In November 1943, the Sukhoi OKB designed an artillery spotter aircraft based on the German Focke-Wulf Fw 189.

The aircraft was initially denied funding but was eventually approved thanks to an intervention by the Soviet Chief Marshal of Artillery N.N.

[1] As a result of evolving specifications, the crew was increased to four and the engines were changed to more powerful Shvetsov ASh-82M with 1,640 kW (2,200 hp).

Due to lack of production capacity in the USSR, in October 1949 it was proposed to build the airplane in Czechoslovakia.

[1] Subsequent efforts by the Sukhoi Design Bureau to secure funding and continue work on the Su-12 were denied.