Sukhoi P-1

The Sukhoi P‑1 was a Soviet experimental jet fighter developed in the early 1950s as a response to the emerging need for high‑altitude, high‑speed interceptors. Initiated in 1950 under the direction of the Sukhoi Design Bureau, the project sought to combine a powerful turbo‑jet engine, a swept‑wing layout, and advanced radar‑guided armament. The prototype, designated P‑1, first flew on 5 August 1952 from the Khodynka airfield and demonstrated a maximum speed of 1,750 km/h at 15,000 meters, a service ceiling above 18,000 meters, and a climb rate exceeding 70 meters per second. Its key features included the Lyulka AL‑7F afterburning engine, a laminar‑flow wing with leading‑edge slats, and an integrated fire‑control system that could direct four short‑range air‑to‑air missiles. Although the aircraft never entered mass production—its development was halted in 1954 in favor of the more successful Su‑9 and Su‑11—it provided valuable data on high‑altitude aerodynamics, engine integration, and missile guidance that shaped later Soviet interceptor designs. The P‑1 thus holds an important place in aviation history as a stepping stone that contributed to the evolution of supersonic air defense capabilities during the Cold War.