Sukhoi Su-2

The Sukhoi Su‑2 was a Soviet light bomber and reconnaissance aircraft that entered service in the early 1940s. Designed by Pavel Sukhoi’s design bureau, the aircraft first flew on 13 March 1937 under the designation BB‑1 and was later redesignated Su‑2 after the Soviet Air Force adopted a new naming system. Powered by a single Shvetsov M-62 radial engine delivering 850 horsepower, the Su‑2 could reach a top speed of 470 km/h and a service ceiling of 9,100 meters, allowing it to operate over the front lines of the initial phases of the Great Patriotic War. Its all‑metal, low‑wing monoplane layout incorporated two crew positions, a modest bomb load of up to 600 kilograms, and a defensive 7.62 mm ShKAS machine gun mounted in the dorsal position. Although quickly outclassed by more advanced fighters and dedicated attack aircraft, the Su‑2 served as an important bridge between pre‑war biplane concepts and later Soviet ground‑attack designs such as the Il‑2. Production of only 910 units ceased in 1942, but the aircraft provided valuable combat experience that influenced subsequent Sukhoi projects and the development of Soviet air‑power doctrine.

Sukhoi

Classification

Dimensions

Performance

Production & History

Design & Classification