Discover the legacy of Soviet era fighter jets with our comprehensive guide. Explore iconic aircraft from Beriev, Ilyushin, Lavochkin, Mikoyan, Myasishchev, Sukhoi, Tupolev, Yakovlev, and Mil. Uncover their historical significance and technological prowess in aviation history.
What is Soviet Era Fighter Jets?
MiG refers to a group of Soviet military fighter aircraft created by a design bureau established in 1939 by Artem Mikoyan (M) and Mikhail Gurevich (G). Soviet-era fighter jets refer to the military aircraft developed and used by the Soviet Union during the Cold War and post-Cold War periods. These fighter jets were produced by renowned Soviet aircraft manufacturers like Mikoyan, Sukhoi, Tupolev, and others. They were designed for various roles such as air superiority, ground attack, reconnaissance, and interception. Famous examples include the MiG-15, MiG-21, Su-27, and Tu-95. These aircraft not only showcased Soviet technological advancements in aviation but also played significant roles in various conflicts and geopolitical tensions of the time. Soviet-era fighter jets are noted for their distinct designs, capabilities, and contributions to the history of military aviation.
History
The history of Soviet-era fighter jets spans several decades of military aviation development under the Soviet Union. Starting in the early 20th century, Soviet aircraft manufacturers like Mikoyan, Sukhoi, and Yakovlev began designing fighter planes for defense and combat. During World War II, iconic aircraft like the Yak-3 and Il-2 played crucial roles in Soviet air superiority against Nazi forces. Post-war, the Cold War era saw rapid advancements with jets like the MiG-15 and MiG-21, known for their speed and agility. These jets were not only symbols of Soviet military prowess but also influenced global aviation technology. Later developments like the Su-27 and Tu-95 showcased Soviet innovation in long-range bombers and air superiority fighters. The legacy of Soviet-era fighter jets continues to impact modern aviation, reflecting a significant chapter in military history and technological progress.
List of Soviet Era Fighter Jets Manufacturers
The “List of Soviet Era Fighter Jets Manufacturers” includes key names in Soviet aviation history. Beriev made amphibious planes. Ilyushin focused on bombers and transport aircraft. Lavochkin built fighters like the LaGG-3 and La-5. Mikoyan created famous fighters like the MiG-15 and MiG-21. Myasishchev made bombers and reconnaissance planes. Sukhoi designed fighters and bombers such as the Su-27 and Su-25. Tupolev crafted bombers like the Tu-95 and Tu-160. Yakovlev produced fighters and trainers like the Yak-1 and Yak-9. Mil specialized in helicopters like the Mi-24 and Mi-8. These companies played vital roles in Soviet military aviation during the Cold War and beyond.
- Mikoyan
- Sukhoi
- Tupolev
- Yakovlev
- Ilyushin
- Lavochkin
- Beriev
- Myasishchev
- Mil
These manufacturers played crucial roles in developing Soviet military aviation capabilities during the Cold War and post-Cold War periods.
1. Mikoyan
Mikoyan, also known as MiG, is a renowned Soviet aircraft manufacturer that has produced a wide range of military fighter aircraft. Founded in 1939 by Artem Mikoyan and Mikhail Gurevich, the design bureau has been responsible for some of the most iconic and influential aircraft in aviation history. The MiG series of fighter jets, including models such as the MiG-15, MiG-21, and MiG-29, are celebrated for their advanced technology, agility, and combat effectiveness. These aircraft have played significant roles in numerous conflicts and have helped shape the landscape of military aviation. The legacy of MiG continues to be felt today, with its innovative designs and contributions to the development of modern fighter jets.
Mikoyan Production Aircraft
- MiG-1 – 1940 fighter
- MiG-3 – 1940 fighter and interceptor
- MiG-9 – 1946 fighter
- MiG-15 – 1947 fighter
- MiG-19 – 1952 fighter
- MiG-21 – 1956 fighter and interceptor
- MiG-23 – 1967 fighter and fighter-bomber
- MiG-25 – 1964 interceptor and reconnaissance aircraft
- MiG-27 – 1970 ground-attack aircraft
- MiG-29 – 1977 air superiority fighter and multirole fighter
- MiG-29M – improved multirole fighter variant of the MiG-29
- MiG-29K – 1988 all-weather carrier-based multirole fighter
- MiG-29M – improved multirole fighter variant of the MiG-29
- MiG-31 – 1975 interceptor
- MiG-35 – 2009 multirole fighter
Experimental Military Aircraft
- DIS – 1941 escort fighter
- MiG-6 – ground-attack aircraft
- MiG-8 – 1945 liaison aircraft
- I-211 – 1943 fighter
- I-250 – 1945 fighter
- I-270 – 1946 interceptor
- I-320 – 1949 all-weather interceptor
- I-350 – 1951 fighter
- I-3 – 1956 fighter
- I-7 – 1957 interceptor
- I-75 – 1958 interceptor
- Ye-8 – 1962 fighter
- Ye-150 family – 1959 interceptor
- MiG-105 – 1976 test vehicle
- MiG-33 – proposed light strike fighter
- MiG-AT – 1996 advanced trainer and light attack aircraft
- Project 1.44 – 2000 technology demonstrator
Civilian Aircraft
- MiG-110 – 1995 passenger and cargo aircraft
Planned Aircrafts
- LMFS – projected stealth light multirole fighter
- MiG-41 – projected interceptor
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
- Skat – proposed unmanned combat aerial vehicle
Mikoyan Planes and Specifications
Type | Model | Year | Role | Max Speed | Range | Armament |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Production | MiG-1 | 1940 | Fighter | 640 km/h | 1,220 km | 2 × 7.62 mm ShKAS machine guns |
Production | MiG-3 | 1940 | Fighter and Interceptor | 640 km/h | 1,250 km | 1 × 12.7 mm UBS machine gun, 2 × 7.62 mm ShKAS machine guns |
Production | MiG-9 | 1946 | Fighter | 915 km/h | 800 km | 2 × 23 mm Nudelman-Rikhter NR-23 cannons, 1 × 37 mm Nudelman N-37 cannon |
Production | MiG-15 | 1947 | Fighter | 1,076 km/h | 1,350 km | 1 × 37 mm Nudelman N-37 cannon, 2 × 23 mm Nudelman-Rikhter NR-23 cannons |
Production | MiG-17 | 1950 | Fighter | 1,145 km/h | 2,020 km | 1 × 37 mm N-37 cannon, 2 × 23 mm NR-23 cannons |
Production | MiG-19 | 1952 | Fighter | 1,455 km/h | 2,200 km | 3 × 23 mm NR-23 cannons |
Production | MiG-21 | 1956 | Fighter and Interceptor | 2,175 km/h | 1,210 km | 1 × 23 mm GSh-23 cannon, 4 × R-3S missiles |
Production | MiG-23 | 1967 | Fighter and Fighter-Bomber | 2,500 km/h | 1,220 km | 1 × 23 mm GSh-23L cannon, 4 × R-60 or R-23 missiles |
Production | MiG-25 | 1964 | Interceptor and Reconnaissance Aircraft | 3,494 km/h | 1,860 km | 4 × R-40 air-to-air missiles |
Production | MiG-27 | 1970 | Ground-Attack Aircraft | 1,885 km/h | 780 km | 1 × 30 mm GSh-6-30 cannon, 7 hardpoints for bombs/missiles |
Production | MiG-29 | 1977 | Air Superiority Fighter and Multirole Fighter | 2,400 km/h | 1,430 km | 1 × 30 mm GSh-30-1 cannon, 6 × R-60 or R-73 missiles |
Production | MiG-29M | 1986 | Improved Multirole Fighter Variant of the MiG-29 | 2,400 km/h | 1,430 km | 1 × 30 mm GSh-30-1 cannon, 6 × R-60 or R-73 missiles |
Production | MiG-29K | 1988 | All-Weather Carrier-Based Multirole Fighter | 2,200 km/h | 1,300 km | 1 × 30 mm GSh-30-1 cannon, 6 × R-77 missiles |
Production | MiG-31 | 1975 | Interceptor | 3,000 km/h | 1,450 km | 1 × 23 mm GSh-6-23M cannon, 4 × R-33 missiles |
Production | MiG-35 | 2009 | Multirole Fighter | 2,600 km/h | 2,000 km | 1 × 30 mm GSh-30-1 cannon, 8 × R-77 missiles |
Experimental | DIS | 1941 | Escort Fighter | 600 km/h | 1,200 km | 2 × 7.62 mm ShKAS machine guns, 2 × 20 mm ShVAK cannons |
Experimental | MiG-6 | 1945 | Ground-Attack Aircraft | 700 km/h | 1,500 km | Various bombs and rockets |
Experimental | MiG-8 | 1945 | Liaison Aircraft | 250 km/h | 600 km | Unarmed |
Experimental | I-211 | 1943 | Fighter | 670 km/h | 1,200 km | 2 × 20 mm ShVAK cannons |
Experimental | I-250 | 1945 | Fighter | 800 km/h | 1,500 km | 2 × 20 mm B-20 cannons |
Experimental | I-270 | 1946 | Interceptor | 900 km/h | 1,200 km | 2 × 23 mm NR-23 cannons |
Experimental | I-320 | 1949 | All-Weather Interceptor | 900 km/h | 1,300 km | 2 × 23 mm NR-23 cannons |
Experimental | I-350 | 1951 | Fighter | 1,100 km/h | 1,500 km | 2 × 23 mm NR-23 cannons |
Experimental | I-3 | 1956 | Fighter | 1,250 km/h | 1,600 km | 2 × 30 mm NR-30 cannons |
Experimental | I-7 | 1957 | Interceptor | 1,250 km/h | 1,700 km | 2 × 37 mm N-37 cannons |
Experimental | I-75 | 1958 | Interceptor | 1,350 km/h | 1,800 km | 2 × 37 mm N-37 cannons |
Experimental | Ye-8 | 1962 | Fighter | 2,300 km/h | 2,000 km | 1 × 30 mm GSh-30 cannon, 2 × R-23 missiles |
Experimental | Ye-150 | 1959 | Interceptor | 2,300 km/h | 2,500 km | 2 × 30 mm NR-30 cannons |
Experimental | MiG-105 | 1976 | Test Vehicle | 2,500 km/h | 2,500 km | Unarmed |
Experimental | MiG-33 | N/A | Proposed Light Strike Fighter | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Experimental | MiG-AT | 1996 | Advanced Trainer and Light Attack Aircraft | 1,000 km/h | 1,200 km | 1 × 23 mm GSh-23 cannon |
Experimental | Project 1.44 | 2000 | Technology Demonstrator | 2,500 km/h | 3,000 km | 1 × 30 mm GSh-30 cannon |
Civilian | MiG-110 | 1995 | Passenger and Cargo Aircraft | 700 km/h | 1,500 km | Unarmed |
Planned | LMFS | N/A | Projected Stealth Light Multirole Fighter | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Planned | MiG-41 | N/A | Projected Interceptor | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Aerial Vehicles | Skat | N/A | Proposed Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle | N/A | N/A | N/A |
2. Sukhoi
Creating a comprehensive table with specifications for all these planes is quite extensive, especially given the large number of aircraft listed. However, I can start with an initial table structure and provide some basic details. We can then expand this table incrementally. Here’s the initial structure:
Category | Aircraft | Role | First Flight | Specs Summary |
---|---|---|---|---|
Production | Military aircraft | |||
Su-2 | Reconnaissance, light bomber | 1937 | Speed: 450 km/h, Range: 1,200 km, Armament: 6 x 7.62 mm machine guns, Bomb load: 400 kg | |
Su-7 | Fighter, ground-attack | 1955 | Speed: 2,150 km/h, Range: 720 km, Armament: 2 x 30 mm cannons, Various bombs, rockets | |
Su-9 | Interceptor | 1956 | Speed: 2,175 km/h, Range: 1,125 km, Armament: 4 x K-5 (AA-1 Alkali) missiles | |
Su-11 | Interceptor | 1958 | Speed: 2,130 km/h, Range: 1,200 km, Armament: 4 x K-8 (AA-3 Anab) missiles | |
Su-15 | Interceptor | 1962 | Speed: 2,230 km/h, Range: 1,700 km, Armament: 4 x K-8 (AA-3 Anab) missiles, 2 x K-5 (AA-1 Alkali) missiles | |
Su-17 | Fighter-bomber | 1966 | Speed: 1,835 km/h, Range: 2,300 km, Armament: 2 x 30 mm cannons, Various bombs, rockets | |
Su-24 | All-weather attack | 1967 | Speed: 1,654 km/h, Range: 2,775 km, Armament: 1 x 23 mm cannon, Various bombs, rockets, missiles | |
Su-25 | Close air support | 1975 | Speed: 950 km/h, Range: 1,000 km, Armament: 1 x 30 mm cannon, Various bombs, rockets, missiles | |
Su-27 | Multirole, air superiority | 1977 | Speed: 2,500 km/h, Range: 3,530 km, Armament: 1 x 30 mm cannon, Various missiles | |
Su-30 | Multirole fighter | 1989 | Speed: 2,100 km/h, Range: 3,000 km, Armament: 1 x 30 mm cannon, Various bombs, rockets, missiles | |
Su-30MKI | Multirole, air superiority | 1997 | Speed: 2,120 km/h, Range: 3,000 km, Armament: 1 x 30 mm cannon, Various bombs, rockets, missiles | |
Su-30MKK | All-weather strike | 2000 | Speed: 2,125 km/h, Range: 3,000 km, Armament: 1 x 30 mm cannon, Various bombs, rockets, missiles | |
Su-30MKM | Air superiority, multirole | 2007 | Speed: 2,100 km/h, Range: 3,000 km, Armament: 1 x 30 mm cannon, Various bombs, rockets, missiles | |
Su-33 | Carrier-based air superiority | 1987 | Speed: 2,300 km/h, Range: 3,000 km, Armament: 1 x 30 mm cannon, Various missiles | |
Su-34 | Fighter-bomber, strike fighter | 1990 | Speed: 1,900 km/h, Range: 4,000 km, Armament: 1 x 30 mm cannon, Various bombs, rockets, missiles | |
Su-35 | Multirole, air superiority | 1988 | Speed: 2,390 km/h, Range: 3,600 km, Armament: 1 x 30 mm cannon, Various missiles | |
Su-57 | Stealth air superiority | 2010 | Speed: 2,600 km/h, Range: 3,500 km, Armament: 1 x 30 mm cannon, Various bombs, rockets, missiles | |
Civilian aircraft | Role | First Flight | Specs Summary | |
Su-26 | Aerobatic | 1984 | Speed: 450 km/h, Range: 850 km | |
Su-29 | Aerobatic | – | Speed: 350 km/h, Range: 950 km | |
Su-31 | Aerobatic | 1992 | Speed: 415 km/h, Range: 900 km | |
Su-80 | Transport | 2001 | Speed: 500 km/h, Range: 1,300 km | |
Superjet 100 | Regional jet | 2008 | Speed: 870 km/h, Range: 3,048 km | |
Experimental | Military aircraft | Role | First Flight | Specs Summary |
Su-1 | Fighter | 1940 | Speed: 641 km/h, Range: 600 km | |
Su-6 | Ground-attack | 1941 | Speed: 486 km/h, Range: 810 km | |
Su-8 | Ground-attack | 1944 | Speed: 550 km/h, Range: 900 km | |
Su-9 (1946) | Fighter | 1946 | Speed: 885 km/h, Range: 1,700 km | |
Su-10 | Bomber | 1946 | Speed: 800 km/h, Range: 3,000 km, Armament: 3 x 20 mm cannons, Bomb load: 3,000 kg | |
Su-12 | Reconnaissance | 1947 | Speed: 500 km/h, Range: 3,000 km | |
Su-15 (1949) | All-weather interceptor | 1949 | Speed: 1,181 km/h, Range: 1,660 km | |
Su-17 (1949) | Fighter | 1949 | Speed: 1,960 km/h, Range: 2,000 km | |
Su-28 | Trainer | – | Speed: 2,500 km/h, Range: 3,530 km, Armament: 1 x 30 mm cannon, Various missiles | |
Su-37 | Multirole fighter | 1996 | Speed: 2,400 km/h, Range: 3,600 km, Armament: 1 x 30 mm cannon, Various missiles | |
Su-47 | Technology demonstrator | 1997 | Speed: 2,100 km/h, Range: 3,300 km, Armament: 1 x 30 mm cannon, Various bombs, rockets, missiles | |
T-3 | Interceptor | 1956 | Speed: 2,440 km/h, Range: 1,500 km, Armament: 2 x 30 mm cannons, Various bombs, rockets | |
T-4 | Reconnaissance, strategic bomber | 1972 | Speed: 3,200 km/h, Range: 7,000 km, Armament: 4 x Kh-22 missiles | |
P-1 | Interceptor | 1957 | Speed: 1,180 km/h, Range: 1,200 km, Armament: 1 x 23 mm cannon, 2 x 7.62 mm machine guns, Bomb load: 200 kg | |
T-60S | Bomber | 1984 | Speed: 2,200 km/h, Range: 11,000 km, Armament: 4 x Kh-55 missiles | |
S-54 | Trainer, light fighter | – | Speed: 1,200 km/h, Range: 1,500 km, Armament: 1 x 23 mm cannon, Various bombs, rockets | |
Civilian aircraft | Role | Flight | Specs Summary | |
Su-38 | Agricultural | 2001 | Speed: 300 km/h, Range: 1,000 km | |
S-21 | Business jet | – | Speed: 870 km/h, Range: 4,000 km | |
KR-860 | Airliner |