Sukhoi Su-6
The Sukhoi Su-6 was a Soviet ground-attack aircraft developed during the early years of the Second World War by the Sukhoi design bureau. Conceived as a successor to earlier attack aircraft such as the Su-2, it was intended to provide a heavily armoured, high-performance close air support platform for the Soviet Air Forces.
Development and Design
Work on the Su-6 began in 1939, with an official order for prototypes issued in March 1940. The aircraft first flew on 1 March 1941, just prior to the German invasion of the Soviet Union. It was designed as a single-seat, armoured ground-attack aircraft powered by a radial engine, with strong offensive armament including cannon, machine guns, and rockets.
Flight testing revealed that the Su-6 was highly capable. In fact, it was considered superior in most performance categories to its main competitor, the Ilyushin Il-2, which ultimately became the standard Soviet attack aircraft of the war. However, the Su-6’s development was hampered by engine issues, particularly the unavailability and unreliability of the Shvetsov M-71 engine.
A second prototype, delayed due to wartime evacuation of the design bureau, flew in 1942 and demonstrated excellent results. A production batch was even proposed, but never authorised. Combat experience meanwhile showed the vulnerability of single-seat attack aircraft, prompting the development of a two-seat version with a rear gunner. This improved survivability but reduced bomb load.
Later Development and Cancellation
The two-seat Su-6 variant, powered by the improved M-71F engine, achieved higher speeds than the Il-2, but its payload remained smaller. When the M-71 engine program was cancelled, Sukhoi was forced to redesign the aircraft around the Mikulin AM-42 engine. This version proved inferior to the newer Ilyushin Il-10, largely due to increased weight and reduced performance.
As a result, the Su-6 never entered production. Only three prototypes were built. Despite this, its design was highly regarded, and chief designer Pavel Sukhoi was awarded the Stalin Prize in 1943 for the aircraft’s development.
