Su-7B
| This page is about the Soviet strike aircraft Su-7B. For other versions, see Su-7 (Family). |
Contents
Description
The Su-7B is a rank VI Soviet strike aircraft with a battle rating of 9.3 (AB/RB) and 9.7 (SB). It was introduced in Update "Starfighters".
General info
Flight performance
The Su-7B is characterised by a low BR for a supersonic jet and amazing acceleration. With a 1-1 thrust-weight ratio when at optimal fuel load and spaded, it can reliably punch above its weight. The Sukhoi accelerates extremely well, outspeeding every supersonic at its BR except for MiG-21s. The manoeuvrability isn't bad, either - It can easily turn with supersonic aircraft such as MiG-21s, Harriers or A-7s. However, you must keep in mind that the plane has a tendency to break its wings if in a sustained 9+G turn at high speeds, and that you are not invulnerable while turning. You are giant, almost twice as big as a MiG-21, so be sure to not overstay your welcome in a dogfight and zoom away as soon as possible.
| Characteristics | Max Speed (km/h at 11,000 m) |
Max altitude (metres) |
Turn time (seconds) |
Rate of climb (metres/second) |
Take-off run (metres) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AB | RB | AB | RB | AB | RB | |||
| Stock | 2,161 | 2,145 | 19000 | 27.4 | 28.2 | 166.4 | 157.6 | 1,250 |
| Upgraded | 2,323 | 2,232 | 26.6 | 27.0 | 227.0 | 195.0 | ||
Details
| Features | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Combat flaps | Take-off flaps | Landing flaps | Air brakes | Arrestor gear | Drogue chute |
| X | X | ✓ | ✓ | X | ✓ |
| Limits | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wings (km/h) | Gear (km/h) | Flaps (km/h) | Max Static G | |||
| Combat | Take-off | Landing | + | - | ||
| 0 | 630 | N/A | N/A | 473 | ~11 | ~3 |
| Optimal velocities (km/h) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Ailerons | Rudder | Elevators | Radiator |
| < 700 | < 650 | < 600 | N/A |
Engine performance
| Engine | Aircraft mass | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine name | Number | Basic Mass | Wing loading (full fuel) | |||
| Saturn AL-7F-1-100 | 1 | 7,926 kg | 315 kg/m2 | |||
| Engine characteristics | Mass with fuel (no weapons load) | Max Takeoff Weight | ||||
| Weight (each) | Type | 8m fuel | 20m fuel | 27m fuel | ||
| 2,200 kg | Afterburning axial-flow turbojet | 8,756 kg | 10,000 kg | 10,726 kg | 13,043 kg | |
| Maximum engine thrust @ 0 m (RB / SB) | Thrust to weight ratio @ 0 m (WEP) | |||||
| Condition | 100% | WEP | 8m fuel | 20m fuel | 27m fuel | MTOW |
| Stationary | 5,848 kgf | 8,257 kgf | 0.94 | 0.83 | 0.77 | 0.63 |
| Optimal | 6,664 kgf (1,000 km/h) |
9,974 kgf (1,000 km/h) |
1.14 | 1.00 | 0.93 | 0.76 |
Survivability and armour
- 20 mm Aluminium Alloy - pilot's headrest
- 36 mm Aluminium Alloy - pilot's backrest
- 8 mm steel - cockpit front bulkhead
- 102 mm Bulletproof glass - Armoured windscreen
Modifications and economy
| Flight performance | Survivability | Weaponry | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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|
|
Armaments
| Ballistic Computer | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| CCIP (Guns) | CCIP (Rockets) | CCIP (Bombs) | CCRP (Bombs) |
 |
|
 |
|
Offensive armament
The Su-7B is armed with:
- 2 x 30 mm NR-30 cannons, wing-mounted (80 rpg = 160 total)
Suspended armament
The Su-7B can be outfitted with the following ordnance:
- Without load
- 64 x S-5K rockets
- 4 x S-24 rockets
- 28 x S-3K rockets
- 4 x 250 kg OFAB-250sv bombs (1,000 kg total)
- 4 x 500 kg FAB-500M-54 bombs (2,000 kg total)
- 4 x ZB-360 incendiary bombs
Usage in battles
The Su-7B is equipped with 2 x NR-30 which are 1 of the best guns in air combat as it has almost no bullet drop on long ranges, fast fire rate and powerful enough to destroy a plane into pieces with 1 or 2 hits. Additionally it has a very good acceleration and can outfly most jets and even missiles, this plane can easily doge incoming missiles when turning as it can turn very deep and still maintain most of its speed (mind the G-force as it can break you're plane easily apart and make you lose unconscious). additionally the Su-7B can be equipped with both bombs and unguided missiles for various types of playstyle. The S-24 can be put on a distance fuse to be used in air combat. The Su-7B also comes with a rangefinding radar and additionally has access to a gyro linked gunsight which is helpful in engaging AI planes and straight flying enemy planes as it automatically changes the gun distance.
Air combat
At the start of a match, take 27 minutes of fuel and equip air target belt. And start ascending on a 20-30° angle to a height of 7-9 km, your goal is to get behind the enemies in order to easily take care of them without their knowledge of you're presence. Keep flying on this altitude and overfly every enemy, if there is a enemy at this altitude feel free to engage into a head on or doge them. Keep flying above the enemies until there are none underneath you, turn around and start descending but mind your speed. Start going for the nearest enemy or slowest (A-10A for example). Get behind them and go as fast as possible as speed is your greatest advantage, when close enough start firing. If the enemy is eliminated go for the next one, if you missed do not engage into a dog fight and keep your speed and go for the next target. If there are any AI planes you can go after them and make use of your gyro linked gunsight to auto adjust you're guns distance, all you have to do is align yourself behind it and put your gunsight dot on the plane and shoot a short burst of rounds (works only in first person). After emptying yourself you can return back to base to continue fighting or swap tactics, the choice is yours.
Attacking ground targets
At the start of a match, equip the 28 x S-3K or the 64 x S-5K unguided rockets (which will be helpful to take care of light-medium ground targets). And start ascending on a 5° angle to <1km, you will need the speed to be able to quickly evade enemies and enemy missiles. It's best to flank and fly to the far right or left of the map so you can easily fly in a straight line take care of ground targets 1 after another. When firing on a ground target: everything but medium-heavy tanks require a single hit by both unguided rockets, while medium and heavy tanks would require 2 or more rockets. Always keep a eye of your surroundings as you're flying fast on a low altitude and that can catch the attention of enemy jets, who will then try to engage you. That's why maintaining a high speed is important, incase a missile is fired at you. after depleting all of your unguided rockets, you can head back to base for more unguided rockets or start going after enemy players or AI planes. The choice is yours.
Bombing bases
At the start of a match, equip the 4 x ZB-360 bombs (as that is enough to take care of a base). And start ascending on a 10° angle to 1-2 km, you might be behind everyone a little bit but the higher top speed and acceleration you will get on this altitude will make up for it. Start heading for any enemy base and keep this altitude. Avoid any head-on and beware of enemies below and above you with missiles that might eliminate you. When you're near the base, start diving, enable your airbrakes, and get into position to drop your payload. Once bombs have been dropped, you can head back to base for another bombing run or start going after enemy players, AI planes or ground targets. The choice is yours.
CAS ground
When flying in the Su-7B, equip the 4 x S-24 (as a single hit from these is enough to take care of any ground target). And start heading to the play area and keep a high altitude to avoid SPAA and enemy planes. Once close enough to the play area start diving and search for targets to fire at, if there is a SPAA that starts shooting at you prioritize it above everything else. If there are no SPAA's, fire a single missile on a target and go for another one (even if it misses the target the rocket will overpressure them). once getting too low start pulling up and gain altitude again, then repeat this process until your out of unguided rockets. You can now go back to base to resupply or go after enemy planes, soft ground targets or helicopters. The choice is yours
Enemies worth noting
A-10A / A-10A Late: these American strike aircraft might seem slow but they have access to the mid-range and fast AIM-9L Sidewinder air-to-air missiles which are very accurate. It's almost impossible to dodge them even when flying above Mach 1.1. It's best to keep a distance from the A-10s, as the missiles have an all-aspect tracking and dodging them in a head-on is close to impossible. The best way to defeat the A-10 is from behind, as even from the sides the A-10 can quickly turn around and fire a missile. When coming at it from behind, approach as fast as possible as the A-10 is slow. Speed is your advantage to quickly win the fight if it doesn't respond fast enough. If you miss the attack, quickly turn back around and hope that the A-10 won't fire its missile at you. After a missed interception it's best to leave the A-10 and go after other targets as now the A-10 is aware of your presence, and going for a second interception would be taking an unnecessary risk.
Radars
The Su-7B is equipped with a SRD-5 rangefinding radar, located in the nose of the aircraft. It will automatically detect other planes within the scanning area and display the range to the closest target. It is linked with a gyro gunsight and can help with aiming at close range.
| SRD-5 - Rangefinding radar | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum Tracking Range |
Minimum Tracking Range |
Azimuth Tracking Angle |
Elevation Tracking Angle |
| 3,000 m | 300 m | ±9° | ±9° |
Pros and cons
Pros:
- One of the fastest planes at its battle rating.
- Very fast acceleration.
- 2x 30 mm cannons are very powerful against ground and air targets alike.
- Decent energy retention.
- Time-fuzed S-24 rockets can be useful in head-ons.
- gyro linked gunsight changes distance automatically up to 1000 meters thanks to rangefinding radar
Cons:
- Large silhouette, easy to hit.
- NR-30 cannons depletes ammunition quickly.
- S-24 as anti-air are situational, unlike conventional IR missiles.
- No countermeasures.
- High risk of wing overload due to high-G manoeuvres, especially with negative-G.
- No AAMs.
History
On May 14th 1953, shortly after Stalin's death and the reopening of the Sukhoi OKB, they began work on a swept-wing front-line fighter. Their first prototype was named S-1 and was fitted with the all-new Lyulka AL-7 turbojet. It was the first Soviet aircraft to utilize the all-moving tailplane and a translating centerbody, plus a dramatic wing sweep of 60°, irreversible hydraulically boosted controls, and an ejection seat of Sukhoi's own design. After the success of the S-1, production began with the S-2. later renamed the Su-7.
Later, on 31 July 1958, the Soviet Tactical Aviation tasked Sukhoi with developing a ground-attack variant of the Su-7, which could replace the scrapped Ilyushin IL-10. The resulting prototype, S-22, incorporated structural refinements for high-speed, low-altitude operations. It first flew in March 1959 and entered service in 1961 as the Su-7B.
Devblog
With the development of jet aviation, piston-engined attack aircraft quickly became an anachronism; a need arose for a new class of front-line aircraft - a fighter bomber. In the USSR, the MiG-15 and MiG-17 fighter jets were used to replace the piston-engined IL-10 to support the ground forces from the air, but it was quite obvious that a specialized machine was needed to fulfill the tasks of the fighter-bomber. The most suitable candidate was the Sukhoi Su-7 fighter jet, taken as the basis for the Su-7B fighter-bomber project. By the end of 1958, the first prototype was ready with the new AL-7F-1 engine. For almost two years, the aircraft underwent intensive testing and refinement, and in 1960 the new fighter-bomber went into mass production. Of the 431 planned, 344 Su-7Bs were built to equip up to 25 combat units. From the beginning of the 70's, the Su-7B aircraft began to be replaced with more modern modifications and models.
Media
- Skins
- Images
- Videos
See also
- Related development
External links
- [Devblog] Su-7B: new doctrine
- Official data sheet - more details about the performance
- [Special] Su-7B military pilot interview
| Sukhoi Design Bureau (Сухого Опытное конструкторское бюро) | |
|---|---|
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| *CKD and SKD kits assembled by Shenyang Aircraft Corporation | |
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