Sukhoi T-47 prototype
The country sharply needed more or less suitable high-altitude interceptor, and situation required making immediate decisions by its armament. A more refined version with a more powerful Oryol radar emerged in 1959 as the T-47, known as the Su-11. Under the designation T-47 the Sukhoi Design Bureau began work to employ the powerful "Almaz" radar. Aircraft designers were able to find a compromise with the developers of the radar a single station, after squeezing under the fairing, which was large bell, both antennas of the radar. For this it was necessary to considerably increase the nose cone and to make in its sides radio-transparent inserts in order to ensure the acceptable pattern of the radar scanning antenna. In this case, naturally, the bulging nose worsened the characteristics of air duct and view from the cabin of pilot. To offset the increased aerodynamic drag, the Su-11 utilized a modified engine AL-7F-2 which provided more power. And the RS-2US rockets were changed to the R-8.
Joint action of the Ministry of Aviation Industry and the Air Force on 18 December 1957, factory # 153 was given the task of building the first 10 T-47 aircraft in 1958 with the Almaz radar, placed in the united mobile cone, and by cannon armament.
The first flight of the T-47 plane took place in 1958 (by E.K. Kukusev). The first series production machine rose into the air in July 1962. The combat units of the Su-7B and Su-9 faced considerable difficulty due to the low reliability of AL-7F engines type. For the first year and a half years in flight incidents 23 machines were lost, more than half because of engine failure. On 27 November 1961 the Government Decree direted Sukhoi to complete production of the Su-9 in 1962, drastically reduce production Su-11, and in return for the Novosibirsk factory No. 153 launch the Yak-28P. Thus, the Sukhoi Design Bureau saw the prospect of the collapse of interceptor production.
T-47 interceptors for testing the T-3-8M interception complex were finalized at the Design Bureau on the basis of the experimental and first serial T-3s manufactured by the Novosibirsk Aircraft Plant. The first prototype was the T47-3, modified from the PT-7. The assembly of the aircraft was completed in November, and the flyby was completed on December 27, 1958. In the future, another 5 experimental aircraft were connected in series to the T-3-8M complex tests. Factory tests of the new interceptor were completed in October 1959, and in November state joint tests of the T-3-8M complex began. As in the case of the first interception system, the state commission was headed by Colonel General F.A. Agaltsov.
State tests were carried out in 2 stages: from November 1959 to May 1960 and from May 1960 to May 1961. Directly during the tests, improvements were promptly made to the aircraft structure. So, for example, to improve the acceleration characteristics of the T-47, a more powerful AL-7F-2 engine was installed on it, and to increase the flight range - additional fuel tanks in the rear of the fuselage and in the wing. The most difficult issue that was resolved during the ICG was the development of K-8M missiles with homing. The act according to the results of the State Property Inspection was signed on May 25, 1961 and approved by the Air Force Commander-in-Chief on July 8, 1961, the aircraft as part of the interception complex was recommended for adoption.
A day later, on July 9, 1961, the T-47, along with other newest Soviet aircraft, was first openly shown in public during an air parade in Tushino. In the fall of 1961, it was decided to launch the aircraft in series at the plant in Novosibirsk in 1962 to replace the Su-9. The interception system T-3-8M was adopted by a government decree of February 5, 1962 under the designation Su-11-8M. At the same time, the T-47 fighter-interceptor received the official designation Su-11, the Orel radar became known as RP-11, and the K-8M missiles - R-8MR (in the version with a semi-active CSG) and R-8MT (with passive TGS).
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
