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Sukhoi P-1

During 1957, the Sukhoi OKB began construction of the prototype of a new tailed-delta interceptor, the two-seat P-1 (the prefix letter indicating Perekhvatchik, or interceptor) intended to meet a requirement for a fighter equipped with collision-course radar and carrying a mixed armament of guided and unguided missiles plus cannon. The P-1 ["Product II"] is considered as an interceptor quite advanced for its time, resembling the F-104B technical solutions. A single prototype was built, but due to problems with the propulsion system and weapons it did not go into series production.

Flown in 1958, the P-1 had a 57° delta wing with dog-tooth leading edges and lateral air intakes with translating centrebodies. Power was provided by an unspecified turbojet with a maximum afterburning thrust of 10600kg and armament included a battery of 50 unguided spin-stabilised 57mm rocket missiles, provision being made for a single 37mm cannon and guided missiles on underwing pylons. Poor engine reliability and serious delay in development of the intended X-band radar led to discontinuation of development of the P-1 at a comparatively early stage in flight test.

The aircraft was developed on the basis of a decision of the Council of Ministers from the end of 1954. Sukhoi began design studies for what was to become Izdeliye P in 1954 to meet an urgent request from the Ministry of Aircraft Production (MAP – Ministerstvo Aviatsionnoy Promyshlennosti – ministry of aviation industry). Soon after the development of the S-1 and T-3 planes - the first for the restored Sukhoi Design Bureau - in the general types department, a preliminary design of the P-1 aircraft intended for operation in the Uragan-1 interception system began.

The main option was a two-seat aircraft, although a single-seat option was also considered. Initially, three engine options were considered for installation on an interceptor: one AL-11 ; one R15B-300 or two AL-9 , however, with the exception of the R15B-300, the other options disappeared by themselves, since they did not leave the “paper stage” until the end of the tests. However, even the R15B-300 was very late, so the AL-7F already in production was installed on the plane . The preliminary design of the P-1 provided for a frontal air intake with the placement of one of the radar antennas in the influx above it of the experimental T-3 type.

However, due to the size of the radar, such a solution could not be applied, so the P-1 was the first Sukhoi Design Bureau aircraft with lateral air intakes. On the front edge of the wing of a triangular shape, a characteristic “ledge” (similar to that on the T-3), recommended by TsAGI, stood out. The fuel was located in two fuselage and four wing tanks with a total capacity of 2410 liters. Together with a suspension tank with a volume of 950 l, the fuel reserve was supposed to provide a range of 1400 and 2000 km, respectively.

In both versions, the interceptor was equipped with underwing suspension points. In the P-1, the combat load of the aircraft varied. Suspension was provided for two K-7 missiles, or two ARS-212 and fifty ARS-57 or 32 turbojet TRS-85 stabilized by rotation. The aircraft control system included the AP-28 autopilot . Guidance interceptor was to be carried out in an automated mode. In addition, the equipment included the RV-U radio altimeter , GIK-1 gyrocompass , RSIU-4 transmitter, SPU-1 intercom, and some other equipment.

The prototype was built in June 1957 , by June 10 it was moved to the aerodrome LII. The first flight on the P-1 took place on July 12 in Zhukovsky (test pilot N.I. Korovushkin). Then the pilot of the LII E.V. Elyan joined in the tests. Until November 26, the aircraft made four test flights. At the same time, three aircraft began to be built at plant No. 153 in Novosibirsk with the planned R15B-300 turbojet engines.

At first the Uragan-1 interception system did not pass tests, then work on K-7 missiles was stopped in favor of K-8. In 1958, P.O. Sukhoi proposed the P-2 low-altitude interceptor variant, in which the P-1 was equipped with the Panther radar and two K-9 air-to-air missiles. However, for the automated guidance of the P-2 using the Air-1 system under development, a need arose for a repeater aircraft.

An experimental P-1 with a lower thrust engine, devoid of radar, guidance and armament equipment, allowed only to determine takeoff and landing characteristics and stability and controllability parameters in some modes, as well as evaluate the platform itself. In the face of a disruption in the supply of planned engines and weapons, the aircraft was not needed either by the customer or Sukhoi Design Bureau. Sukhoi Design Bureau began designing the T-37 heavy interceptor. This put an end to the history of P-1; The experimental aircraft was used for some time as a flying laboratory, then it was scrapped.