The unexpected emergency landings during World War II of various US B-29 aircraft around Vladivostok proved to be a godsend to the Soviet Union which was in the process of replicating the Western Allies' strategic bombing capability. These aircraft, taken over by the Soviets in accordance to their neutrality policies in the Pacific War, were reverse-engineered to the last bolt as the Tupolev Tu-4 'Bull' although in practice the new bomber was not exactly the same as its US counterpart: it was somewhat heavier and lacked integral fuel tanks thus reducing its range while another omission was a pressurized tunnel which linked the forward and midship crew compartments. Still, the Tu-4 was a quantum leap in aviation technology for the Soviets which for the first time had a strategic bomber comparable to those in the West. A large number were sent to China during the 1950s and further development would lead to a long line of Tupolev strategic bombers such as the Tu-95 and civil airliners which are still produced today.

The first Tu-4 took to the air on 3 July 1947 powered by Shvetsov radials which were also based on the B-29s R-3350s. No other major variants were built although there were various experimental aircraft such as the Tu-70 'Cart' airliner and a number of Chinese testbeds including an AEW platform.