Su-15 FLAGON (SUKHOI) - Variants

1. Su-15 serial fighter-interceptor (1966). Aircraft Su-15 was designed primarily for aerial combat at the maximum speed of Mach 2.1. Besides the two jet engines 11F2S-R-300 was retrofitted three displacement engines Kolesov RD-36-35. Unfortunately, during flight tests, it was found that the lift motor location has been badly translated and prevent their effective use in the off or landing. Towards the end of its career, the aircraft was unconventional black camouflage.

2. Su-15VD (auxiliary t-58D1)-experimental aircraft to with lifting TURBOJET NO Rd-36-35. The Su-15 aircraft was used as a platform to develop and test at the FRI and Design Bureau's facilities a variety of flying laboratories (FL). For example, the first prototype was used in 1966 to build an experimental STOL plane, the T-58VD, equipped with a powerplant of two R-11 type operational main engines and three additional RD-36-35 type lift booster engines. T-58VD was used for development testing of reduced takeoff and landing modes. In January 1965 was the first prototype of the Su-15 version of the redesigned T-58VD (Vertikalnyje Dvigateli) in order to test the propulsion system for the upcoming tactical bomber T-6-1. Under the leadership of R. Yarmarkova in December 1966 began ground tests, and was demonstrated during the air pageant in the summer of 1967.

3. Su-15UT trainer aircraft (1969). A training version of the aircraft (U-58T) was built at Novosibirsk in 1968; on 28th August 1968, the design bureau's test pilot Ye.K. Kukushev performed its first flight. The official tests were completed in 1969; in 1970, the aircraft entered service under the designation Su-15UT and was in production till the end of 1971.

4. Su-15T serial fighter-interceptor (1970). Beginning in the mid '60s, the Design Bureau did work on upgrading the baseline version of the Su-15 to improve its combat performance, viz., to increase its identification/engagement range; with this end in view, the aircraft was to receive a new Taifun radar (a Smerch radar upgrade) and more lethal rocketry. The new version became known as the Su-15T (manufacturer's designation T-58T). In addition, at the request of the military, the aircraft was provided with an air-to-ground capability (bombs, unguided rockets and gun pods). A prototype aeroplane with the new equipment was built in late 1968, its maiden flight performed by test pilot V.A. Krechetov on 31st January 1969. The official tests took place in the period 1969-73, and on 21st January 1975 the aeroplane was put into service as part of the Su-15-98M upgraded intercept capability, the Su-15T(TM) being produced at the Novosibirsk plant in the period 1970-76.

5. Su-15TM serial fighter-interceptor (1971).

6. Su-15bis pilot fighter-interceptor with new engines and AVIONICS (1972).

7. Su-15UM fighter-interceptor (1976). In early 1976, there was built a prototype of an upgraded two-seat aircraft, the Su-15UM, its first flight performed on 23rd April 1976 by the plant's test pilots V.T. Vylomov and V.A. Belyanin. The testing of the aircraft was completed in November 1976; the Su-15UM was produced through 1981.

8. A second prototype of the Su-15 was converted into the experimental T-58L, to be used for improving performance on unpaved runways. Its design provided for an option of replacing the major landing gear wheels with skis. At the beginning of the '70s, the Su-15 was used to try out a pilot refuelling system, with 3 planes converted into FL for the purpose: two Su-15s to accommodate a Sakhalin-type UPAZ buddy tank, and one Su-15T fitted with a non-retractable refuelling probe. The system was flight-tested in the period 1972-76.