Sukhoi Su-7

The Sukhoi Su‑7, developed by the Sukhoi Design Bureau in the late 1950s, became one of the Soviet Union’s most recognizable ground‑attack aircraft. Its first flight occurred on 20 March 1955, and after a rigorous testing program the type entered service with the Soviet Air Force in 1959. Designed as a single‑seat, swept‑wing fighter‑bomber, the Su‑7 featured a powerful Lyulka AL‑7F turbo‑jet engine that delivered roughly 11,000 kgf of thrust, giving the aircraft a maximum speed near Mach 2 at altitude. The airframe incorporated a 57‑degree wing sweep, a robust steel‑tubular fuselage, and simple, rugged landing gear suited to unpaved runways. Armament consisted of two internal 30 mm cannons and up to 2,000 kg of external ordnance on five hardpoints, allowing it to perform close‑air support, interdiction, and limited tactical bombing missions. The Su‑7’s straightforward construction, high speed, and good low‑level performance made it popular with export customers, including India, Poland and East Germany. Although superseded by more advanced designs such as the Su‑17 and MiG‑27, the Su‑7 demonstrated the Sukhoi bureau’s ability to blend speed with survivability, influencing subsequent Soviet strike aircraft and leaving a lasting imprint on Cold‑War aviation.

Sukhoi Design Bureau

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Design & Classification