Unsuccessful R-10: why the Neman multi-role aircraft lost to the Sukhoi short-range bomber

One of the winged vehicles developed as part of the Ivanov competition, held in the USSR in the 30s, was a multi-purpose single-engine reconnaissance aircraft, light bomber and attack aircraft R-10 (“tenth reconnaissance aircraft”).

It is worth recalling that the above-mentioned competition was held with the aim of developing an aircraft that was supposed to replace the obsolete biplanes of the R-5 family in the army.

The development of a new winged aircraft began in 1934 under the leadership of Joseph Grigorievich Neman. Already in 1936, the P-10 made its first flight.

According to the technical specifications, the aircraft, with a wooden structure and reinforced plywood skin, equipped with a domestic M-22 engine with a power of 480 hp, was supposed to reach speeds of up to 340 km/h, fly distances of up to 1200 km and reach a ceiling of 7,8 km.

Armed with two machine guns, the P-10 was also required to carry a bomb load of 200 to 500 kg.

Later, the engine was planned to be replaced with a 712-horsepower M-25, created under license from the Wright Cyclone SGR-1820, which would increase the speed to 388 km/h and the flight range to 1450 km.

As a matter of fact, the Kharkov Aircraft Plant fully coped with the technical specifications. In 1939, a small series of the P-10 modification was even produced under the designation KhAI-52 (KhAI-51), modified for the M-62 engine of 800 hp. s., then - under the M-63 at 900 hp. With.

At the same time, despite the fact that from 1937 to 1940 493 units of the R-10 were produced, the aircraft never took root in the Red Army, giving way to the Su-2 (another development within the framework of the Ivanov competition). True, in fairness, it is worth noting that the R-10 still managed to take part in the battles. For example, at Khalkhin Gol.

So why was the new multi-role aircraft discontinued in 1940?

Firstly, despite its superiority over the R-5 in speed and flight characteristics, the R-10 was inferior to the legendary biplane in armament, both small arms and bombs.

Secondly, and this is most important, during state tests, numerous defects were identified in the aircraft, some of which, in particular, the unsuccessful design of the landing gear, were never corrected.

Perhaps the plane would ultimately have been “brought to completion” if, during Yezhov’s repressions, I.G. had not become one of their victims. Neman.

As a result, numerous flaws led to a huge number of accidents. Thus, by 1940, out of more than 400 vehicles produced, about 100 were in disrepair.

Already in 1939, the aircraft was gradually removed from service with assault regiments and assigned to purely reconnaissance missions.

Comments

[Rumata]

A.N. Tupolev, based on his intuition, would immediately say just by appearance that the Su-2 is better because it is more beautiful.
But the ceiling of 8000 is super! Now it would be nice to have more kamikaze UAVs on such a base. Plywood is inexpensive, the motor is more modern, but it will cost a lot more to shoot it down than it costs.
Accountants win wars.

[2112vda]

So “show-off accountants,” that is, economists, brought Russia into the modern state. There is no one to make piston engines for UAVs, machine tool and component factories have been dispersed, and there is a lot of other “very fun” stuff. In Russia, the most effective air defense against our aviation is economists and other “effective experts.” The Americans are a perspicacious people, they knew how to fight against our aviation.

[Rumata]

Quote: 2112vda

So “show-off accountants”, that is, economists,

I'm talking about real accountants who don't manage, but simply count the consumption of weapons and manpower.

[Rumata]

Quote: 2112vda

There is no one to make piston motors for UAVs

I would still install not pistons, but micro jet engines.

[carpenter]

Quote: Rumata

Now it would be nice to have more kamikaze UAVs on such a base. Plywood is inexpensive, the motor is more modern, but it will cost a lot more to shoot it down than it costs.

Well, PO-2 generally costs a penny, cheaper than Geranium.

[Mikhail3]

Quote: Rumata

On such a base, kamikaze UAVs can slap more. Plywood is inexpensive, the motor is more modern, but it will be much more expensive to shoot down,

Well, you really are! What plywood?! A thousand ruble sheet?! And so there’s nothing to steal on a UAV, but here you are! We need carbon fiber plastic for a dream of a million dollars per decimeter, and it must be manufactured in the USA! The same goes for everything else. Everything must be more expensive than the most expensive, otherwise no one will bother.

[memphis 05]

Once again, Timinov’s audience had heard enough of Rastrenin’s whining.
The Su-2 was a normal aircraft, of course there were problems during mastering (like everyone else).
But as a scout it was successfully used until the resource was exhausted. And as an attack aircraft, it was quite rightly inferior to the Il-2.

[fa2998]

Why did he give in? I look at the production figures - R-10-pr.500, Su-2-pr. 800 units. This is not significant in mass production. Both were unsuccessful, so the military refused.
What suited them was produced in the thousands.

[Rumata]

Quote: carpenter

Well, PO-2 generally costs a penny, cheaper than Geranium.

Not exactly cheaper, a little more expensive. It is expensive to retrofit with avionics.
ZY The Chinese are doing just that with the decommissioned An-2s.

[Amateur]

Perhaps the plane would ultimately have been “brought to completion” if, during Yezhov’s repressions, I.G. had not become one of their victims. Neman.

I.G. Neman was arrested on December 11, 1938, worked at TsKB-29 of the NKVD of the USSR on the creation of Pe-2, Tu-2 bombers.
By a resolution of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of July 19, 1941, he was released early from further serving of his sentence with his criminal record expunged.
After his release, he worked at the design bureau of an aircraft plant in Omsk. Since 1942, at plant No. 22 (Kazan) as V. M. Myasishchev’s deputy.
Died of leukemia. (Wikipedia)

November 24, 1938 year N.I. Ezhov was relieved of his duties as People's Commissar of Internal Affairs, while retaining his position as Secretary of the Central Committee of the All-Union Communist Party of Bolsheviks and Chairman of the Party Control Commission[42]. (Wikipedia)

There is no point in dragging in repression. Sukhoi just had a better plane.