Polikarpov ITP

The Polikarpov ITP (Istrebitel Tyazholiy Pushechniy; Russian: Истребитель Тяжелый Пушечный; Heavy Cannon Fighter) was a Soviet fighter aircraft prototype designed in 1941.

Development

In November 1940, Nikolai Nikolaevich Polikarpov proposed a heavy cannon-armed fighter for bomber escort and interception, and ground attack against armored vehicles. The new ITP was designed around either the Klimov M-107P engine with projected 1,230 kW (1,650 hp) or the Mikulin AM-37, and armament consisting of 1x 37 mm and 2x 20 mm cannons. The aircraft drew on Polikarpov's earlier work, particularly the Polikarpov I-185 and Polikarpov I-200 completed by Mikoyan-Gurevich as MiG-1 and MiG-3).

The first ITP prototype (M-1) was completed in October 1941. Due to German attacks, the aircraft was evacuated that month along with the rest Polikarpov's No.51 factory to Novosibirsk, where the factory was deployed in a circus building. ITP M-1 first flew on February 23, 1942. The Klimov M-107P engine proved unreliable and in late 1942 it was changed to a Klimov M-107A, with the armament was reduced to three 20 mm cannons. Flight testing was not finished because the airframe was used for ground static testing.

The second ITP prototype (M-2) was built in 1942 and fitted with a Mikulin AM-37 engine which proved unreliable and was replaced with 1,345 kW (1,800 hp) Mikulin AM-39 in December. It first flew on November 23, 1943, reaching a maximum speed of 600 km/h (373 mph) near the ground and 655 km/h (407 mph) at 2,500 m (8,200 ft). This was below the projected performance as the engine had not been fully perfected.

Early trials demonstrated that a skilled pilot in ITP M-1 had a better chance of destroying German light and medium armor than the legendary Ilyushin Il-2. Unfortunately, problems with the M-107 and AM-39 engines resulted in very protracted development and all work on ITP was stopped after Polikarpov's death in July 1944.

Specifications (ITP M-2)

General characteristics

• Crew: One

Performance Armament

• 3x 20 mm ShVAK cannons, 200 rounds/gun
• 4x 100 kg (220 lb) bombs or 8x RS-82 unguided rockets

See also

Related development

• MiG-1
• MiG-3
• Polikarpov I-185

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

• Yak-9T

References

Bibliography

• Abanshin, Michael E. and Gut, Nina. Fighting Polikarpov, Eagles of the East No. 2. Lynnwood, WA: Aviation International, 1994. ISBN 1-884909-01-9.
• Gordon, Yefim and Khazanov, Dmitri. Soviet Combat Aircraft of the Second World War, Volume One: Single-Engined Fighters.Earl Shilton, Leicester, UK: Midland Publishing Ltd., 1998. ISBN 1-85780-083-4.
• Green, William and Swanborough, Gordon. WW2 Aircraft Fact Files: Soviet Air Force Fighters, Part 2. London, Macdonald and Jane's Publishres Ltd., 1978. ISBN 0-354-01088-3.
• Kopenhagen, W. (ed.). Das große Flugzeug-Typenbuch. Transpress, 1987. ISBN 3-344-00162-0.

External links

• Line drawings
• Information on Polikarpov ITP