OKB (Russian: ОКБ) is a transliteration of the Russian initials for "Опытно-Конструкторское Бюро" (Opytno-Konstruktorskoye Byuro), which translates to "Experimental Design Bureau." During the Soviet era, OKBs were closed institutions working on design and prototyping of advanced technology, usually for military applications. The corresponding English language term for such a bureau's activity is R&D or "research and development."
For security, each bureau was only officially identified by a number, but were often semi-officially referenced by the name of its lead designer. For example, OKB-51 was led by Pavel Sukhoi, and it eventually became known as simply Sukhoi. Successful and famous bureaus often retained these names after the departure of their founding designer.
These relatively small state-run organisations were not intended for mass production of aircraft, rockets, or other vehicles or equipment which they designed. However, they usually had the facilities and resources to construct prototypes. Designs accepted by the state were then assigned to factories for mass production.
After the collapse of the Soviet Union, many OKBs became Scientific Production Associations (NPOs). There were some attempts to merge them in the 1990s, and there were widespread amalgamations in 2001–2006 to create "national champion" corporations, such as Almaz-Antey to consolidate surface-to-air missile development.
OKBs in aerospace industry
- KB-1 – NPO Almaz,
- OKB-1 – Korolev today RSC Energia
- OKB-1 – Dr. Brunolf Baade disbanded by 1953
- OKB-2 – early name of MKB Raduga (OKB-155-2)
- OKB-3 – Bratukhin
- OKB-4 – Matus Bisnovat's Design Bureau (different from NPO Molniya)
- OKB-8 – Novator (long-range SAMs)
- OKB-19 – Shvetsov, Soloviev. Now: "Perm MKB"
- OKB-20 – Klimov, Omsk-Motors
- OKB-21 –
- OKB-23 – Myasishchev (also OKB-482)
- OKB-24 – Mikulin
- OKB-26 – Klimov
- OKB-39 – Ilyushin
- OKB-45 – Klimov
- OKB-47 – Yakovlev originally, transferred to
- OKB-49 – Beriev
- OKB-51 – Sukhoi
- OKB-52 – Chelomei
- OKB-86 – Bartini
- OKB-115 – Yakovlev
- OKB-117 – Klimov, Izotov
- OKB-120 – Zhdanov (surname)
- OKB-124 – N/A (cooling systems for Tu-121)
- OKB-134 – Vympel
- OKB-140 – N/A (first hydro-alcohol starter-generators for Tu-121)
- OKB-153 – Antonov
- OKB-154 – Kosberg, previously OKB-296
- OKB-155 – Mikoyan (formerly Mikoyan-Gurevich)
- OKB-155-2 – (sometimes designated as OKB-2-155) OKB-155 spin-off in Dubna. Gurevich, Berezniak, Isaev... Now MKB Raduga.
- OKB-156 – Tupolev
- OKB-165 – Lyulka
- OKB-207 – (Borovkov-Florov D, Borovkov-Florov I-207)
- OKB-240 – Yermolaev
- OKB-246 – OKBM (naval nuclear propulsion)
- OKB-256 – Tsybin
- OKB-276 – Kuznetsov
- OKB-296 – renamed to OKB-154 in 1946 KB Khimavtomatika
- OKB-300 – Tumansky
- OKB-301 – Lavochkin
- OKB-329 – Mil
- SKB-385 – Makeev
- OKG-456 – Glushko
- OKB-458 – Chetverikov
- OKB-478 – Ivchenko
- OKB-575 – Kovrov
- OKB-586 – Yangel
- OKB-692 – JSC "Khartron" (formerly KB electropriborostroeniya, then NPO "Electropribor")
- OKB-794 – Leninets
- OKB-938 – Kamov
See also
- Defense industry of Russia
References
- "ПЯТЬ ДЕСЯТИЛЕТИЙ ПАВЛА СОЛОВЬЕВА" [Five Decades of Paul Soloviev] (in Russian). Research Institute for the Economics of Aviation Industry (NIIEAP). Archived from the original on 18 February 2007. Retrieved 10 July 2006.
- "Su-24 Historical Background". Sukhoi Company. Archived from the original on 19 December 2014. Retrieved 14 November 2014.
External links
- Factories, Research and Design Establishments of the Soviet Defence Industry: a Guide. University of Warwick, Department of Economics.
- Aviation.ru - "OKBs"
OKB Russian OKB is a transliteration of the Russian initials for Opytno Konstruktorskoe Byuro Opytno Konstruktorskoye Byuro which translates to Experimental Design Bureau During the Soviet era OKBs were closed institutions working on design and prototyping of advanced technology usually for military applications The corresponding English language term for such a bureau s activity is R amp D or research and development Sukhoi Company JSC head office Sukhoi OKB For security each bureau was only officially identified by a number but were often semi officially referenced by the name of its lead designer For example OKB 51 was led by Pavel Sukhoi and it eventually became known as simply Sukhoi Successful and famous bureaus often retained these names after the departure of their founding designer These relatively small state run organisations were not intended for mass production of aircraft rockets or other vehicles or equipment which they designed However they usually had the facilities and resources to construct prototypes Designs accepted by the state were then assigned to factories for mass production After the collapse of the Soviet Union many OKBs became Scientific Production Associations NPOs There were some attempts to merge them in the 1990s and there were widespread amalgamations in 2001 2006 to create national champion corporations such as Almaz Antey to consolidate surface to air missile development OKBs in aerospace industryKB 1 NPO Almaz OKB 1 Korolev today RSC Energia OKB 1 Dr Brunolf Baade disbanded by 1953 OKB 2 early name of MKB Raduga OKB 155 2 OKB 3 Bratukhin OKB 4 Matus Bisnovat s Design Bureau different from NPO Molniya OKB 8 Novator long range SAMs OKB 19 Shvetsov Soloviev Now Perm MKB OKB 20 Klimov Omsk Motors OKB 21 OKB 23 Myasishchev also OKB 482 OKB 24 Mikulin OKB 26 Klimov OKB 39 Ilyushin OKB 45 Klimov OKB 47 Yakovlev originally transferred to OKB 49 Beriev OKB 51 Sukhoi OKB 52 Chelomei OKB 86 Bartini OKB 115 Yakovlev OKB 117 Klimov Izotov OKB 120 Zhdanov surname OKB 124 N A cooling systems for Tu 121 OKB 134 Vympel OKB 140 N A first hydro alcohol starter generators for Tu 121 OKB 153 Antonov OKB 154 Kosberg previously OKB 296 OKB 155 Mikoyan formerly Mikoyan Gurevich OKB 155 2 sometimes designated as OKB 2 155 OKB 155 spin off in Dubna Gurevich Berezniak Isaev Now MKB Raduga OKB 156 Tupolev OKB 165 Lyulka OKB 207 Borovkov Florov D Borovkov Florov I 207 OKB 240 Yermolaev OKB 246 OKBM naval nuclear propulsion OKB 256 Tsybin OKB 276 Kuznetsov OKB 296 renamed to OKB 154 in 1946 KB Khimavtomatika OKB 300 Tumansky OKB 301 Lavochkin OKB 329 Mil SKB 385 Makeev OKG 456 Glushko OKB 458 Chetverikov OKB 478 Ivchenko OKB 575 Kovrov OKB 586 Yangel OKB 692 JSC Khartron formerly KB electropriborostroeniya then NPO Electropribor OKB 794 Leninets OKB 938 KamovSee alsoDefense industry of RussiaReferences PYaT DESYaTILETIJ PAVLA SOLOVEVA Five Decades of Paul Soloviev in Russian Research Institute for the Economics of Aviation Industry NIIEAP Archived from the original on 18 February 2007 Retrieved 10 July 2006 Su 24 Historical Background Sukhoi Company Archived from the original on 19 December 2014 Retrieved 14 November 2014 External linksFactories Research and Design Establishments of the Soviet Defence Industry a Guide University of Warwick Department of Economics Aviation ru OKBs
