Russian aircraft designations.

[iainspowart]

Hello,

On the AVSIM forums Dominik Mann asked the following question but so far no-one has answered it. Having seen the question I am now curious about the same thing!

He asks: "What do those abbreviations after the plane type designation actually mean?

For example, let's take the Su-15TM. What "Su-15" means is pretty obvious, but what does the "TM" mean?

I gather it is an abbreviation for something, but since I do not speak Russian I have no idea what it could denote."

If anyone here could answer his question then I will let him know.  

Спасибо,

Iain Spowart,
Scotland.

[CoValent]

..."What do those abbreviations after the plane type designation actually mean?

Well, abbrevations is so many... For example :

I - Istrebitel' (fighter)
B - Bombardirovschik (bomber)
R - Razvedchik (recon)
IB - Istrebitel'-Bombardirovschik (fighter-bomber)
RB - Razvedchik-Bombardirovschik (recon-bomber)
M - Modifizirovannyi (modernized)
T - Topograf-Radarnyi (old name - radar, seeing the target on background of a ground) or Tanker (tanker)
K - Korabel'nyi (carrier-plane)

And so on. Just ask about concrete modification.

For example, let's take the Su-15TM. What "Su-15" means is pretty obvious, but what does the "TM" mean?

"Su-15TM" was not usual abbreviation.

First of all, this modernization get the new engines (2 x R-13F-300 (+800 kg thrust)) and new radar with new function - seeing low-flying targets (see above).

But second, the name of this radar was "Typhoon-M", so abbreviation of this radar was - "TM".

Of course, second reason is a joke-legend...

[iainspowart]

Спасибо!,

Iain  

[exec228]

http://aeroweb.lucia.it/~agretch/RAFAQ/RussianCodenames.html
http://www.csd.uwo.ca/~pettypi/elevon/gustin_military/