An Ambitious Wartime Experiment
In the midst of World War II, Soviet engineers attempted something extraordinary: turning a light tank into a glider capable of landing directly on the battlefield. The Antonov A-40 Krylya Tanka (“tank wings”) was designed in 1942 to support airborne troops by delivering armored vehicles straight into combat zones.
The goal was simple — soldiers and their tanks would arrive together, ready to fight within minutes. But this bold idea faced major challenges that soon grounded the project.
Designing the Winged Tank
Instead of relying on traditional gliders, Soviet engineer Oleg Antonov pursued a radical approach. He modified a T-60 light tank, attaching large wooden biplane wings and a twin tail to create a detachable glider cradle.
The concept was ambitious: tow the tank behind a heavy bomber, release it near the battlefield, glide it to a landing, detach the wings, and drive directly into combat. To reduce weight, engineers stripped the T-60 of its armament, ammunition, headlights, and most of its fuel. The aircraft intended to tow the A-40 included the Petlyakov Pe-8 and the Tupolev TB-3.
The Only Flight Test
On September 2, 1942, the A-40 prototype made its first and only flight, piloted by Soviet experimental glider pilot Sergei Anokhin. The tank, towed by a TB-3 bomber, struggled to maintain altitude due to its extreme drag.
To avoid disaster, the TB-3 released the glider early. Remarkably, the tank glided smoothly and landed safely in a field near the airport. After dropping the wings and tail, the T-60’s driver started the engine and drove it back to base without incident.
Project Abandonment
Despite the successful landing, the experiment revealed a fatal limitation: Soviet bombers lacked the power to tow the A-40 at the required 160 km/h (99 mph) for operational use.
Without stronger aircraft, the project was deemed unfeasible and canceled shortly afterward. The A-40 remained a unique prototype, representing an ambitious but impractical solution to delivering tanks directly into battle.
In 1942, Soviet engineers attempted an ambitious experiment: the Antonov A-40, a T-60 light tank fitted with detachable wings and a tail to glide onto battlefields.
Designed to deliver tanks directly to airborne forces, the project aimed to change how wars were fought…🧵👇 pic.twitter.com/LAyOSEyUHm
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