Sukhoi Su-17

Military fact sheets
Sukhoi Su-22M4 3920 and 8309 Polish Air Force

The Sukhoi Su-17 is a variable-sweep wing fighter-bomber developed for the Soviet military. Its NATO reporting name is “Fitter”. Developed from the Sukhoi Su-7, the Su-17 was the first variable-sweep wing aircraft to enter Soviet service. Two subsequent Sukhoi aircraft, the Su-20 and Su-22, have usually been regarded as variants of the Su-17.

Su-20
The initial export version of the Su-17M, (S-32MK).
Su-22M5
A Russian-French upgrade package offered for existing aircraft with modernized cockpit, HOTAS, improved avionic systems, and laser rangefinder replaced by Phazotron/Thomson-CSF radar.
Su-22U
The S-52U two-seat combat-trainer, export version of the Su-17UM, with a completely re-designed nose housing the tandem cockpits for student and instructor.
Gun pods such as the GSh-23 based UPK-23 and SPPU-22 were utilized by the Su-17, Su-20, and Su-22. The SPPU-22 ground attack variant featured 30 degrees of traverse.
An experimental version of the Su-20 was built with fixed wings attached to an Su-17M fuselage, in an effort to increase Payload/range performance by eliminating the weight of the wing sweep system. Good results were obtained in flight tests in 1973 but further development was cancelled.
Tactical Reconnaissance versions of all variants could be made by fitting the KKR (Kombinirovannyi Konteiner Razvedky – combined reconnaissance pod) on the centre-line hardpoint.
Role Fighter-bomber
National origin Soviet Union
Manufacturer Sukhoi
First flight 2 August 1966
Introduction 1970
Status In limited service
Primary users Soviet Air Forces (historical)
Syrian Air Force
Polish Air Force
Peruvian Air Force
Produced 1969–1990
Number built 2,867
Developed from Sukhoi Su-7

Specifications (Su-17M4)

General characteristics

  • Crew: 1
  • Length: 19.02 m (62 ft 5 in)
  • Wingspan: 13.68 m (44 ft 11 in) wings spread
10.02 m (33 ft) wings swept
  • Height: 5.12 m (16 ft 10 in)
  • Wing area: 38.5 m2 (414 sq ft) wings spread
34.5 m2 (371 sq ft) wings swept
  • Airfoil: root: TsAGI SR-3S (5.9%); tip: TsAGI SR-3S (4.7%)
  • Empty weight: 12,160 kg (26,808 lb)
  • Gross weight: 16,400 kg (36,156 lb)
  • Max takeoff weight: 19,430 kg (42,836 lb)
  • Fuel capacity: 3,770 kg (8,311 lb)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Lyulka AL-21F-3 afterburning turbojet engine, 76.4 kN (17,200 lbf) thrust dry, 109.8 kN (24,700 lbf) with afterburner

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 1,400 km/h (870 mph, 760 kn) / M1.13 at sea level
1,860 km/h (1,160 mph; 1,000 kn) at altitude
  • Combat range: 1,150 km (710 mi, 620 nmi) hi-lo-hi attack with 2,000 kg (4,409 lb) warload
  • Ferry range: 2,300 km (1,400 mi, 1,200 nmi)
  • Service ceiling: 14,200 m (46,600 ft)
  • g limits: +7
  • Rate of climb: 230 m/s (45,000 ft/min)
  • Wing loading: 443 kg/m2 (91 lb/sq ft)
  • Thrust/weight: 0.68

Armament

  • Guns:
    • 2 × 30 mm Nudelman-Rikhter NR-30 autocannons (80 rounds per gun, 160 rounds total)
    • UPK-23 or SPPU-22 gun pods for 2 × Gryazev-Shipunov GSh-23L autocannons
  • Hardpoints: 12 hardpoints with a capacity of up to 4,000 kg (8,800 lb) of stores,with 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
  • Rockets: S-5, S-8 & S-13

Photos Rob Vogelaar and Marcel van Leeuwen