Sukhoi Su-15 "Flagon"
Sukhoi · Soviet Union · first flew 1962 · fighter
The Su-15 Flagon was the Soviet Union's standard homeland defence interceptor through the 1970s and 1980s, a twin-engined delta-winged missile platform with no gun armament.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, delta |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × turbojet, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Twin side-by-side circular intakes flanking the forward fuselage — no nose intake, leaving the nose free for radar |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Twin side-by-side circular intakes flanking the forward fuselage — no nose intake, leaving the nose free for radar
- Large ogival delta wing with prominent missile rail stubs underwing carrying R-98 or R-60 missiles
- Single-seat bubble canopy on a slim fuselage with no internal gun — built purely as a missile-armed interceptor
The twin side-by-side round intakes flanking the nose are unique among Soviet interceptors — the Su-15 is the only single-seat Soviet fighter with this configuration. Compare to the MiG-25 which has rectangular side intakes set further apart and a much larger overall footprint.
Specifications
- The Su-15 Flagon has a length of 19.56 m (64 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 9.34 m (31 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 2230 km/h (1386 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Entering service in 1967, the Flagon defended Soviet airspace for over two decades and was the type that shot down Korean Air Lines Flight 007 in 1983. Over 1,400 were built, equipping air defence regiments across the USSR.
Variants
The initial Flagon-A had a round delta; the Flagon-F (Su-15TM) introduced a wider ogival delta wing and the Taifun-M radar. The Su-15UM was a two-seat combat-capable trainer.
Where you'll see it
Withdrawn from Russian service by the mid-1990s as Su-27s took over. Several are preserved at Russian museums including Kubinka; none are believed airworthy.
Related aircraft
- Sukhoi Su-7BM
- Sukhoi Su-7U
- Sukhoi Su-11
- Sukhoi Su-22
- Dassault Balzac V
- de Havilland Sea Vixen FAW.2
- English Electric Lightning F.3
- English Electric Lightning T.5
AircraftIQ — the aircraft field guide: 5,024 recognition guides, live overhead identification, works offline.