The Sukhoi Su-7 (NATO designation name: Fitter-A) is a swept wing, supersonic fighter aircraft developed by the Soviet Union in 1955.

The Su-7 was rugged in its simplicity, but its Lyulka AL-7 engine had such high fuel consumption that it seriously limited the aircraft's payload, as even short-range missions required that at least two hardpoints be used to carry drop tanks rather than ordnance.

[1] After Joseph Stalin's death, the Sukhoi OKB was reopened[2] and by the summer, it began work on a swept-wing front-line[N 1] fighter.

It was the first Soviet aircraft to utilize the all-moving tailplane and a translating centerbody, a movable inlet cone in the air intake for managing airflow to the engine at supersonic speeds.

[3] The aircraft also had a wing sweep of 60°, irreversible hydraulically boosted controls, and an ejection seat of Sukhoi’s own design.

Fitted with an afterburning version of the AL-7 engine after the first eleven flights, the prototype set a Soviet speed record of 2,170 km/h (1,170 kn, 1,350 mph, Mach 2.04) in April 1956.

[2] On July 31, 1958, Soviet tactical aviation (Frontovaya Aviatsiya,[N 1] фронтовая авиация) tasked Sukhoi with developing a ground-attack variant of the Su-7, which could replace the scrapped Ilyushin Il-40.

Six squadrons, totaling 140 aircraft, flew almost 1,500 offensive sorties during the war,[4] and undertook the bulk of the daytime attack missions.

[4] After the war, it was found that the aircraft had high survivability, being able to fly home safely despite receiving heavy damage.

[2] Afghanistan Algeria Czechoslovakia Egypt India Iraq Poland Soviet Union Syria Data from Green,[3] Sukhoi[2]General characteristics Performance Armament