Operational history of the Arkhangelskiy Ar-2 during Operation Barbarossa offers a poignant look at a modern design caught in a strategic catastrophe. At the commencement of hostilities on June 22, 1941, the Ar-2 was the most advanced dive bomber in the Soviet inventory, yet it existed in relatively small numbers compared to the aging Tupolev SB.

Initial Deployment and Strength

On the eve of the German invasion, approximately 120 to 164 Ar-2 aircraft were distributed among frontline regiments along the Western border. These aircraft were organized into several key military districts:

• Leningrad Military District: The 2nd SBAP (High-Speed Bomber Aviation Regiment) operated 20 Ar-2s alongside 39 SBs from Kresttsy Airfield.
• Baltic Special Military District: This region held a high concentration of the type, with the 46th SBAP at Shavli and the 54th SBAP at Vilno operating a combined total of over 120 aircraft, which included both Ar-2 and SB variants.
• Western Special Military District: The 13th SBAP was equipped with 51 aircraft (Ar-2s and SBs) stationed at Ross and Borisovshchizna.
• Kiev Special Military District: The 33rd SBAP maintained 54 aircraft, including Ar-2s, based at Belaya Tserkov and Gorodishche.
• Naval Aviation: The Red Banner Baltic Fleet (KBF) possessed 19 Ar-2s in service with the 73rd BAP.

Combat Performance and Tactical Successes

The Ar-2 proved to be a significantly more capable and survivable platform than its predecessor, the SB, when utilized in its intended dive-bombing role. A standout engagement occurred on June 30, 1941, when 15 Ar-2s from the 73rd BAP attacked German motorized columns near Dvinsk (Daugavpils). While the accompanying SB units suffered the loss of 16 out of 29 aircraft, all 15 Ar-2s successfully completed the mission and returned to their base. This engagement demonstrated that the Ar-2’s improved speed and specialized dive-recovery systems provided a tactical edge even under intense enemy fire.

Rapid Attrition and Structural Losses

Despite individual successes, the Ar-2 regiments suffered from the broader collapse of the Soviet frontier defenses. Massive Luftwaffe strikes on airfields and the subsequent rapid German advance led to the abandonment of many serviceable aircraft due to a lack of fuel or the inability to evacuate. For example, the 13th SBAP was entirely depleted of its aircraft by early July 1941, and its surviving personnel were withdrawn to Moscow to retrain on the newer Petlyakov Pe-2.

Because the Soviet government had decided to phase out Ar-2 production in early 1941 to prioritize the Pe-2, these losses could not be replenished. The Ar-2 was essentially a "transitional" aircraft, and as the 200 units produced were destroyed in combat or lost during retreats, the type began to vanish from frontline strength.

Final Service and Legacy

While many units were quickly re-equipped with Pe-2s or Il-2s, some Ar-2s exhibited remarkable longevity. The 33rd SBAP (later the 10th Guards BAP) operated its Ar-2s through the retreats to Voronezh and Kharkov, eventually flying them during the defense of Stalingrad. As late as May 1942, this unit still reported having two Ar-2s on its strength. The remaining airframes continued to serve in various capacities until 1943, at which point the final survivors were replaced by American-supplied A-20 Boston bombers.

Ultimately, while the Ar-2 was a technically successful evolution of the SB series, its impact on Operation Barbarossa was limited by its small production run and the overwhelming air superiority of the Luftwaffe during the summer of 1941.