Sukhoi T-3

T-3 FIGHTER-INTERCEPTOR PROTOTYPE

After the design of the Sukhoi T-3 interceptor was completed in February of 1955, the manufacturing of the prototype began at the experimental factory. Because of an Air Force acquisition office request (reflecting PVO demand) at the end of 1954, the terms of the prototype manufacturing order were changed. On December 30,1954, was a resolution of the Council of Ministers of the Soviet Union requiring the mounting of air-to-air guided missiles, of the K-7L or K-6V type, on the interceptor.

It was decided to build the second prototype to carry the K-7L armament system. To keep within the estimated terms of the manufacturing order, the designers used the results of the T-1 research. The T-1 prototypes were in the manufacturing stage then. For this purpose, the cockpit compartment and the wing forward sections had to be reworked. The manufacturing of the aircraft soon continued and, by the end of 1955, the static test interceptor prototype was completed.

The Sukhoi T-3 flight-test prototype was prepared in April. It was transferred to the Lll airfield late at night on April 23. During one month, the aircraft was subject to ground development tests. Equipment and aircraft systems had been checked out and the trial taxiing had been completed. Flight clearance was received by May 26. 1955. Vladimir Makhalin, the Sukhoi Design Bureau test pilot, took off in the aircraft for the first time. In less than a month, on June 24, the aircraft was shown publicly for the first time at the Tushino air show along with another Sukhoi Design Bureau aircraft, the S-1.

The Sukhoi T-3 interceptor prototype had been developed with the intent of eventual series production. Aircraft fuel capacity had been increased to 828 gal (3,133 I) without external tanks. The aircraft was capable of carrying two external tanks of 264 gal (1,000 I) capacity. It was powered by an AL-7F engine prototype. Prototype equipment was to have included the Almaz-3 radar, the PVU-67 sight, and the Khrom-Nikel IFF system. However, the first prototype (designated izdelie-81) was not equipped with the radar at the beginning of the flight tests. Test instrumentation and a balance weight were installed instead of the radar. Neither the PVU-67 sight nor the IFF system was installed. The aircraft was to have been equipped with the NR-30 guns in the wing roots but they were not installed during the tests.

First stage flight tests with the Sukhoi T-3 spanned from April 23 until September 28, 1956. These flights dealt with the determination of the aircraft’s flight performance and its compliance to the specifications. The flights were performed by the Design Bureau test pilot Vladimir Makhalin. From October 1956 until the beginning of March 1957, the T-3 was at the factory where it was modified.

Sukhoi T-3

These modifications included the installation of:

  1. an Almaz radar and a PVU-67 gun sight (soon they were removed and were not used again);
  2. K-7L missiles stores and their launching system;
  3. a Mindal radio suite instead of the Dub system;
  4. a Khrom-Nikel IFF system
  5. an enlarged braking parachute container;
  6. a sliding canopy;
  7. other aircraft systems and units.

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