Another stillborn Soviet interceptor project was the Lavochkin La-250 Anakonda. Development started in 1953, by when it became clear that the much-expected Yakovlev Yak-25 would be too slow and unable to intercept high-altitude targets. The La-250 was expected to become capable of intercepting targets underway at 1,250km/h (780mph or Mach 1.18) at an altitude of 20,000m (66,000ft) up to 500km away from its base. The first flight took place on 16 July 1956, but the project then suffered numerous problems with its lightweight airframe, the K-15U radar and Klimov VK-9 engines, resulting in several crashes. After making only 21 flights in three years, the project – including the K-15 weapons system, mock-up missiles which are shown as in their final configuration, installed on underwing hardpoints – was cancelled in 1959. (Artwork by Tom Cooper)