Sukhoi T-3

T-3
General information
Type	Interceptor
Manufacturer	Sukhoi OKB
Status	Prototype only
Number built	3
History
First flight	26 May 1956
Variants	Sukhoi Su-9

The Sukhoi T-3 was a prototype Soviet fighter aircraft.

Development

Starting in the early 1950s, the development of the T-3 proceeded in parallel with the S-1 which would eventually become the Sukhoi Su-7. While the S-1 was a conventional swept wing aircraft (S stood for strelovidniy, стреловидный, swept wing), the T-3 had a delta wing with a leading edge sweep of 57° (T stood for treugolniy, треугольный, delta wing). ^[1] Aside from the wings, the two aircraft shared the basic design as well as the Lyulka AL-7 turbojet engine. Since the T-3 was intended to be an interceptor, it was fitted with the Almaz (Алмаз, Diamond) radar housed in the air intake. The prototype first flew on 26 May 1956.

The T-3 was ordered into production at Factory No.153 but events overtook it when a revised specification was issued for the Interceptor fighter role. Three aircraft were completed and transported by rail to the OKB-51 factory near Moscow, where only one was to fly in as-built condition and all three prototypes were modified for various test programmes, becoming, for example, the T-39, T-49, PT-7, PT-8 and other experimental aircraft. ^[2] To investigate different radar radome configurations as well as develop radar and missile sub-systems, two of the prototypes were converted to become the PT-7 and PT-8. The PT-7 had a variable intake ramp, while the PT-8 had an extended nose with a translating centerbody. ^[1] Although not proceeded with, the T-3 served as the basis for what would eventually become the Sukhoi Su-9, forming the backbone of the PVO during the 1960s.

Specifications (T-3)

Data from Green ^[1]

General characteristics

• Crew: 1
• Length: 16.75 m (54 ft 11 in)
• Wingspan: 8.43 m (27 ft 8 in)
• Wing area: 24.2 m² (260 sq ft)
• Powerplant: 1 × Lyulka AL-7F afterburning turbojet engine, 63.7 kN (14,300 lbf) thrust dry, 88.8 kN (20,000 lbf) with afterburner

Performance

• Maximum speed: 2,100 km/h (1,300 mph, 1,100 kn)
• Maximum speed: Mach 1.98
• Range: 1,840 km (1,140 mi, 990 nmi)
• Service ceiling: 18,000 m (59,000 ft)

Armament

• Missiles: 2 × Kaliningrad K-8 or Raduga K-9 air-to-air missiles

Avionics

• Almaz radar

See also

Related development

• Sukhoi Su-7
• Sukhoi Su-9

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

• Douglas A-4 Skyhawk
• Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21

References

1. Green, William. "The Great Book of Fighters". 2001. MBI Publishing. ISBN   0760311943
2. Gordon, Yefim. Sukhoi Interceptors. Hinkley, Midland. 2004. ISBN   1-85780-180-6

Further reading

• Gordon, Yefim. Sukhoi Interceptors. Hinkley, Midland. 2004. ISBN   1-85780-180-6
• Gunston, Bill. The Osprey Encyclopaedia of Russian Aircraft 1875–1995. London, Osprey. 1995. ISBN   1-85532-405-9
• Green, William. "The Great Book of Fighters". 2001. MBI Publishing. ISBN   0760311943