Lavochkin La-160

Lavochkin · Soviet Union · first flew 1947 · fighter

The Lavochkin La-160 was the Soviet Union's first swept-wing jet aircraft, representing a pivotal step in Soviet high-speed aviation research. Known as 'Strelka' (Arrow), it proved the viability of swept wings for high-subsonic speeds.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	Mid-mounted, swept
E — Engines	1 × turbojet, fuselage-mounted
F — Fuselage	10.06 m fuselage
T — Tail	Conventional

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First Soviet swept-wing jet aircraft
Single nose-intake turbojet
Nicknamed 'Strelka' (Arrow) for swept wings

Distinguished by its notably swept wings (unusual for a 1947 Soviet aircraft), conventional tail, and single nose intake — marking the visible break from straight-wing Soviet jets.

Specifications

The Lavochkin La-160 has a length of 10.06 m (33 ft).
It has a wingspan of 8.95 m (29 ft).
Its maximum speed is 970 km/h (603 mph).
Typical crew: 1.

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

First flown in June 1947, the La-160 was designed to explore swept-wing aerodynamics captured from German wartime research, incorporating a 35-degree wing sweep. It achieved approximately 970 km/h in level flight, confirming swept wings' advantages over straight-wing jets. The La-160 did not progress to production but directly informed subsequent Soviet swept-wing fighters including the MiG-15 and La-168.

Variants

Only one prototype was built; no variants were produced.

Where you'll see it

Purely experimental; used for high-speed research by the Soviet aviation establishment in 1947–1948.

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