Developed in the Soviet Union by Sergei Aleksandrovich Kochyerigin at the TsKB (Central Design Bureau), the DI-6 bore the internal designation TsKB-11.
Configuration
A conventional single-bay biplane of mixed construction
Fuselage
Steel tube frame, metal skin forward, fabric-covered aft.
Wings
Wooden structure, fabric-covered, staggered with unequal span, braced by large I-struts.
Crew Layout
Tandem cockpits for pilot and tail gunner
The pilot’s cockpit was open.
The gunner’s cockpit was partially enclosed and set lower to improve the field of fire.
Landing Gear
Cable-retracted main gear with tail-skid undercarriage.
Engine Evolution
Initially designed for a liquid-cooled V-12 engine.
Due to development issues, switched to the Shvetsov M-25 radial engine (700 hp).
Variants
DI-6Sh
Ground-attack version with modified armament and equipment.
DI-6bis
Improved variant with minor refinements (details scarce).
Operational History
First Flight
30 September 1934.
Production
Approximately 222 units were built at Factory No. 39.
Primary User
Soviet Air Force.
Combat Role
Intended as a multi-role fighter with ground-attack capability.
However, it saw limited operational use due to rapid obsolescence and performance limitations.
Legacy
The DI-6 was quickly outclassed by newer monoplane designs and was phased out before World War II.
It remains notable as one of the last Soviet biplane fighters produced in quantity.
