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In
late 1950s, the U.S. Navy started the Polaris program which was to arm
the submarines with ballistic missiles. The USSR quickly issued
requirement to industries for the Anti-Submarine-Warfare system.
A vehicle was initially seen as urgently needed to destroy
Polaris-missile submarines. The Minister of Defense selected Bartini's
floatplane design, and ordered Beriev OKB to build three prototypes. It
was to be developed in three phases. The VVA-14M1 was to be a technology
test-bed with inflatable pontoons. The VVA-14M2 was to be more advanced
with fly-by-wire flight controls. The third stage would be the VTOL
vehicle fully equipped with armament. In 1972, the first prototype made
its maiden flight as as aeroplane. In 1974, the inflatable pontoons were
installed but its expansion and retraction caused many problems. So
later it was replaced by rigid pontoons, the fuselage was lengthened and
a pair of starting engines were added. The program continued in 1974 but
the engine resonance caused breakage of landing gears and rear control
flaps. It never flew again and eventually drew to a close as Beriev was
given higher-priority work with the A-40 and IL-78.
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