Sukhoi T-4

The Sukhoi T‑4, often called the “Sotka,” was a Soviet supersonic strategic bomber and reconnaissance aircraft developed by the Sukhoi Design Bureau during the late 1960s. Initiated in 1965 as a response to the United States’ B‑1 program, the T‑4 embodied an ambitious attempt to create a Mach 2‑plus aircraft capable of delivering nuclear payloads while maintaining high speed and altitude performance. Its sleek delta‑wing planform, blended with area‑rule shaping, reduced drag and permitted sustained flight at 3 500 km/h. Powered by two massive NK‑36 afterburning turbofan engines, the T‑4 featured advanced avionics, fly‑by‑wire controls, and an integrated weapons bay that could carry conventional or nuclear ordnance. Only two prototypes – “302” and “311” – were built, and flight testing concluded in 1972. Although the program was cancelled in 1976 due to escalating costs and shifting strategic doctrine, the T‑4 left a lasting imprint on Soviet aerospace engineering. Its materials technology, high‑temperature alloys, and aerodynamic research directly influenced later projects such as the Su‑57 fighter and the Tu‑144 supersonic transport, cementing the T‑4’s role as a technological bridge between Cold War era bombers and modern high‑performance aircraft.

Sukhoi Design Bureau

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Design & Classification