Sukhoi Combat Aircraft Books - History and Deployment

Sukhoi Interceptors: The Su-9, Su-11 and Su-15 - Unsung Soviet Cold War Heroes

Closed in 1949, the Sukhoi Design Bureau was reborn in 1953 to meet an urgent demand for a fast interceptor that would counter the threat posed by NATO bombers. It wasted no time developing a succession of missile-armed, Mach 2 interceptors characterized by delta wings; the single-engined Su-9 entered service in 1960, followed by the up-armed Su-11 in 1964 and the twin-engined Su-15 in 1967.
Though built in modest numbers, the three types became an important asset for the Soviet air defence force-particularly the more capable Su-15, which unfortunately became notorious for shooting down two intruding South Korean airliners within five years.

The Su-15 outlasted the Soviet Union, the last being retired in 1996. There were also several Sukhoi interceptors that remained in prototype or project form. All known versions are described, as are operational details. The book features many rare and previously unpublished photos.

Information

Sukhoi Su-15 : The Boeing Killer (Flight Craft)

In the late 1950s, the Sukhoi Design Bureau, already an established fighter maker, started work on a successor to its Su-9 and Su-11 single-engined interceptors for the national Air Defence Force.
Similar to its predecessors, the new aircraft designated Su-15 had delta wings; unlike the Su-9/Su-11, however, it had twin engines and lateral air intakes freeing up the nose for a powerful fire control radar.
First flown in May 1962, the Su-15 officially entered service in 1965 and was built in several versions, the late ones having cranked-delta wings and a more capable radar.

Being an air defence fighter, the Su-15 frequently had to deal with intruders. Unfortunately the aircraft gained notoriety in two separate incidents involving shoot-downs of Boeing airliners (a 707 in 1978 and a 747 in 1983), both of which were South Korean and had intruded into Soviet airspace on what was very probably clandestine spy missions.

This book describes the developmental and service history of the Sukhoi-Su-15, containing a comprehensive survey of all model-making kits currently available on the market.

Information

Sukhoi Su-35s Flanker E: Flying with the Russian Air Force (Duke Hawkins)

This beautiful Duke Hawkins photo book extensively presents the Sukhoi Su-35s Flanker E, in service with the Russian Air Force.
The book contains not only action photos, but also many "walkaround" photos that show details of the aircraft from different angles. Chapters on cockpit, fuselage, armament and landing gear.

The series "Aircraft in Detail" arose from the collaboration between pilots, aircraft technicians and modellers. This volume (No. 20) on the Sukhoi Su-35s Flanker E is illustrated with a large number of very high quality color photographs, most of which have never been published before.

Information

Su-57 Felon

In December 2020, the first Sukhoi Su-57, codenamed Felon by NATO, entered service with the Aerospace Forces, making it Russia's most recent combat aircraft. It is a multirole aircraft combining the functions of both a fighter and strike aircraft, with design features that include stealth, supersonic cruising speed and maneuverability, the latest sensors and weaponry, and network-centric warfare capability.

Fully illustrated with over 170 full-color photographs, this book describes the trials of the T-50 prototypes and the implementation of the Su-57 into series production, as well as looking at the design, characteristics and combat capabilities of this fifth-generation fighter.

Information