Soviet aircraft designer Oleg Antonov completed this ambitious design in just a few months, with construction taking place in deep secrecy amid the Nazi invasion of the Soviet Union.
Research and development during wartime can be unbelievably creative. But old Soviet weapons designs during the various conflicts—notably during World War II—could be utterly mad. Take, for example, the proposed Antonov A-40 “Flying Tank”—which was, as its name suggests, an armored vehicle capable of soaring through the skies to descend upon enemy lines creating an entirely new axis of advance for the tank.
Developed during the harsh days of the Eastern Front in World War II, the Antonov A-40, also known as the Krylya Tanka or “Tank Wings,” was positively outlandish. In 1942, this gonzo tank was developed by renowned aircraft designer Oleg Antonov. This hybrid machine was essentially a modified T-60 light tank fitted with massive wooden biplane wings and a tail boom.
Why the USSR Wanted a Flying Tank
By the early 1940s, the Soviet Union had already experimented with paratroop drops and glider-borne assaults, recognizing the strategic value of inserting forces behind enemy lines to disrupt supply chains, capture key objectives, and encircle opposing armies. Airborne troops, however, often lacked heavy firepower, and parachutists could only carry light weapons. Meanwhile, gliders were typically limited to transporting infantry or small vehicles.
Tanks, with their thick armor and powerful guns, were essential for breaking through defenses, but conventional methods of airlifting them—such as disassembly and reassembly on the ground—were time-consuming and vulnerable to counterattacks. The Germans’ successful use of airborne forces in the invasions of Norway and Crete in 1940-41 further underscored the need for armored support in such operations.
Soviet military planners were inspired by earlier concepts such as those of American engineer J. Walter Christie’s 1930 proposal for a winged tank. They sought to develop a methodology for delivering tanks via air directly to the frontlines.
That’s where the iconic Oleg Antonov comes into this bizarre story. A glider specialist who would go on to develop legendary Soviet aircraft, such as the An-2 and An-225, believed he could accomplish this herculean task. Antonov worked out of the Glider Institute in Moscow and quickly moved to adapt a T-60 light tank into a glider. The reason Antonov chose the T-60 was due to it being the lightest of all Soviet Red Army tanks at the time.
To make the tank airworthy, Antonov’s team stripped the vehicle of all non-essential components—including its armaments, ammunition, headlights, and much of its fuel—thereby reducing its weight around two tons for flight testing. They then attached massive biplane wings made of wood and fabric, along with a tail boom featuring control surfaces for steering during glide. The wings were designed to be detachable, allowing the tank crew to jettison them upon landing and to immediately engage the Wehrmacht in combat.
The entire apparatus that Antonov and his team conceived was unpowered, relying upon a tow aircraft to lift this monstrosity into the air—after which it would release the flying tank. Then the modified T-60 light tank would essentially glide down to its target on the frontlines.
Antonov completed this ambitious design in just a few months, with construction taking place in deep secrecy amid the Nazi invasion of the Soviet Union. The A-40’s glider configuration drew from Antonov’s expertise in heavy-lift gliders, but integrating it with a tank presented truly unique challenges. One of the biggest issues was how the vehicle’s center of gravity had to be perfectly balanced to prevent instability in flight.
Crashing and Burning—in Style
As for the crew—typically a single pilot for test flights—they would operate the glider from inside the tank, using modified controls to maneuver the glider via cables connected to the wings and tail. In theory, this setup would enable the tank to be towed to an altitude that would allow for it to safely glide over enemy territory, landing on a flat field or open road to join paratroopers in assaulting fortified positions.
On September 2, 1942, in the heat of the war between Nazi Germany and Soviet Russia, the A-40’s only test flight occurred near Moscow. Sergei Anokhin, a veteran test pilot known for his work on experimental aircraft, piloted this improbable flying machine. A Tupolev TB-3 heavy bomber, a four-engine behemoth from the 1930s, was selected as the tow plane.
The test began promisingly. The TB-3 successfully lifted the A-40 off the ground after a short takeoff, with the tank’s tracks providing initial propulsion on the runway. But complications arose almost immediately.
The added drag and weight of the gliding tank caused the TB-3’s engines to overheat, forcing the pilots to release the A-40 prematurely. Anokhin managed to control the descent, gliding for a short distance before executing a belly landing in a field. Remarkably, the tank sustained minimal damage, and Anokhin emerged unharmed. Anokhin even drove the prototype back to base after detaching the wings, demonstrating the vehicle’s post-landing viability.
The A-40 Didn’t Work—but It Was Worth a Try
Despite this partial success, though, the Antonov A-40 project was quickly scrapped. The primary issue was the lack of a suitable tow aircraft; the TB-3, already outdated by 1942, struggled with the load, and more powerful bombers, like the Petlyakov Pe-8 were in short supply and prioritized for bombing raids. Modifying existing aircraft or developing new ones was deemed too resource-intensive amid the war’s pressing demands.
Additionally, the A-40’s glide range was limited—estimated to be only a couple of miles—and its vulnerability to anti-aircraft fire or rough terrain made deploying this system in combat a greater risk than reward. The stripped-down tank would require time to rearm and refuel upon landing, negating the surprise that it was supposed to subject its German enemies to. Soviet airborne doctrine eventually shifted instead toward larger gliders capable of carrying light vehicles, or toward postwar helicopter technology for airlifting armor.
Antonov A-40’s legacy, however, endures as a symbol of creative problem-solving under duress. While it never saw combat, it influenced later concepts in airborne armor delivery, such as the American M551 Sheridan tank, which could be parachuted into battle. Today, the A-40 is remembered through scale models, documentaries, and online discussions. It is rightly and fondly remembered for its audacity.
Was it not Frederick the Great who once said, “l’audace l’audace toujours l’audace”?
There is nothing more audacious than building a flying tank in the middle of a war.
About the Author: Brandon J. Weichert
Brandon J. Weichert, a Senior National Security Editor at The National Interest as well as a contributor at Popular Mechanics, who consults regularly with various government institutions and private organizations on geopolitical issues. Weichert’s writings have appeared in multiple publications, including the Washington Times, National Review, The American Spectator, MSN, the Asia Times, and countless others. His books include Winning Space: How America Remains a Superpower, Biohacked: China’s Race to Control Life, and The Shadow War: Iran’s Quest for Supremacy. His newest book, A Disaster of Our Own Making: How the West Lost Ukraine is available for purchase wherever books are sold. He can be followed via Twitter @WeTheBrandon.
Image: Wikimedia Commons.
