In spite of a great success of the ground-attack Il-2 lrcraft, the State Department of Defence of the USSR decided in 1943 to begin with the development more serviceable and more modern two seated aircraft, in the category of types called in the Soviet Union "Shturmoviks". The Sukhoi Su-6-III, Ilyushin IL-8 and IL-10 entered a competition; the prototype of the last aircraft, Il-10, gained a victory. All three prototypes had the same engines but the Il-10 surpassed the next two prototypes by low-level flying characteristics (main area of operation for low-level strike machines) and by performance.

The smart-lined forms of the Il-10 were superior to those of the IL-2. Though the Il-10 stemmed from the IL-2, she directly took over nothing. The IL-10 differed chiefly by the cooling air intakes in the wing roots, the new undercarriage with a new retracting system (with wheels laid flat in the wings after retracting), and all-metal structure of the rear fuselage and tail surfaces. The heavy armored monocoque bath, shaped in a different way, protecting the engine and cockpit against ground anti-aircraft fire, was retained.

First production machines were completed in October 1944. The IL-lOs went into operations over Germany in March, 1945. To the end of war, during the Battle of Berlin, about 100 aircraft flew in front-line units. At the same time a light-weight version the IL-16 appeared. The production of the IL-16 was ceased after the Japan defeat but the production of the Il-10 continued. The armament of the Il-10 was improved, and the two-seat trainer conversion, the IL-10 UT, was developed. The last series built were considerably redesigned Il-lONs. The Soviet aircraft factories built a total of about 2000 IL-lOs, mostly in the post-war period. Some of them took part in the Korean War, with relatively high efficiency. Two aircraft were captured and tested in the USA.

In 1951, the preparation began and after solving some production difficulties with armoured monocoque baths, the licence production started in the Czechoslovak factory Avia. At this time the IL-lOs built planes in the Czechoslovakian Air Force service had the designation B-33 and the IL-1O Uts had designation CB-33.

Because of a characteristic sound of the AM-42 engine and a sturdy and simple construction, the B-33s were nicknamed "Kombajn" - combine harvester. The Avia - built , B-33 aircraft were also delivered to the Polish, Bulgarian, Rumanian, and Hungarian Air Forces. When the production ceased in 1955, approximately 1200 of the B-33s have been totally built. The ground attack B-33 aircraft were satisfactorily used by the Cz. A. F. into the sixties, and were the last combat aircraft of the Cz. A. F. equipped by piston engines.

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