In 1963, the Soviet government issues a requirement for developing an aircraft analogous to the North American XB-70 Valkyrie. Sukhoi, Tupolev and Yakovlev competed with the T-4, Tu-135 and Yak-33. The Sukhoi design, with its high cruise speed of 3,200 km/h was favored over the other two designs. In 1964, the building of a prototype was authorized. The first T-4, designated "101", first flew in 1972. Testing continued to 1974. The T-4 flew only ten times for a total 10 hours and 20 minutes. It is believed to have reached at least Mach 1.3 at an altitude of 12,000 meters. Construction on the second T-4 aircraft “102” began in 1969 and completed in 1973. The first flight for 102 was scheduled for the end of 1973. In the end, the Soviet Air Force decided to go with an improved version of the TU-22 Blinder, which became the TU-22M Backfire. It was felt that a modification of the Blinder was easier to do than to build a new T-4 aircaft. The project was abandoned.

Type:

Purpose:

Span:

Length:

Height:

Engine:

Max.speed:

Crew:

Armament:

Strategic reconnaissance bomber

To designed to meet a requirement of supersonic strategic bomber

22.00m.

44.00m.

11.20m

4x Kolesov RD-36-41 turbofans engine

1987 mph

2

none as proptotype aircraft

The Sukhoi T-4 Sukta is suitable to group with the following collection series.

Modern strategic bomber

Avro Vulcan

Boeing B-52 Stratofortress

Boeing XB-59

Convair B-58 Hustler

Convair YB-60

Handley Page Victor

Myasishchev M-4 Bison

Myasishchev M-50 Bounder

North American XB-70 Valkyrie

Northrop B-2 Spirit

Rockwell B-1 Lancer

Sukhoi T-4 Sotka

Sukhoi T-4MS

Tupolev Tu-16 Badger

Tupolev T-22 Blinder

Tupolev T-22M Backfire

Tupolev Tu-95 Bear

Tupolev Tu-160 Blackjack

Vickers Valiant

1950/60s Soviet heavy bomber

Myasishchev M-4 Bison

Myasishchev M-50 Bounder

Sukhoi T-4 Sotka

Sukhoi T-4MS

Tupolev Tu-95 Bear

Tupolev Tu-22 Blinder

Tupolev Tu-22M Backfire

Tupolev Tu-160 Blackjack

Modern Soviet aircraft