In other words, a scenario where Soviets do not opt for an 1-engine armored attack aircraft for the 1940s. The Su-2, Pe-2 etc still get built.
In what kind of aircraft they might invest the resources instead, for the job of attacking enemy ground troops? Make a fighter-bomber around either M-82 or Mikulin's engines? More Pe-2s and/or Su-2s? Armored fighter with a 23mm and then a 37mm gun in the nose? Turn the western fighters into attackers once available? Something else?
In what kind of aircraft they might invest the resources instead, for the job of attacking enemy ground troops? Make a fighter-bomber around either M-82 or Mikulin's engines? More Pe-2s and/or Su-2s? Armored fighter with a 23mm and then a 37mm gun in the nose? Turn the western fighters into attackers once available? Something else?