https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sukhoi_Su-17
The Sukhoi Su-17 (NATO reporting name: Fitter) is a Soviet variable-sweep wing
fighter-bomber developed from the Sukhoi Su-7. It enjoyed a long career in
Soviet, later Russian, service and was widely exported to Eastern Bloc, Arab air
forces, Angola and Peru as the Su-20 and Su-22. It is the first variable-sweep
wing of Russian/Soviet origin.
Seeking to improve low-speed and take-off/landing performance of the Su-7B
fighter-bomber, in 1963 the Sukhoi OKB with input from TsAGI created a
variable-sweep wing technology demonstrator. The Su-7IG (internal designation
S-22I, NATO designation "Fitter-B"), converted from a production Su-7BM, had
fixed inner portions of the wing with movable outer segments which could be
the manufacturer to retain the Su-7 landing gear and avoiding the need for
complex pivoting underwing hardpoints, and it minimized the shift in the center
of pressure relative to the center of mass with change in wing sweep. The new
wing also had extensive leading-edge slats and trailing-edge flaps. Su-7IG first
flew on 2 August 1966 with V. S. Ilyushin at the controls, becoming the first
Soviet variable geometry aircraft. Testing revealed that take-off and landing
Su-7.
The production aircraft was named Su-17 (NATO designation "Fitter-C", factory
designation S-32) and was unofficially dubbed Strizh (?????, martlet) in
service. Aside from the new wing, it differed from its predecessor Su-7 in
having a new canopy and a dorsal fuselage spine for additional fuel and
avionics. The Su-17 first flew on 1 July 1969 with E. K. Kukushev at the
controls.
A total of 2,867 Su-17 and its variants were built, of which 1,165 were exported
to 15 nations.
Role
Fighter-bomber
National origin
Soviet Union
Manufacturer
Sukhoi
First flight
2 August 1966
Introduction
1970
Status
In limited service
Primary users
Syrian Air Force
Iranian Air Force
Polish Air Force
Peruvian Air Force
Vietnam People's Air Force
Produced
Number built
2,867
Developed from
Sukhoi Su-7
The Su-17 entered service with the Soviet Air Force in 1970. The aircraft was
used by both the Soviets and the Afghanistan government forces during the Soviet
invasion of Afghanistan. High-altitude airfields and hot dusty climate created
special operational challenges. In the summer, the takeoff roll of the Su-17
increased 1.5-fold and landings frequently ended with burst tires and brake
fires. Avionics failures were common due to heat and sand contamination.
However, the AL-21F engine proved tolerant of routine ingestion of sand and
sand-contaminated fuel and by 1985 the combat readiness of the Su-17 fleet
exceeded that of the Sukhoi Su-25 and the helicopters. The first-series Su-17s
were quickly replaced with more capable Su-17M3 and Su-17M4. Despite its
durability and payload, the aircraft proved ill-adapted for combat in the
mountainous terrain due to high attack speeds, low maneuverability, and the need
to stay out of range of anti-aircraft artillery due to lack of significant armor
protection. Although external armor was added around the engine, hydraulics, and
fuel systems based on damage analysis, this was still insufficient compared to
dedicated close air support Su-25s.
The appearance of MANPADS such as the Soviet-made Strela 2 (smuggled from
Egypt), and the American FIM-43 Redeye and later FIM-92 Stinger, presented a new
threat and forced Su-17s to even higher operational altitudes. Revised tactics
and retrofit of up to 12 flare dispensers which fired automatically during the
attack run proved effective, and in 1985 only one Soviet Su-17 was lost to
ground fire.
from using unguided rockets to bombs, including thermobaric weapons, while
Su-25s were tasked with precision strikes. Toward the end of the war, the Su-17
force was partially replaced by the Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-27s in order to perform
operational testing of the new fighter-bomber.
The Su-17M3/4 were used during the First Chechen War alongside Sukhoi Su-24s and
Sukhoi Su-25s in ground attack and reconnaissance missions.
In a move to eliminate single-engine strike aircraft from its inventory, the
Russian Air Force retired its last Su-17M4 along with its fleet of MiG-23/27s in
1998.
Specifications (Su-17M4)
General characteristics
Crew: 1
Length: 19.02 m (62 ft 5 in)
Wingspan:
With wings spread: 13.68 m (44 ft 11 in)
With wings swept: 10.02 m (32 ft 10 in)
Height: 5.12 m (16 ft 10 in)
Wing area:
Empty weight: 12,160 kg (26,810 lb)
Loaded weight: 16,400 kg (36,155 lb)
Max. takeoff weight: 19,430 kg (42,835 lb)
Fuel capacity: 3,770 kg (8,310 lb)
(17,185 lbf)
Thrust with afterburner: 109.8 kN (24,675 lbf)
Performance
Maximum speed:
At sea level: Mach 1.13 (1,400 km/h; 870 mph)
At altitude: Mach 1.51 (1,860 km/h; 1,156 mph)
Combat range: 1,150 km (715 mi; 620 nmi) in hi-lo-hi attack with 2,000 kg (4,400
lb) warload
Ferry range: 2,300 km (1,430 mi; 1,240 nmi)
Service ceiling: 14,200 m (46,590 ft)
Rate of climb: 230 m/s (45,275 ft/min)
Thrust/weight: 0.68
Maximum g-load: 7 g
Armament
Guns:
total)
Hardpoints: 12 hardpoints with a capacity of up to 4,000 kg (8,800 lb) of stores
and provisions to carry combinations of: Missiles:
Air-to-air missiles: K-13
R-60
R-73
Air-to-surface missiles: Kh-23 Grom
Kh-25ML
Kh-29L/T/D
Anti-radiation missiles: Kh-58
Kh-27PS
Kh-28
Bombs: drop bombs, laser-guided bombs, electro-optical bombs, napalm bombs, drag
chute bombs and cluster bombs
Air-to-surface rockets including the S-5 rocket, S-8 (rocket) & S-13 rocket
systems.
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