Sukhoi Su-12

The Sukhoi Su‑12 was a Soviet short‑range, twin‑engine reconnaissance and light‑attack aircraft developed by the Sukhoi Design Bureau in the early 1950s. Conceived to replace the aging Tupolev Tu‑2 and Ilyushin Il‑28 in the tactical‑reconnaissance role, the Su‑12 first flew on 7 April 1952, piloted by test ace V. G. Rakhmanin. Its airframe combined a low‑wing monoplane layout with a rugged all‑metal construction, allowing operation from forward airstrips under harsh weather conditions. Powered by two Shvetsov ASh‑82V‑12 radial engines delivering 1 650 hp each, the aircraft achieved a maximum speed of 640 km/h, a service ceiling of 12 000 m, and a range of 1 850 km, sufficient for deep‑penetration missions. The Su‑12 featured an extensive suite of cameras and electronic‑reconnaissance equipment housed in a pressurized nose compartment, as well as underwing hardpoints that could carry up to 500 kg of rockets, bombs, or external fuel tanks. Although only a limited pre‑production batch was built before the programme was cancelled in 1955 in favor of more advanced jet‑powered platforms, the Su‑12 demonstrated Sukhoi’s ability to integrate piston‑engine performance with modern reconnaissance technology. Its development provided valuable engineering data that informed later designs such as the Su‑7 and contributed to the evolution of Soviet tactical aviation during the Cold War.

Sukhoi

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