Sukhoi Su-1

The Sukhoi Su‑1 was the first prototype of the Soviet high‑altitude interceptor series that later evolved into the legendary Su‑7 family. Developed by the Sukhoi Design Bureau in the late 1940s, the aircraft made its maiden flight on 9 February 1949 from the Moscow Test Center. Although only a single airframe was built, the Su‑1 served as a crucial technology demonstrator, testing swept‑wing aerodynamics, powerful turbojet propulsion, and advanced flight‑control systems that would shape Soviet jet design for the next two decades. Powered by a Lyulka TR‑1 axial‑flow turbojet delivering roughly 27 kN of thrust, the aircraft featured a 35‑degree swept wing, conventional tail, and an all‑metal stressed‑skin construction. Its armament concept included nose‑mounted cannons and provisions for rockets, reflecting the emerging doctrine of high‑speed, high‑altitude interception. The lessons learned from the Su‑1 program directly informed the successful Su‑7 “Fitter” fighter‑bomber and the later Su‑15 interceptor, cementing Sukhoi’s reputation as a leading innovator in swept‑wing jet technology. Today the Su‑1 is remembered as a pioneering step that helped the Soviet Union close the post‑war jet gap with the West. Its legacy endures in museums and in the design philosophy of modern Sukhoi fighters.

Sukhoi

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Design & Classification