DB3

DB-3, sometimes written as DB3, is the designation used for a Soviet long-range bomber developed in the 1930s. The letters stand for Dalniy Bombardirovshik, meaning long-range bomber. The DB-3 family was designed to extend operational range and payload compared with earlier bombers and played a role in the evolution of Soviet air power before and during World War II.

Development and design: The DB-3 was conceived in the mid-1930s and first flew around 1936. It was a twin-engine, all-metal monoplane built to deliver substantial bomb loads over extended distances. The airframe and systems were refined through successive iterations, resulting in the DB-3M variant, which saw broader adoption from the late 1930s onward.

Operational history: The DB-3 entered service with the Soviet Air Force in the late 1930s and saw action in the early years of World War II. As combat requirements and threats evolved, the aircraft underwent upgrades and was gradually supplemented by more modern designs. The DB-3 family also contributed to the design lineage that produced the Ilyushin Il-4, which became the principal Soviet long-range bomber during the conflict.

Variants and legacy: Notable variants include the DB-3 and the improved DB-3M. The program influenced later Soviet bomber designs and marked a transition from earlier models toward more capable multi-engine bombers. In historical references, DB-3 is often used to denote the broader DB-3 family rather than a single airframe.