HISTORY. One of the most radical rocket aircraft projects was the Soviet "IVS/ISF" ("Army Escort Fighter"/"Navy Escort Fighter") design. It was proposed by military engineer Lev Golovin in 1941. Evidently, the world's smallest fighter was designed as a part of mobile launcher complex comprising a truck carrier, 5-8 meter launcher, fuel and ammunition stock, a winch and the fighter itself. A crew of three (pilot, mechanic, driver) was to operate this complex. The IVS specifications were: Length - 3m, span - 1.75m, height - 1.05m, T/O weight - 250-300kg, Top speed - 1,060km/h Ceiling - 7,500m Engine - one Dushkin liquid-fuel rocket (300kg thrust), assisted during take-off by solid fuel rocket booster(s) (1,000kg thrust). Armament - single 20-mm ShVAK cannon Landing equipment comprised the 76 mē parachute and a belly skid absent on the Navy version. Pilot occupied prone position that reduced the g-load and enabled the climb rate of 250m/sec. The project was offered for series production but the VVS authorities rejected the idea of a mobile small interceptor in favor of anti-aircraft artillery.

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IVS parts (transparent canopy not shown)