M-67 project included various aircraft for high altitude flights with optical equipment on board. These works were performed by order of Ministry of Defence as a response to SDI (Strategic Defence Initiative) projects from USA side.
I assume the basic idea was – high altitude, optical sensors to detect incoming RVs or maybe even onboard lasers to shoot them down?
I wonder if Myasishchev came up with that config before or after the B-2 was shown publicly…