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Two aircraft share the designation Su-17. This article deals with the aircraft that reached operational status in the 1970s. For the earlier aircraft, see Sukhoi Su-17 (1949).

The Sukhoi Su-17 (NATO reporting name 'Fitter') was a Soviet attack aircraft developed from the Su-7 fighter-bomber. The new aircraft was highly successful, with a long career in Soviet/Russian service. The type was widely exported to Eastern Bloc and Middle Eastern air forces.

History

The Su-17 began as an attempt to improve the performance of the Su-7 fighter-bomber. Although the Su-7 had a number of virtues, including a robust airframe and excellent low-level speed, its swept wing had cripplingly short range and very high take-off and landing speeds that required long runways.

Studies by the Soviet aerodynamics center, TsAGI, had suggested the advantages of a swing-wing configuration. The variable geometry wing could be spread wide for improved low-speed and cruise efficiency or swept back for high-speed performance. Several VG planforms were developed, and for the Su-7 (and Tupolev Tu-22 bomber) the configuration chosen allowed only the outer portion of each wing to move, leaving the inner wing segment fixed. Aside from making it easier to adapt the wing to an existing fuselage design, it allowed the main landing gear to be wing-mounted, giving a wider track, and enabled stores pylons to be mounted on the fixed portion of the wing, rather than requiring the complexity of a pivoting pylon.

A modified Su-7 with the new wing was constructed and made its first flight on 2 August 1966 as the Su-7IG (изменяемой геометрии - izmenyaemoi geometrii, "variable geometry") (aka S-22I). The wing had manually selected positions of 28°, 45°, and 63° of sweep. The results were very satisfactory, producing radically improved low-speed handling, slashing take-off and landing distance roughly in half, and doubling the potential weapons load.

Western observers, who got their first glimpse of the new aircraft at a fly-by at Moscow's Domodedovo airport in July 1967, considered the Su-7IG (assigned the NATO reporting name 'Fitter-B') a one-off experiment, and were thus very surprised when Soviet Frontal Aviation units started to be equipped with the type in 1972.

The new aircraft, known to the OKB as S-32, was designated Su-17. (In service it is commonly dubbed "Strizh," Russian for "Martlet.") The first major production version was the Su-17M, with more powerful engines and avionics, as well as a dorsal spine providing extra fuel. A "sanitized" export version was designated Su-20, with a reduced standard of equipment. All three early versions were known as 'Fitter-C' to NATO.

Sukhoi OKB subsequently developed a long list of major variants. Soviet versions were designated Su-17, the equivalent export models the Su-22. Around 3,000 of the Su-17 and its derivatives were built between 1966 and the end of production in 1991. The 'Fitter' series was widely exported, users including Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Bulgaria,Czechoslovakia, Egypt, East Germany, Ethiopia, Hungary, Iran, Iraq, Libya, North Korea, Peru, Poland, Syria, Vietnam, and Yemen. Post-Soviet users also include Azerbaijan, Belarus, Turkmenistan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan. Various upgrade programs are offered for surviving aircraft by several manufacturers.

The Soviets made extensive use of the Su-17 in Afghanistan following the Soviet invasion, with between 100 and 150 aircraft serving in that theatre. Although there was no air-to-air opposition, many were lost to ground fire and American FIM-92 Stinger surface-to-air missiles. The Su-17's ruggedness was appreciated by its crews, although apparently its accuracy in the ground-attack role was modest. A wide range of weapons was employed, including fuel-air explosive bombs.

The swing-wing 'Fitter' was also used in combat by Libya and Iraq. Two Libyan aircraft were shot down by US Navy F-14 Tomcats on 19 August 1981. More were likely lost by Iraq during the Iran-Iraq war of the 1980s, and six more were destroyed by USAF aircraft in the 1991 Gulf War.

The 'Fitter' is a somewhat crude aircraft by Western standards, with poor external fit-and-finish. Its maneuverability is relatively poor, although its short-field performance is a vast improvement over the preceding Su-7B series. It is large, noisy, and produces a great deal of smoke. In its favor, it remains robust and easy to fly, and its crews consider it superior to the MiG-27 in both respects. Although no match for Western F-14 and F-15 fighters, it should be remembered that the 'Fitter' is a ground-attack aircraft, not designed or intended for air-to-air combat.

The Russian VVS has retired most of its Su-17 models, but around 550 remain in service with other nations.

Variants

  • Su-7IG ('Fitter-B'): The original converted Su-7BMK used for proof-of-concept flights.
  • 'Fitter-C' (the same NATO reporting name applied to all these versions):
    • Su-17: Small number (perhaps 24) of pre-production aircraft produced in 1969, based on the longer fuselage of the two-seat Su-7U trainer, with bulged dorsal spine for extra fuel (4,550 L/1,200 U.S. gal total). Retained Su-7's Lyulka AL-7F-1 engine (with 68.64 kN/15,432 lbf dry or 99.12 kN/22,282 lbf afterburning thrust).
    • Su-17M: First major production version, entering production in 1971, introducing Lyulka AL-21F-3 engine, twin pitots, new nav/attack system (retaining Su-7BMK's SRD-5M ranging radar), angle of attack vane, single braking parachute. Variable-position intake centerbody providing maximum speed of Mach 2.1. Equivalent export version designated Su-20.
    • Su-17R: Small number of Su-17M aircraft equipped to carry reconnaissance pods. Equivalent export version designated Su-20R.
  • Su-17M-2D ('Fitter-D'): Introduced in 1974 with nose extended 38 cm (15 in), deleting ranging radar and 'drooping' to improve pilot visibility. New fixed intake shock cone (reducing maximum speed at altitude to Mach 1.7) containing Fon-1400 laser rangefinder/marked-target seeker (LRMTS). Undernose fairing for DISS-7 Doppler navigation radar. Export version, designated Su-17M-2K ('Fitter-F'), added a dorsal fin fillet, deleted LRMTS, substituted Tumanskii/Khatchaturov R-29BS-300 engine (shared with some MiG-23s), with 112.76 kN (25,348 lbf) afterburning thrust, in a bulged rear fuselage.
  • Su-17UM-2D ('Fitter-E'): First two-seat trainer version, based on the Su-17M-2D, but with different, deeper fuselage with windscreen moved forward; same length as the original Su-17M. Internal fuel capacity reduced and port cannon deleted, but full avionics and armament. Export version, using R-29BS-300 engine like the earlier Su-17M-2K, was designated Su-17UM-2K.
  • Su-17UM-3 ('Fitter-G'): Revised trainer with taller, square tailfin and a removable ventral fin. Unlike most other late-model 'Fitters,' it retains the moving intake centerbody, allowing Mach 2.1 at high altitude. Some combat avionics removed for a new system allowing the instructor to simulate attacks and in-flight emergencies. Export versions were designated Su-22UM-3K, some using the Lyulka engine, some with the Tumanskii/Khatchaturov.
  • Su-17M-3 ('Fitter-H'): New single-seat model based on the revised airframe of the Su-17UM-2D, but with only a single cockpit, retaining both cannon. Doppler radar moved internally, removing the fairing. A launch rail for K-13 (AA-2 'Atoll') or R-60 (AA-8 'Aphid') was added between the two existing pylons on each wing. Internal fuel capacity increased to 4,850 L (1,280 U.S. gal). Export version, mostly similar except for the use of the R-29BS-300 engine, was the Su-22M-3K ('Fitter-J').
  • Su-17M-4 ('Fitter-K'): Final production version, entering production around 1980, with considerably upgraded avionics, including RSDN navigation (similar to LORAN), beacon navigation, inertial navigation, a more powerful laser rangefinder, radio compass, and SPO-15LE ('Sirena') radar-warning system. Additional fuselage inlets (including ram-air inlet at the base of the fin) for more engine-cooling air flow. Many 'Fitter-K' models are equipped for the use of TV-guided missiles and BA-58 Vjuga pod for anti-radiation missiles. Option of extra chaff/flare dispensers for self-defense. Export versions designated Su-22M-4.
  • Su-22M-5: Upgrade Russian-French package offered for existing aircraft with modernized cockpit, HOTAS, improved avionic systems. Deletes the laser rangefinder in favor of Phazotron/Thomson-CSF 'Phathom' radar.

Specifications (Su-17M-4)

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This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the "Sukhoi Su-17".

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