What is Sukhoi Su-2?
The '''Sukhoi Su-2''' was a [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] reconnaissance and light bomber [[aircraft]] used in the early stages of [[World War II]]. In 1936 [[Joseph Stalin]] wanted a multipurpose combat aircraft. Codenamed Ivanov, it had to be capable of performing [[reconnaissance]] and then attacking the targets it found. Pavel Sukhoi was designed aircraft under the tutelage of [[Andrei Tupolev]]. The resulting ANT-51 flew on 25 August 1937. It reached 403 km/h (220 kn, 250 mph) at 4,700 m (15,420 ft). This was considered insufficient but it was decided to re-test it with a more powerful engine. and was accepted into production as BB-1. In 1940, the aircraft engine was replaced and was renamed Su-2 .Although 910 Su-2s were built by the time production stopped in 1942, the aircraft was obsolete and underarmed by the start of the [[Great Patriotic War]]. However, due to a critical shortage of aircraft in early World War II, some Su-2s were used as emergency fighters. [[Category:World War II Soviet aircraft]]