In the mid 1970's the USA began the development of a re-usable space transport system that soon became universally known as the Space Shuttle. The Soviet Union responded
by launching the development of a similar system, known to generally as the 'BURAN' (SnowStorm).
To transport the components of the Space orbiter and Energia ultra-heavy multipurpose space rocket modules to the Baikonur, Kazakhstan launch site, the Myasishchev OKB proposed using the 3M bomber as a transport\carrier. Engineering changes to the
3 'Bison-B tankers selected for conversion to transports included a 7 meter up-swept fuselage extension, twin end plate square vertical stabilizers, and strengthened out-rigger struts. The
heaviest payload carried by the VM-T transports was the 'Buran' orbiter shuttle itself, weighting in excess of 100,000 lbs. Including a 50 ton fuel load, this constituted a max take-off weigh for the VM-T
of over 410,000lb.
