It featured a conventional flying boat hull, with high cantilever wings equipped with floats at mid-span.

In 1933 Chyetverikov had the design for a compact twin engined flying-boat ready for further development, which he proposed to the Glavsyevmorput (Glavsyevmorput – chief administration of northern sea routes) as a multi-role Arctic aircraft, and an order for a prototype was made, setting up Chyetverikov in his own OKB (design bureau).

The ARK-3 was of mixed construction, with a 14-metre (45.9 ft) long Duralumin stressed skin fuselage; wooden wings of MOS-27 aerofoil section; duralumin tubing tail surfaces; and ailerons with fabric covering.

Strut-supported wooden floats, at approximately half-span; and a pylon-supported engine nacelle housing tandem radial engines with Townend ring cowlings; completed the structural elements, built with a safety factor of 5.5.

[clarification needed] Flight- and sea trials in 1936 revealed weaknesses in the bows, floats and engine nacelle pylon, which were all strengthened.