25x1 25x1 in 1 25xi Approved Release 2007102I08 7 CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY Copy No OFFICE OF CURRENT INTELLIGENCE 12- 4 JUNE 1954 MEMORANDUM TO Deputy Director Intelligence SUBJECT Soviet- Type 37 and Type 39 Jet Bombers 1 In a series of six practice fly-bys from 18 April through 28 April and in the May Day air parade the Seviet Union officially unveiled two new Jet aircraft a four engined bomber designated Type 31 and a twin-engined bomber designated Type 39 Only one Type 37 was dis- played suggesting that this aircraft is in the prototype stage Although nine Type 39's were flown on May Day as many as eleven were flown in the rehearsals indicating that this plane is in series production 25x1 3 The Type 37 a swept wing four-engine heavy Jet bomber has a fuselage approximately 155 feet long a wing span of approximately 170 feet and an estimated gross weight on the order of 300 000 pounds It is estimated that each engine is capable of developing approximately 15 000 pounds sea level static thrust The bomb bay estimated to be 17 feet long and 6 feet wide is large enough to accommodate one 11 000 pound general purpose bomb or one conventional atomic bomb The defensive armament is apparently contained in three turrets The appearance of a radome much larger than the one used on the lL-28 indicates the probable use of improved blind bombing navigatiOn radar equipment Fire control radar is probable on at least the tail turret Antennae suggest that a variety of HF VHF and possibly UHF equipment is used The configuration of the nose section indicates provision for visual bombing The PType 39 the medium twin Jet bomber is similar in configuration to the Type 37 and appears to be in the same size class as the US 3-47 Its engines are probably the same as those in the Type 37 Electronic equipment on the Type 39 appears to be similar to that on the Type 37 and its defensive armament also appears to be contained in three turrets DIA _review s completed v-v SEE REVERSE FOR ACTIOH Approved Fm 72R00030001 0015-3 'Approved For Release 2007 02108 CIA-RDP91T01172R000300010015-3 Declassi ed rims Changul To H1170- Iaiezlo- Document No No change In Class T850 75 av Approved For Release 2007102108 CIA-RDP91T01 172R000300010015-3 f 25X1 25x1 Approved For R9%e 2007I02108 CIA-RDP91T01172R000300010015-3 4 The US has a length of 156 5 feet and a wing span of 185 feet Its normal gross weight is 390 000 pounds It is powered by eight_turbo jet engines with a sea level static thrust rating of 8 250 pounds each It has a maximum bomb load of 50 000 pounds and a combat radius with a 10 000 pound bomb load of 3160 nautical miles The US 8 47 has a length of 106 8 feet and a wing span of 116 feet Its normal gross weight is 125 000 pounds It is powered bybsix J-47 axial flow turbo Jet engines with a sea level static thrust rating of 5270 pounds each It can carry one 22 000 pound general purpose bomb or one 10 000 pound special weapon With the latter weight bomb load it has a combat radius of 1635 nautical miles 5 The first indication of the existence of the Type 37 occurred in July 1953 when Western attaches observed an aircraft with tail section and fuselage similar to the 3-47 The wing was not attached to the plane suggesting that fabrication or some type of static tests were then underway In November 1953 British attaches observed at Kazan east of Moscow two aircraft very similar in configuration to the 25X1 plane now identified as the Type 39 Approved For 25x1 25 Approved For Release 2007I02I08 Approved For Release 2007102I08 CIA-RDP91T01 1 72R00030001001 5-3 This document is from the holdings of The National Security Archive Suite 701 Gelman Library The George Washington University 2130 H Street NW Washington D C 20037 Phone 202 994-7000 Fax 202 994-7005 nsarchiv@gwu edu