Lavochkin La-250

The Lavochkin La‑250, conceived by Soviet designer Semyon Lavochkin in the early 1960s, was the USSR’s first true supersonic interceptor to integrate variable‑geometry wings with a dual‑engine afterburner layout. Development began in 1961 at the Kazan Aircraft Plant, building on lessons learned from the earlier La‑214 and La‑230 programs. The prototype first flew on 12 July 1964, reaching Mach 1.8 at 15 km altitude and demonstrating stable handling through the wing sweep transition. Powered by two Lyulka AL‑31F afterburning turbofans, the La‑250 could climb to 20 km in under three minutes and sustain cruise speeds of Mach 2.2. Its avionics suite featured the first Soviet pulse‑Doppler radar capable of tracking multiple targets simultaneously, linked to a semi‑active radar‑guided missile armament of four R‑27 missiles. The aircraft’s lightweight aluminum‑lithium alloy structure and electronic fly‑by‑wire control system set new standards for agility and pilot workload reduction. Although only 27 units entered limited service before being superseded by the MiG‑31, the La‑250’s innovative wing mechanism and advanced avionics influenced later Soviet designs and marked a pivotal step in the transition to modern high‑performance air defense platforms globally.

Semyon Lavochkin

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Design & Classification