Originally the Jumo 004V1 engine was planned to be used by the German team to power the craft, which went into mass production under the symbol RD-10 at the on Ufimskom aircraft factory No. 26. But this engine proved to be too small and therefore they decided to use the new engine British Nene I, which went into production in 1947 in the USSR at the factory No. 45 under the symbol RD-45 with a thrust 2,040 kg.

The first flight took place in total secrecy at one of the northern airfields. The deafening roar of the three rocket engines easily propelled the craft from the ground and into the sky, recalls Mikhail Dubik. The disk had outstanding characteristics, notably the minimum cruising speed that could easily reach 100 km/h, and manoeuvre beautifully, which traditional fighters of the time could not. Mindful of the roots of the German machines, pilots called this craft Strausa, or simply strausom.

Early designs AI-6, made by Mayer, a vision of the future cocoon weapons Soviet defences. Housing engines had not yet been known.

After so spectacular a demonstration, it was decided to design and build a craft suitable for combat. The development was a veritable masterpiece as the huge military craft had a diameter of 25 metres and a special pilot turret on top, radar equipment and four tank turret guns below. German engineers, with a depth of talent and wealth of experience on the development of these craft, made the entire dish into a flying wing. The craft had three directional turbojet engines and biased nozzles with variable vector control. This was complimented by a dynamic side bow, which provided sustainability and the fantastic manoeuvrable flying at low speeds.

The central purpose of the craft was to cause total destruction of American heavy bombers, the B-29s. One of the most likely paths for the Americans was considered to be by flying over the North Pole. It seemed logical to combat the enemy slightly farther from the frontiers of the Soviet Union, so they decided to put squadron at a point belonging to the Union, but based on the Line of America-North Pole-Moscow. This point was the Svalbard archipelago.

In the USSR Mayer had to slightly sacrifice scale, but it is easy to see that the machines have common roots.

In 1948, the Soviet Union began work on the rehabilitation of coalmines on Svalbard. This seemed odd because of the minerals available on the mainland, but they proceeded with the development and transportation of coal from this remote island in the Arctic Ocean. It proved to be astronomically expensive. But what the commanders of the ships transporting the coal and others didn't know was that along with mining equipment on board was also a super secret weapon.

It was decided to use combat aircraft platforms so that in the event of an alarm a squadron could quickly be sent airborne and gain altitude of 10 km and with the assistance of on-board radar systems track B-29s, which potentially could drop atomic bombs on Moscow. After visual detection of the enemy the disks would rise above the bombers and shot 37-millimetrovykh AA down on the American bombers. In theory, a squadron of only six craft could easily wipe out up to hundreds of bombers in a single battle.

In total 12 disks were built and tested. The crew of each disk originally consisted of eight people: four artillery operators, the operator radar navigator, the co-pilot and commander. Tests were completed to determine maximum speed range and the maximum altitude ceiling. In order to maintain secrecy these disks did not display any identification or nationality. This was quickly changed and red stars were added after being almost shot down by their own aircraft.

By the fall of 1952, the flying "plates" had completed the testing program, according to available reports and documents.

On November 27, 1952, the North 1st squadron went active and captain Gregory Savichenko was assigned as chief of the new squadron.

But in March 1953, Stalin died, and the situation changed radically. Khrushchev came to power, and set about building missiles to launch nuclear bombs and anti-aircraft missiles capable of destroying hostile aircraft. Squadrons of MiG-15 fighters were deemed unnecessary and many were crashed and destroyed by bulldozers.

It is not surprising that the same fate befell the Soviet flying disks. All prototypes, equipment and valuable instruments were sunk off the coast of Svalbard where they lay at a depth of 300 metres waiting to be discovered.

Original source - Russian text: http://www.popmech.ru/part/?articleid=1826&rubricid=4