Sukhoi T-3

The Sukhoi T-3 was a prototype Soviet fighter aircraft. Starting in the early 1950s it was developed in parallel with the S-1, which became the Su-7, and the two shared their basic design and the Lyulka AL-7 turbojet. The difference was the wing: the S-1 had a conventional swept wing, while the T-3 had a delta wing with a leading edge sweep of 57 degrees, which is why Sukhoi prototypes carry the letter T. Meant as an interceptor, it was fitted with the Almaz radar in its air intake. The prototype first flew on 26 May 1956 and the type was ordered into production, but a revised interceptor specification overtook it. Three aircraft were completed and rebuilt for test programmes, becoming the T-39, T-49, PT-7 and PT-8, and the T-3 became the basis of the Su-9 that served the Soviet air defence forces in the 1960s.