Sukhoi
| Company type | Joint-stock company |
|---|---|
| Industry | Aerospace, defense |
| Predecessor | Sukhoi Design Bureau (OKB-51) |
| Founded | 1939 |
| Founder | Pavel Sukhoi |
| Headquarters | Moscow , Russia |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | Yury B. Slyusar (Chairman of the Board), Igor Y. Ozar (CEO) |
| Products | Military and civilian aircraft, including Su-2, Su-6, Su-57, Superjet 100 |
| Parent | United Aircraft Corporation |
| Website | www |
The JSC Sukhoi Company (, ) is a Russian aircraft manufacturer based in Begovoy District, Northern Administrative Okrug, Moscow, with expertise in producing both military and civilian airplanes.
Established in 1939 by Pavel Sukhoi as the Sukhoi Design Bureau (OKB-51, design prefix Su), the enterprise survived the dissolution of the Soviet Union and maintained its activities. In February 2006, the Russian government merged Sukhoi with other key aerospace firms such as Mikoyan, Ilyushin, Irkut, Tupolev, and Yakovlev under the United Aircraft Corporation, aiming to consolidate Russia's aviation industry.
Origins
Nine years prior to the bureau's official formation, in March 1930, aerospace engineer Pavel Sukhoi assumed leadership of team no. 4 at CAHI's AGOS aviation and prototype engineering facility. This group, operating within the Tupolev OKB, laid the groundwork for what would become Sukhoi’s design bureau. Their projects included experimental fighter models such as the I-3, I-14, and DIP, alongside record-setting aircraft like the Tupolev ANT-25, piloted by Soviet aviators Valery Chkalov and Mikhail Gromov. The team also contributed to long-range bomber designs including the Tupolev TB-1 and Tupolev TB-3.
In response to a 1936 directive from Soviet leader Joseph Stalin demanding a versatile combat aircraft, Sukhoi’s group developed the BB-1 in 1937, a reconnaissance and light bomber plane. Official approval came in 1939 with the creation of the Sukhoi OKB, designated OKB-51 and known as the Sukhoi Design Bureau, tasked with BB-1 production. That same year, the aircraft entered service with the Soviet Air Forces under the designation Sukhoi Su-2, with a total of 910 units manufactured. This decree appointed Sukhoi as chief designer and granted his bureau independent status, relocating it to Production Aircraft Plant No. 135 in Kharkiv, then part of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic. Seeking proximity to Moscow’s scientific community, Sukhoi initiated moving the bureau to an aerodrome in Moscow Oblast, completing half of this transfer by 1940. Nonetheless, lacking a full production facility in Moscow restricted its operational capabilities.
World War II
When Nazi forces invaded the Soviet Union during World War II, the Su-2 became outdated and insufficiently armed against enemy aircraft, resulting in 222 losses. In response, Sukhoi designed the two-seat armored ground-attack aircraft known as the Sukhoi Su-6, which was regarded as superior to its competitor, the Ilyushin Il-2. Despite this advantage, government preference leaned towards the Il-2; however, Sukhoi received a 1st Level Stalin Prize in 1943 for his contributions. Subsequently, the bureau concentrated on variants of the Su-2, including prototypes like the cannon-equipped fighter Sukhoi Su-1 (later Su-3) and the long-range ground-attack model Sukhoi Su-8. Development of these projects ceased as Soviet forces gained momentum on the Eastern Front.
Cold War
Following World War II, Sukhoi and his team became pioneers in jet aircraft development within the Soviet Union by creating experimental jet fighters. Prior to 1945, efforts focused on mixed-power fighters such as the Sukhoi Su-5 and an adaptation of the Sukhoi Su-6 called Su-7. Post-1945 designs included jet fighters like the Su-9, Su-11, Su-15, and Su-17, alongside jet bombers like the twin-engine Sukhoi Su-10 and reconnaissance aircraft such as the twinjet Sukhoi Su-12. The bureau also developed a trainer bomber UTB-2 derived from the Tupolev Tu-2 platform and worked on passenger and troop transport designs including a jet fighter variant named Sukhoi Su-14.
Between 1945 and 1950, several technological advancements were introduced by Sukhoi’s team: these included the first booster control system for Soviet aircraft, deployment of drogue parachutes, catapult ejection seats equipped with telescopic trolleys, and pressurized cockpits featuring jettisonable nose sections. However, after falling out of favor with Stalin in 1949, Sukhoi’s Design Bureau was dissolved; he assumed the role of Deputy Chief Designer under Andrei Tupolev. Following Stalin’s death in 1953, Sukhoi reestablished his design bureau alongside new manufacturing facilities.
Contemporary era
Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the privatization process led to the division of Sukhoi’s component manufacturing plants. During the early 1990s, Sukhoi expanded its focus into civil aviation by establishing Sukhoi Civil Aircraft, which concentrated on producing utility and agricultural aircraft such as the Su-80 and Su-38. In 1996, key enterprises merged to form the Sukhoi Aviation Military Industrial Combine (Sukhoi AIMC). Concurrently, factories located in Ulan Ude, Tbilisi, Belarus, and Ukraine joined forces to create the international consortium Sukhoi Attack Aircraft, with an objective to manufacture models including the Su-25 TM.
The Sukhoi AIMC encompasses the joint-stock Sukhoi Design Bureau and JSC Sukhoi Civil Aircraft based in Moscow; Novosibirsk Aircraft Production Association (NAPA) in Novosibirsk; as well as Komsomolsk-on-Amur Aircraft Production Association (KnAAPO). The Italian company Finmeccanica (currently Leonardo) owns a 25% plus one share interest in Sukhoi’s civil aircraft sector. In February 2006, the Russian government integrated Sukhoi with Mikoyan, Ilyushin, Irkut, Tupolev, and Yakovlev under the umbrella of United Aircraft Corporation (UAC), organizing Mikoyan and Sukhoi into a single operational unit.
September 2007 marked the debut of Sukhoi’s inaugural modern commercial regional airliner—the Superjet 100 (SSJ 100)—which accommodates between 78 and 98 passengers and was introduced in Komsomolsk-on-Amur. Its first flight took place on May 19, 2008. By March 2008, Sukhoi secured a contract to design and manufacture carbon fiber composite wings for Irkut's MC-21 aircraft. Additionally, the company is advancing Russia’s fifth-generation stealth fighter program with the Sukhoi Su-57, which completed its maiden flight on January 29, 2010.
As of January 2015, Sukhoi has been broadening its regional airliner lineup through initiatives like the Superjet 130, intended to seat between 130 and 145 passengers and bridge the gap between the Superjet Stretch variant and Irkut’s MC-21 models.
Integration of the Irkut Corporation
In late November 2018, United Aircraft Corporation reassigned assets from Sukhoi to Irkut Corporation to form UAC’s dedicated airliner division following Leonardo S.p.A.’s exit in early 2017 due to financial difficulties related to the Superjet program. Irkut assumed responsibility for managing the Superjet 100, MC-21, and Russo-Chinese CR929 widebody projects. Meanwhile, programs such as the Il-114 turboprop and updated Ilyushin Il-96-400 remained under Ilyushin. This commercial aviation segment also incorporates the Yakovlev Design Bureau, avionics specialist UAC—Integration Center, and composite manufacturer AeroComposit.
The formerly autonomous Sukhoi Civil Aircraft Company (SCAC), known for developing and producing SuperJet aircraft, was dissolved as an independent legal entity and integrated into Irkut Corporation under the new name Regional Aircraft. This restructuring was ratified by shareholders in June 2019 and implemented by February 2020. Regional Aircraft continues to oversee development, manufacturing, and aftersales services within Irkut’s civil aviation branch.
In June 2023, patents were submitted for a novel single-engine stealth fighter concept codenamed "Checkmate" (Su-75), with development reportedly spanning three years and prototype units currently under construction.
On February 23, 2024, smoke was observed at Sukhoi Design Bureau’s headquarters in Moscow. A more severe fire incident occurred on June 14, 2024 at another building within the complex, resulting in approximately 800 square meters being destroyed along with a roof collapse. The affected structure was reportedly not in use at that time. Over seventy firefighters and twenty-five emergency vehicles responded to control the blaze.
Organization
- JSC Sukhoi Company
- CJSC Sukhoi Civil Aircraft (integrated into Irkut Corporation and rebranded as Regional Aircraft – Branch of the Irkut Corporation)
- JSC Sukhoi Design Bureau
- JSC Sukhoi Holdings
- Subsidiaries
Chairman of the Board
Chief Executive Officer
- Igor Y. Ozar
Board of Directors Members
Appointed by the annual general meeting of PJSC Sukhoi Company shareholders, most recently convened on June 28, 2017.
- Ivan M. Goncharenko
- Oleg Y. Demidov
- Oleg F. Demchenko
- Sergei N. Konosov
- Nikolai F. Nikitin
- Igor Y. Ozar, Chief Executive Officer
- Yuri B. Slyusar, UAC President
- Alexander V. Tulyakov
- Sergei V. Yarkovoy
See also
References
Notes
Bibliography
- Bull, Stephan (2004). Encyclopedia of Military Technology and Innovation. Greenwood. .
- Duffy, Paul (December 1996). Tupolev: The Man and His Aircraft. Society of Automotive Engineers. .
- Gordon, Yefim (2008). Soviet Air Power in World War II. Midland Publishing. .
- Pederson, Jay (1998). International Directory of Company Histories, Vol. 24. St James Press. .
External links
- Official Sukhoi website (in Russian)
- Sukhoi Civil Aircraft official site (in English)