picture 170247

Ilyushin Il-28 light jet bombers (though sometimes referred to as a medium) formed the backbone of Soviet tactical offensive aerial capability. Once the RDS-4 nuclear bomb was developed, its compactness enabled the Il-28 to carry out tactical nuclear strikes. Such a weapon was live tested from the Il-28 illustrated here on 23 August 1954. It was only the second Soviet live test of an air dropped nuclear bomb, but also the first of a compact tactical nuclear weapon, and the first from a jet powered aircraft. The last two factors made this test particularly important in the Soviet nuclear weapons program. (Artwork by Tom Cooper)