ˈɔːɹlɪˌɑːnɑːks dɪvˈɛləpmənt wʌz pɹɪsˈiːdᵻd baɪ ðɪ ˌɛsˈɛm sˈɪks; ɐ pɹˈoʊɾoʊtˌaɪp ˈɛkɹɐnˌɑːplən wˌɪtʃ hæd ðə sˈeɪm mˈɑːdʒuːl lˈeɪaʊt æz ðɪ ˈɔːɹlɪˌɑːnɑːk.
Orlyonok's development was preceded by the SM-6; a prototype ekranoplan which had the same module layout as the Orlyonok.