Defence Technology.

 The name Myasishchev M-20 refers to the project of a strategic bomber carried out by Vladimir Michajlovič Mjasiščev from 1967. It was one of the aircraft developed as a counterpart to the American Advanced Manned Strategic Aircraft (AMSA) program, issued by the USAF in 1965 to replace the Boeing B-52. The M-20 was predicted in four distinct configurations, one of which was then further developed into the Myasishchev M-18. However, these planes remained entirely on paper, as the leaders of the Soviet Union decided that the program for the new bomber would be carried out by OKB Tupolev. The final result was the Tupolev Tu-160 Blackjack, still in service with the Russian VVS.The preliminary draft of 1967 envisaged an aircraft 50 meters long and with a wingspan of 28, with a take-off weight of between 180 and 200 tonnes (of which 70 of fuel). The propulsion should have been secured by four turbojets. These engines should have propelled the aircraft to a maximum speed of 3,200 km / h, with a range of 12,000 km. The expected war load was 15,000 kg, with the possibility of embarking two Kh-45 missiles. Subsequently, the four variants were designed, for each of which different configurations were planned. In general, these were aircraft that adopted technologically advanced solutions, which should have been driven by four double-flow Kuznetsov turbofans.VariantsM-20 variant I: based on the configurations M-20-1, M-20-2, M-20-5 and M-20-6. In general, it was a 48-meter long aircraft with a wingspan of between 23 and 46 meters. The propulsion was by four turbofans each with 12,000 kg thrust, arranged between the two drifts, at the tail. The expected empty weight was 66,750 kg, the takeoff weight of about 150,000 kg (of which 76,770 of fuel). These engines should have propelled the aircraft to 3,200 km / h. The maximum range was estimated between 11,700 and 13,000 km.M-20 variant II: based on the configurations M-20-7, M-20-9 (with a laminar regime control system around the wings, M-20-12, M -20-14 and M-20-15 The configurations were quite different from one another (differences regarding the geometry of the wings, the presence or absence of canard fins, the position of the engines).M-20 variant III: based on the configurations M-20-16, M-20-17, M-20-18, M-20-19 and M-20-21. In general, the models were characterized by canard and variable geometry wing, whose take-off weight exceeded 300 tons.M-20 variant IV: based on the configurations M-20-22, M-20-23 (with variable geometry wing and T tail plane) and M-20-24 (with delta wing and provided with a system for control of flows around the wings). In general, these were aircraft with a take-off weight of between 300,000 and 325,000 kg, which could have reached 345,000 if external tanks were used. This variant was used as a basis for the development of the M-18.In the end, the M-20 remained on paper. One of the theorized versions for this aircraft, the fourth (the one with a variable geometry wing), however, was developed further and formed the basis for the Myasishchev M-18 project. However, even this last aircraft never exceeded the project stage, given that the Soviet military leaders decided that all the program concerning the new bomber would be carried out by OKB Tupolev. The fourth configuration of the M-20, used in the M-18 project, was resumed and adopted on the final Tupolev project, the Tu-160