Summer 1944. Operation "Bagration" reached its peak, crushing the main forces of German Army Group Center. Soviet troops rapidly advanced towards Germany's borders; victory seemed imminent. But an unexpected turn of events halted the offensive. Germany, thanks to the recently discovered vast oil fields in North Africa, gained access to significant amounts of fuel, eliminating a critical resource shortage. This allowed them not only to reinforce their troops on the Eastern Front with fresh forces and equipment, but also to significantly prolong their resistance.

October 1944. A joint massive Anglo-American air raid on German cities suffered a crushing defeat. The newest German Me 262 jet fighters, significantly exceeding Allied fighters in speed, shot down a huge number of bombers, turning the air operation into a catastrophe. Losses were colossal, and strategic bombing of Germany was threatened.

Alarm reigned in the Kremlin. News of the Me 262 was shocking. The development of a Soviet jet fighter, while underway, was in its early stages and would require several years. An urgent counter to the German jets was needed. In this situation, they recalled the Beriev B-10 project – a high-speed piston-engined fighter, the development of which began in 1940 but was suspended due to the priority of other projects. It was decided to resume work on the B-10, focusing on its maximum speed and maneuverability, hoping that this aircraft could, at least partially, counter the Me 262 in air combat. The stakes were incredibly high. The battle for the skies, and perhaps the outcome of the war, entered a new, even more dangerous phase. In the face of fierce struggle, Soviet engineers and designers were tasked with the impossible – creating a worthy competitor to jet aviation using outdated technology.