Russian Spy Plane to Act As Telecoms Carrier

Russia's answer to the U-2 high-altitude spy plan, the Myasishchev M-55 could get a new lease of life - as a telecoms carrier. The plane was designed to fly at very high altitudes, but unlike the US spy planes, the Russian model was fitted with weapons.

Removing the weapons allows the plane to carry fairly sizable payloads at very high altitudes.

The plane was initially used to intercept spy ballons which overflew the Soviet Union after the U-2 program was shut down.

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