Comparing: Kirovets-1 vs. IS-3

The Kirovets-1 project (IS-3, prototype No. 1) was developed from July through November 1944. The prototype was built at the Chelyabinsk Kirov Plant in September–October 1944. From December 18 through December 24, 1944, the vehicle underwent trials at the NIBT proving grounds in Kubinka. After it was decided to manufacture a pilot series of the modified IS-2 with a hull proposed by engineers of Plant No. 100 and Сentral Research Institute-48, the work on the Kirovets-1 was discontinued.

Mass production of the vehicle started in May 1945. On September 7,1945, IS-3 tanks took part in the Allied Victory Parade through Berlin. A total of 1170 vehicles were manufactured by the end of 1946, when production was canceled. From 1948 through the late 1950s, the tanks underwent a number of modernization refits.