Beriev A-60
The purpose was to solve the complex scientific and engineering problems regarding the creation of an airborne laser and also to facilitate research on the distribution of beams in the top layers of an atmosphere.Work on this topic occurred with wide cooperation between the enterprises and the scientific organizations of the USSR, but the basic partner OKB was TsKB Almaz headed by B.V. Bunkin.The problem of accommodating the laser gun was therefore solved and it did not spoil the aerodynamics of the base aircraft.Apparently, after being mothballed for more than 15 years, the project was reactivated in May 2009, according to the eyewitness accounts about an A-60 spotted flying in the Rostov on Don and Taganrog regions.[2][3] It is currently parked at Taganrog Airport at 47°11'53.92"N 38°51'46.05"E. Russia has developed a military airborne laser mounted in a A-60, designated 1LK222 Sokol Eshelon.