Pavel O. Sukhoy

Pavel O. Sukhoy was a prominent Soviet aircraft designer, closely associated with the Sukhoi aerospace design bureau, which is Russia's second-largest producer of military aircraft. Sukhoy began his career in the 1920s and 1930s, working under Andrey N. Tupolev. He was appointed to head a new experimental design bureau in 1939, where he designed the Su-6 ground-attack aircraft.1

Despite designing excellent aircraft, Sukhoy faced challenges due to political decisions and internal politics. After World War II, his bureau was closed, and his team became part of the Tupolev design bureau. Following Stalin's death, Sukhoy was allowed to re-establish his independent design bureau, which became the foundation of the modern Sukhoi firm. Under his leadership, the bureau developed successful supersonic jet fighters like the Su-7 and Su-9, and later the Su-24 and Su-25 aircraft. The bureau is perhaps best known for the Su-27 fighter jet.1