Sukhoi Su-9

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sukhoi_Su-9

The Sukhoi Su-9 (NATO reporting name: Fishpot) was a single-engine, all-weather,
missile-armed interceptor aircraft developed by the Soviet Union.

The Su-9 emerged from aerodynamic studies by TsAGI, the Soviet aerodynamic
center, during the Korean War, which devised several optimum aerodynamic
configurations for jet fighters. The design first flew in 1956 as the T-405
prototype. The Su-9 was developed at the same time as the Su-7 "Fitter", and
both were first seen by the West at the Tushino Aviation Day on 24 June 1956,
where the Su-9 was dubbed Fitter-B. It entered service in 1959.

Total production of the Su-9 was about 1,100 aircraft. It is believed that at
least some Su-9s were upgraded to Su-11 "Fishpot-C" form. None were exported to
any of the USSR's client states nor to the Warsaw Pact nations. Remaining Su-9s
and later Su-11s were retired during the 1970s. Some were retained as test
vehicles or converted to remote-piloted vehicles for use as unmanned aerial
vehicles. It was replaced by the upgraded Su-11 and the much-superior Su-15
"Flagon" and MiG-25 "Foxbat".

The combat record of the "Fishpot", if any, is unknown. It is possible that it
was involved in the interception (or even shoot-down) of reconnaissance missions
whose details remain classified, but nothing is publicly admitted.

It was reported that a Su-9 was involved in the interception of Francis Gary
Powers' U-2 on Soviet territory on 1 May 1960. A newly manufactured Su-9 which
was in transit flight happened to be near Powers' U-2. The Su-9 was unarmed and
was directed to ram the U-2. One ramming attempt was made and the Su-9 missed
the U-2, primarily due to large difference in the speed of the two planes. No
further ramming attempt was made due to Su-9's lack of fuel. Its pilot, Captain
Igor Mentyukov later claimed that his slipstream had caused the U-2 to break
apart. He discounts the official version that the U-2 was shot down by an SA-2
missile, saying that Captain Powers could not have survived such a hit.


Role
Interceptor aircraft

National origin
Soviet Union

Manufacturer
Sukhoi

First flight
24 June 1956

Introduction
1959

Retired
1970s

Primary user
Soviet Air Defense Forces

Number built
1,150

Variants
Sukhoi Su-11

The Su-9 was developed from earlier work on a developmental aircraft designated
T-3, to which the Su-9 was very nearly identical. Internally at Sukhoi, the Su-9
was known as the T-43.

The delta wing of the Su-9 was adopted because of its lower drag in the
supersonic flight regime. Its greater volume also allowed a very modest increase
in fuel capacity compared to the Su-7. The Su-9 was capable of Mach 1.8 at
altitude, or about Mach 1.14 with missiles. Its fuel fraction remained minimal,
however, and operational radius was limited. Furthermore, rotation speeds were
even higher than the Su-7, which was already high at 360 km/h (225 mph). Unlike
the Su-7, which had very heavy controls but docile handling characteristics, the
"Fishpot" had light and responsive controls, but was very unforgiving of pilot
error.

The Su-9 had primitive R1L (NATO reporting name "High Fix") radar in the shock
cone and was armed with four K-5 (AA-1 "Alkali") beam-riding air-to-air
missiles. Like all beam-riders, the K-5 was so limited as to be nearly useless
for air-to-air combat. Unlike the Su-7 and later Su-15, no Su-9 carried cannon
armament, although two fuselage pylons were reserved for the carriage of drop
tanks.

Specifications (Su-9)

General characteristics
Crew: 1
Length: 17.37 m (57 ft)
Wingspan: 8.43 m (27 ft 8 in)
Height: 4.88 m (16 ft)
Wing area: 34 m² (366 ft²)
Empty weight: 8,620 kg (19,004 lb)
Loaded weight: 12,250 kg (27,007 lb)
Max. takeoff weight: 13,500 kg (29,762 lb)
Powerplant: 1 × Lyulka AL-7 turbojet, 90 kN (19,840 lbf)

Performance
Maximum speed: Mach 1.73 (2,135 km/h; 1,325 mph) at high altitude
Range: 1,125 km (699 mi; 607 nmi)
Service ceiling: 16,760 m (55,000 ft)
Rate of climb: 136.7 m/s (27,000 ft/min)
Wing loading: 383 kg/m² (74 lb/ft²)
Thrust/weight: 0.73

Armament

Hardpoints: 2 x under-fuselage hardpoints for drop tanks and 4 x under-wing
hardpoints for 500 kg (1,100 lb) of disposable stores and provisions to carry
combinations of: Missiles: 4 × K-5 air-to-air missiles




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