The Molot (Hammer) was designed as a strategic bomber, but excessive fuel consumption of its engines and other design shortcomings limited its range to 8,000 km, which was insufficient for striking North American targets and returning to base. Consequently, along with the development of an improved version of the bomber with more fuel-efficient bypass engines and a new wing, a program was also initiated to develop a specialized aircraft for aerial refueling. To facilitate operational support and formation flight in the refueling process the bomber and the tanker aircraft were intended to have identical design and performance characteristics.

Development of an intercontinental bomber with a strike capability at US-territory began in the early 1950s. The governmental order of 24 March 1951 provided for the establishment of a new design bureau headed by V.M. Myasishchev. The design bureau was in charge of organizing and manufacturing the development of the bomber which would have a range of 11000-12000 km, a maximum speed of 900km/h and could carry a payload of 5000 kg. The Bison was a Four-engined, swept-wing jet bomber with engines were buried in the wing roots. An unusual feature was the tandem landing gear, with small stabilising wheels at the tips of the drooping wings, and a nosewheel leg extended at take-off to achieve the correct angle of incidence.

Due to the fact that the high-power BD-5 engines for the aircraft were still in the development stage, the aircraft used four AM-3A turbojet engines developed by OKB A.A. Mikulina. The first prototype was finished in December 1952 and carried out its' first flight on 20 January 1953. It reached a speed of 947 km/h and a ceiling of 12500 m. Although the bomber had a range of only 8500 km, which did not allow strikes at US territory, series production of the M-4 bomber began in 1955 at the plant Nr. 23 in Moscow. In July 1955, deployment of the first ten bombers started.

·Bison A - M-4/2M -- The Bison A was the original version produced. It is characterized by a greenhouse nose and a nose refueling probe. It can be used in a free-fall strategic bombing role, but it is used primarily as a tanker for other Bison and Bear aircraft requiring in-flight refueling. Between 1956 and 1957, the M-4 was equipped with more powerful and low-consumption PD-3M and PD-3M-500A engines to increase range. And a prototype of the M-4, the M-4A, was equipped with an air refueling system and carried out its' first flight in 1956. Soon after series production started, studies were conducted on equipping the M-4 with the Kh-20 air-to-surface missile to strike at targets outside of the bomber's and to overcome air defenses. However, the landing gear did not allow placement of the missile under the fuselage and accommodation of the missile above the fuselage was rejected. In order to increase the range of the M-4 bomber, it was subsequently outfitted with new more powerful VD-7 engines. This new bomber had improved flight characteristics and a bigger propellant capacity relative to the M-4, with the maximum range increased up to 11850 km. An air refueling system increasing range up to 15400 km, which made these bombers the first strategic bomber capable of delivering its' payload into deep enemy territory and returning. The first flight of this bomber designated as 3M bomber took place in March 1956. At the end of 1956 series production of the 3M aircraft started at plant Nr.23, and deployment started in 1958.

·Bison B - 3M/M-6 -- The modified 3M (M-6) bomber was created in 1955. The Bison B has the same basic airframe configuration as Bison A, but it has a slightly larger wing, a longer nose, increased fuel load, higher thrust an improved bomb/nav system. Bison B is fitted with a nose refueling probe. Its primary mission is free-fall strategic bombing, but it can conduct alternate missions as a tanker when a removable bomb-bay refueling package is installed.

·Bison B - 3MS/M-6 -- The reliability of the VD-7 engines caused several problems and as a result, between 1958 and 1960 the bomber was outfitted with new RD-3M-500A engines. This bomber version is designated as 3MS. The range of the bombers without additional fuel tanks decreased to 9400 km.