Ebook: Sukhoi Interceptors

Liquidated on political grounds in 1949, Pavel O. Sukhoi's design bureau was reborn in 1953 after Stalin's death. Two lines of aircraft development were established; one was fighter-bombers and attack aircraft, while the other major area of work was interceptors. The first in this line of delta-winged aircraft was the T-3 development aircraft of 1955. After experimenting with different engine options, radars and air intake designs, Sukhoi settled for a single AL-7F engine and a TsD-30 radar in a conical intake centrebody on the T-43 which entered production in 1958 as the Su-9 - the second type to be thus designated. A more refined version with a more powerful Oryol radar emerged in 1959 as the T-47, known as the Su-11. These aircraft were the fastest and highest-flying Soviet interceptors of the 1960s. A new line was started in 1960 with the twinjet T-58 which entered production as the Su-15, again the second twin-engined Sukhoi fighter to have this designation. This aircraft remained a key element of the Soviet Air Defence Force well into the 1980s until replaced by the peerless Su-27. Various versions of the Su-15 are detailed in this book, as are the experimental PT-7/PT-8, T-49 and the unusual two-seat P-1 heavy interceptor with lateral air intakes. The book is richly illustrated with black/white and color photos, including previously unpublished ones, and line drawings.