Myasishev M17 Mystic "Stratosfera"

In May 1960, when the U-2 spy-plane was shot down over Ukraine, American started to use alternative unmanned balloon that prevailing winds would carry it across Soviet territory. The Soviet PVO (air defense forces) found this tread difficult to counter, and ordered Myasishchev to be head of a secret tasked with a high-altitude balloon destroyer aircraft. The result was the M-17 Mystic-A. The first prototype was first flown and crashed in 1978. The second prototype was constructed to a modified design, and first flown in 1982. After the U.S. reconnaissance balloon program ended by spy satellite program, the M-17 was modified as reconnaissance and research aircraft, and were used for aerodynamic and atmospheric research, NATO re-designated its code-name Stratosfera. In 1990, it set 25 international speed/ climb/ height records. In 1992, it investigated the "hole" in ozone layer over the Antarctic. The M-17 fulfilled all its design objectives, and proved successful in its politico-military role