OKB
I-215
The I‑215 is a twin‑engine tactical jet developed by the Soviet design bureau OKB in the late 1970s and entered limited service in 1984. Conceived as a successor to the earlier I‑172 series, the aircraft was intended to combine high‑speed interception capabilities with short‑range strike flexibility for front‑line air forces. Its airframe employed a lightweight aluminum‑lithium alloy structure and featured swept‑back wings with leading‑edge slats, giving it a maximum speed of Mach 1.9 at altitude and a take‑off run of only 450 m on unpaved strips. Powered by two after‑burning RD‑33V turbofans, the I‑215 could carry a mixed load of air‑to‑air missiles, precision‑guided bombs, and a 23 mm cannon. Avionics were a notable advancement: a digital fly‑by‑wire system, multi‑mode radar with look‑down/shoot‑down capability, and a helmet‑mounted sight that allowed pilots to engage targets beyond the traditional field of view. Although production numbers remained low due to budget constraints, the I‑215 demonstrated key technologies—such as integrated sensor fusion and reduced radar cross‑section shaping—that later informed the design of the Sukhoi Su‑57 and other fourth‑generation fighters. Its brief operational history highlighted the shift toward multirole agility in Soviet‑era combat aviation.