Lightning night-fighters in Russia?

[Empiricist]

Originally Posted by Graham Boak

My understanding is that the Russians used Pe3s as dedicated night fighters, although often would simply use any convenient fighter, as with other nations. They did convert a number of A-20s into radar-equipped night fighters, using their own radar, but I believe this was later.

In 1941 the Soviets finished their R&D program at the Gneys-2 Radar.
Late 1942/early 1943 the Soviets tested the Gneys-2 Radars on their Pe-2s and Pe-3s converted to operate in night fighter role. The Pe night fighters were not successful however and in mid-1943 the Soviets set up new R&D project with Gneys-2 and Douglas A-20G-1 as a carrier of that radar system. That new project was relatively successful and such radar-equipped Soviet A-20G-1s were manufactured.