Sukhoi Su-18
| Sukhoi Su-18 | |
|---|---|
| Type: | Front bomber |
| Design country: | |
| Manufacturer: | |
| First flight: |
Never |
| Commissioning: |
Never |
| Number of pieces: |
0 |
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The Sukhoi Su-18 ( Russian Сухой Су-18 ) was a project for a multi -role fighter aircraft based on the Su-17 . Technical inadequacy, but also the political and negative economic development of the Soviet Union, let the project in the sand.
history
In order to improve the performance of the Su-7B fighter-bomber at low speeds and during take-off / landing, the OKB Suchoi developed a demonstrator with variable swivel-wing technology in 1963 with the help of the ZAGI . The Su-7IG (internal designation S-22I, NATO designation "Fitter-B"), converted from a series Su-7BM, had fixed inner parts of the wing with movable outer segments that pivoted to 28 °, 45 ° or 62 ° could become.
The production aircraft was called the Su-17 (factory designation S-32, NATO designation "Fitter-C"). Aside from the new wing, it differed from its predecessor, the Su-7, with a new cockpit canopy and a rear fuselage back for additional fuel and avionics. The Su-17 first flew on July 1, 1969.
The Su-17 saw several developmental steps and ended with the Su-17 / 22M3 and Su-17 / 22M4; the latter made its maiden flight in 1980 and the last variants were produced until 1990.
The Su-22M4 was also used by the Soviet naval forces (Russian Авиация военно-морского флота, Aviazija wojenno-morskowo flota, literally "aviation of the military naval fleet"). It was clear from the start that the guy did not have sufficient skill for tactical strikes, especially against sea targets. The Su-24 tactical bomber was an option, but it was complex and expensive, so upgrading the Su-17 was considered. The main requirement was more powerful radars tailored for a marine environment and a better / more modern engine, especially with better fuel efficiency.
OKB Suchoi took over the task in 1982. The design team tried effectively to create a "Su-24-Light" from as many tried and tested Su-17/22 elements as possible. The project was given the internal name S-54D. Mission avionics should include the "Kitten" facility, a stripped-down "Puma" navigation and attack system optimized for the marine environment. This system complex consisted of two superimposed Orion-A radar scanners for navigation / attack, a dedicated terrain following radar for the automatic control of flights at low and extremely low altitudes, and an Orbita-10-58 on-board computer.
It quickly became apparent that the original Su-17/22 airframe with nasal air inlet and central shock cone did not have enough space for the radar antennas. The OKB Suchoi had to modify the entire nose area in order to mount a larger radome . This radically modified aircraft was named T-54DM and was presented as a draft in 1984.
To create enough space, the box-shaped air intakes were relocated to the flanks and into the wing roots, which meant that the original NR-30 cannons had to be omitted. As a positive side effect, the maximum speed at altitude and the supersonic power were increased, as the fixed nose cone of the Su-17M4 was replaced by effective, adjustable distributor plates (similar to the design of the Su-15 interceptor ) in the new air intakes, which is the maximum speed of the new aircraft at a height of over 2000 km / h. On the other hand, the space for the original air duct around the cockpit could be used for avionics and other mission equipment, including a 30mm GSch-30-1 cannon in the lower front fuselage with a 150-round magazine against both ground and air targets . Due to the higher weight at the bow, the Su-18 had a nose landing gear with two wheels and a fender to prevent foreign objects from being sucked in .
Regarding the engine, the Ljulka-AL-21F-3 afterburner engine of the Su-17 was to be replaced by the new and promising Soyuz R-79F-100 turbofan which, despite the reduced fuel consumption, had around 15% more thrust than the original AL- 21F, however, reliability remained a serious problem.
It remained with one project. The conditional operational capability compared to the Su-24, the departure of Soviet military aviation from jet aircraft with only one engine and the policy of détente together with the financial crisis and the subsequent collapse of the USSR let this project die.
The development of the Su-18 is comparable to the development in China of the MiG-19 to the Nanchang Q-5 or the JZ-8 ("Finback-A") to the J-8B ("Finback-B").
parameter
- Top speed: 1,400 km (755 kn) at sea level, 1,860 km (1,005 kn, M 1.7) at altitude
- Range: 1,150 km combat range in the Hi-Lo-Hi attack with 2,000 kg war load; Range: 2,300 km (1,240 nm, 1,430 mi)
- Summit height: 14,200 m
- Rate of climb: 230 m / s
- Wing loading: 443 kg / m²
- Thrust / Weight: 0.68
- maximum load: 7 g
- Airframe life: 2,000 flight hours, 20 years
Armament
- 1 × 30mm GSch-30-1 cannon, 150 RPG in the lower front fuselage
- up to 4000 kg at ten points (three under the fixed part of each wing, four on the sides of the fuselage), including guided missiles Ch-23 (AS-7 "Kerry"), Ch-25 (AS-10 "Karen"), Ch- 29 (AS-14 "Kedge"), Ch-31 A and P (AS-17 "Krypton") and Ch-58 (AS-11 "Kilter") as well as electro-optical and laser-guided bombs, drop bombs, cluster bombs, cannon containers SPPU-22 -01, ECM containers, napalm tanks and nuclear weapons
literature
- Jefim Gordon , Sergei Komissarow: Unflown Wings: Soviet / Russian Unreleased Aircraft Projects, 1925-2010 . Midland Publishing, Birmingham 2013, ISBN 978-1-906537-34-0 (English).