Sukhoi Su-10
| Industry | Aerospace, Military aviation |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1946 |
| Headquarters | Soviet Union |
The Sukhoi Su-10, also known as Izdeliye Ye (Russian: Product E), was a Soviet jet-powered bomber developed shortly after the conclusion of World War II.
Development
On 26 February 1946, OKB-134 received the directive to design and produce a bomber equipped with either four Lyul'ka TR-1A or six RD-10 turbojet engines. The design process commenced on 24 April 1946, involving extensive evaluation of various configurations before finalizing the layout. Numerous engine installation options were explored, including:[1]
- Four RD-10 engines (copies of Jumo 004)
- Six RD-10 engines (copies of Jumo 004)
- Four Lyul'ka TR-1 engines
- Four Lyul'ka TR-1A engines
- Four Lyul'ka TR-2 engines
- Four RD-500 engines (copies of Rolls-Royce Derwent)
The Su-10 was a multi-engine jet bomber designed to accommodate a crew of four: Pilot, Navigator/Bomb Aimer (typically the aircraft commander), Gunner/Radio Operator, and Gunner/Observer. Ejection seats were installed for the Pilot, Navigator, and Radio Operator; the tail gunner escaped by jettisoning the tail barbette before egress.
Its airframe featured an all-metal semi-monocoque structure with flush-riveted stressed duralumin skin panels, while highly stressed components utilized high-strength steel. The shoulder-mounted wings were trapezoidal in planform with rounded tips and constructed as a single unit. Each wing incorporated two spars and ribs covered by stressed duralumin skinning, employing TsAGI Sh-2-12 airfoil sections at the root and SR-3-12 profiles at the tip.[1] The empennage consisted of a fin swept back at 45 degrees[2] and an unswept horizontal stabilizer positioned at approximately two-thirds of the fin’s height, using TsAGI 1V-00 aerofoil sections. Both ailerons and elevators were hydraulically assisted.
The engine nacelles were mounted around mid-span on the wings to minimize aerodynamic interference. Engines were arranged in vertically staggered pairs: the lower engine sat clear of the leading edge with exhaust routed beneath the wing, while the upper nacelle extended over the wing, discharging exhaust near mid-chord.
Throughout 1947, test rigs and a static fuselage model were constructed. The final propulsion configuration was confirmed by a Council of Ministers decree on 11 March 1947, mandating development of a medium bomber powered by four Lyul'ka TR-1A turbojets. For enhanced take-off performance, the Su-10 could be fitted with four U-5 JATO boosters mounted on the lower rear fuselage sides.
Although the prototype was completed and prepared for flight trials, work ceased when OKB-134 was closed amid widespread organizational shutdowns. Subsequently, the Su-10 was transferred to the Moscow Aviation Institute to serve as a training airframe.