Last updated: February 27, 2026
✈️ Aircraft Specifications
| Designation | Su-15TM |
| Manufacturer | Sukhoi |
| Country of Origin | Soviet Union |
| First Flight | 1962 |
| Length | 21.33 m (70 ft) |
| Max Speed (Mach) | 2.1 |
| Max Speed (km/h) | 2,230 km/h |
| Service Ceiling | 18,500 m (60,699 ft) |
| Range | 1,380 km (857 mi) |
| Engine | 2× Tumansky R-13F2-300 afterburning turbojets |
| Crew | 1 |
| Status | Retired |
Overview
The Sukhoi Su-15 (NATO: Flagon) was a twin-engined supersonic interceptor that formed the backbone of Soviet air defense for two decades. It is infamously associated with the shootdown of Korean Air Lines Flight 007 in 1983.
Design & Development
The Su-15 was a major step up from the Su-9/Su-11, featuring twin engines for greater power and reliability, a tailed delta wing, and much more advanced radar and weapons systems. Later variants featured cranked delta wings and the powerful Taifun radar.
Operational History
Entering service in 1967, the Su-15 became the most numerous interceptor in the PVO. Over 1,300 were built. On September 1, 1983, a Su-15TM piloted by Major Gennadi Osipovich shot down Korean Air Lines Flight 007, killing all 269 people aboard — one of the Cold War’s most tragic incidents. The Su-15 was retired from Russian service by 1993.
Capabilities
- Mach 2.5 top speed
- Taifun pulse-Doppler radar (later variants)
- Automated GCI interception system
- Twin-engine reliability
- Could carry nuclear-tipped missiles
Armament & Weapons
- 2× R-98 (AA-3 Anab) missiles (1× radar + 1× IR)
- 2× R-60 (AA-8 Aphid) short-range IR missiles
- UPK-23-250 gun pod (optional, 23mm)
Video
Frequently Asked Questions
Did the Su-15 shoot down KAL 007?
Yes. On September 1, 1983, Major Gennadi Osipovich in a Su-15TM fired two missiles at the Korean Air Lines Boeing 747, killing all 269 aboard.
How many Su-15s were built?
Over 1,300 Su-15s were built in various variants between 1966 and 1979.
Was the Su-15 exported?
No. Like most Soviet interceptors, the Su-15 was never exported and served only with the Soviet/Russian PVO air defense forces.
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