During the Cold War, the Soviet Union sought to add a powerful weapon to its arsenal: a long-range bomber capable of threatening the United States and delivering significant damage. The task began in the early 1950s under the leadership of Vladimir Mikhailovich Myasishchev.

The development of the M-4 bomber started in 1954. The initial model, the Bison-A, was produced in limited numbers, with only 34 units built. It had an impressive range of 9,000 miles with mid-flight refueling and was equipped with four Mikulin AM-3A turbojets. Its armament included a range of weapons, from FAB-100 GPs to the massive FAB-9000s, each weighing nearly 10 tons. It also featured AM-23 23mm cannons for defense against other aircraft.

Towards the end of the decade, a new variant, the Bison-B or 3M, was introduced. It featured improved Dobrynin VD-7B engines and a reduced weight. While other concepts, like a cargo transport version called the M-29, never materialized, the enhanced Bison-B would go on to serve a different purpose than that of a traditional bomber. It was repurposed as a transport, but not for conventional cargo – instead, it was used to transport rocket parts.