Beriev A-60
The Beriev A-60 is a Russian airborne laser laboratory aircraft based on the Ilyushin Il-76MD transport— it was originally developed in the former Soviet Union for its airborne forces.
| Beriev A-60 | |
|---|---|
| Beriev A-60 1A2 flying laboratory | |
| Role | Airborne laser laboratory |
| Manufacturer | Beriev |
| First flight | 19 August 1981 |
| Status | Active |
| Primary users | Russian Aerospace Forces Soviet Air Force |
| Number built | 2 |
| Developed from | Ilyushin Il-76MD |
In the 1970s a special aviation complex was established by the Soviets at Taganrog machine-building factory to develop airborne laser technology for the Soviet military.
In 1977 Beriev OKB started the design of a flying laboratory designated '1А'. The purpose was to solve the complex scientific and engineering problems regarding the creation of an airborne laser and also to facilitate research on the distribution of beams in the top layers of an atmosphere. Work on this topic occurred with wide cooperation between the enterprises and the scientific organizations of the USSR, but the basic partner OKB was TsKB Almaz headed by B.V. Bunkin.