Su17

Su-17 (originally designated Su-7BKL) is a Soviet variable‑sweep wing fighter‑bombardment aircraft developed by the Sukhoi Design Bureau in the late 1960s. It was a development of the earlier Su‑7, modified to incorporate swing‑wing technology in order to improve low‑speed handling and high‑altitude performance. The aircraft first flew on 26 August 1966 and entered service with the Soviet Air Forces in 1970.

The Su‑17’s wing geometry could be set at three positions: 16°, 35°, and 62°, allowing the pilot to optimise lift and drag for different flight regimes. The airframe retained the Su‑7’s fuselage and engine, the Lyulka AL‑21F turbofan, producing about 10 000 kgf of thrust. Armament included a 30 mm GSh‑30‑1 cannon and up to 3 500 kg of external stores on five hardpoints, supporting conventional bombs, rockets, and air‑to‑ground missiles. Later upgrades introduced avionics such as the PRNK-25R navigation system and electronic counter‑measures.

Su‑17 was produced in several major variants. The Su‑17M (designated Su‑20 by export customers) featured improved avionics and a more powerful engine. The Su‑17M2 added a new fire‑control radar and could carry the Kh‑29 anti‑ship missile. The final evolution, the Su‑17M4, incorporated a digital flight‑control system and solid‑state navigation equipment. The aircraft was exported to Eastern Bloc and allied nations, including India, Iraq, Syria, and Angola.

Operationally, Su‑17 units saw combat in the Middle East, Afghanistan, and various regional conflicts throughout the 1970s‑1990s. By the early 2000s the type was being retired from Russian service, replaced by newer multirole fighters such as the Sukhoi Su‑27 and Su‑30. Several air forces continue to operate upgraded Su‑17s for ground‑attack roles, though the fleet is diminishing due to age and parts scarcity.