Construction. The T-4 is made as a «tailless» aircraft with a triangle wing with a thin 3% profile with sharp front bead. Use of balancing of front coverts at low heights (2% at below supersonic and 3-5% at supersonic) decreased losses for balancing, and increased range of the aircraft by 7%, and decreased swivel (might be articulate) moments on means of control. Low reserves of stability were reached by transporting fuel from one part of the aircraft to another. Vertical coverts offer a minimal reserve of way stability, and required characteristics of stability and controllability to be done by ground remote control. In lengthwise and side canals, elevons controlled movement.
   All production of the T-4 was done automatically. 96% of welding was also done automatically. The coefficient of use of new material was higher than ever before and only corners and lists were used, which were welded together. That’s why there was almost no waste. As a result of use of a wide range of gimmicks, the cost of the «Sotka» was close to the price of a plane made out of gold (100 tons of gold is the real price for project T-4).
   During testing of the aircraft, new problems came up. For example, the titanium covering underwent deformation during supersonic flight. Also, scratches on longerons were found. Considering the above problems, alloys were improved and a second exemplar did not have those problems.
    The new generation powerplants were equipped with neutral gas made of nitrogen to prevent overheating. Also, accidental dumping of fuel could be done right away if something happens. A new generation fuel RG-1 (naftil) was developed. Engines were controlled by remote control from the ground. The VD-19 machine was made to test T-4’s powerplants in Sukhoi’s testing laboratory.
Equipment. The T-4 was equipped with several radio-electrical complexes: navigational and multifunctional remote controls: targeting control, reconnaissance remote controls including infra-red, radio technical sensors and optical equipment, and side radio-locational systems.
    The Aircraft was planned to be equipped with automatic «mountain-around» systems to allow an effective low height flight in mountainous areas. Automated systems were so widely used that the T-4 didn’t even need a pilot and operator. Fighter-jet handling was used to control the aircraft.
    Lots of improvements were made in the cockpit to make pilots feel as comfortable as possible. Wider chairs, lots of room, washrooms and other stuff were part of the cockpit. The primary coolant for the crew’s air-conditioning system was fuel. Because of high speeds and thereof heating of a design of an airplane up to 300° have decided from a canopy practically to refuse. From it there was only round hatch above, on which cover on the first machine the periscope was established, to which the pilot used during takeoff and landing (up to speed of 600 km/h). In other modes, the flight passed blind: on devices.
Armament.  The Sukhoi Design Bureau along with N. S. Chernyakov developed highly effective air-to-surface missiles especially for the T-4 «Sotka». The X-33 missile was equipped with a gunpowder engine, self-aiming system and increased range of missile usage. Later, it was transferred to A.Ya.Bereznyak design bureau and produced as the X-45 air-to-ground missile. The T-4 is capable of carrying of 2 X-45 missiles with a range of up to 1500km that could be used against ships or ground targets. Free fall bombs were located in the external tanks along with extra fuel under the fuselage.
    Integral aboard systems of the T-4 allow it to gain information about the situation over enemy territory and fire missiles without entering the enemy’s radio-locational zone. The speed of flight was so amazing that the enemy would have to invest huge amounts of money and time to create a defense system against the T-4.

T-4M (100I)	T-4MS (200)

References and Credits:

1. The first strategic supersonic planes
2. «Bombers» / V.Il'in, M.Levin, 1997 /
3. Aircraft T-4. Myths and realities / I. Bedretdinov /
4. Near to Sukhoi. Memoirs of the aircraft designer / O.S.Samoilovich /
5. «Aviation & cosmonautics» №6 1990 г.
6. «Our wings» №1-2 (5-6) 1993 г.