Who designed the Soviet Ar-2?

Short answer

Alexander Arkhangelsky, who was already deputy head of Tupolev's OKB when Andrei Tupolev was imprisoned and was authorized to add his name to the SB variants under development. The Ar-2 was a refinement of the Tupolev SB, and in December 1940 the NKAP redesignated it with his name.

Published: November 2, 2026 · Updated: November 2, 2026 · Edited by Above Ten Thousand · Editorial policy

Tupolev SB High Speed Bomber. 1934. Скоростной бомбардировщик Туполева СБPeer.Gynt (CC BY SA), vía commons

The man behind the designation

The Ar-2 was named after Alexander Arkhangelsky. Arkhangelsky was already deputy head of Tupolev's OKB when Andrei Tupolev was imprisoned. He was authorized to add his name to the SB variants then under development. The Ar-2's design was a refinement of the earlier Soviet Tupolev SB. It was a final attempt to extend the service life of the SB design, which had first flown in 1934.

From SB-RK to Ar-2

Initially designated SB-RK, factory trials of two prototypes began in October 1940, and the following month one aircraft was delivered to the NII-VVS, the Soviet Air Force's scientific test institute, for evaluation; in December 1940 the NKAP redesignated the aircraft to incorporate Arkhangelsky's name.

A short career

Production began in late 1940, but the aircraft had already been overtaken by the Petlyakov Pe-2. After only 190 Ar-2s were built, Zavod 22, the factory previously dedicated to its assembly, switched to building Pe-2s in early 1941. From 1940, Ar-2s were assigned to units already operating the SB, and both types flew alongside each other. At least half of all Ar-2s built were destroyed during the German offensive of 1941, and a small number remained in operation until around 1943.