Soviet aircraft industry was an essential part of the USSRโs campaign for global dominance in the twentieth century. Thanks to the thick fog of secrecy that enveloped it throughout the Cold War, it has long inspired the fascination of analysts and enthusiasts in the West; until the collapse of the USSR in 1991, details of Soviet aircraft were often a matter of conjecture. This book aims to uncover fully the mystery surrounding this topic.
Drawing on original and previously unpublished information obtained directly from the former USSR, Soviet Aircraft Industry examines the unique characteristics of Soviet-designed aircraftโparticularly military types, which were the cause of great concern to the West. Further, by virtue of the industryโs central role throughout Soviet history, this book provides a rare and important perspective into the broader theme of Russiaโs great communist experiment.