including one in the Central Museum of the Air Force at Monino, Moscow Oblast.

About the Author: Christian D. Orr

Christian D. Orr is a Senior Defense Editor for National Security Journal (NSJ). He is a former Air Force Security Forces officer, Federal law enforcement officer, and private military contractor (with assignments worked in Iraq, the United Arab Emirates, Kosovo, Japan, Germany, and the Pentagon). Chris holds a B.A. in International Relations from the University of Southern California (USC) and an M.A. in Intelligence Studies (concentration in Terrorism Studies) from American Military University (AMU). He has also been published in The Daily Torch , The Journal of Intelligence and Cyber Security, and Simple Flying. Last but not least, he is a Companion of the Order of the Naval Order of the United States (NOUS).