Sukhoi Su-22
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 interceptor. Around 3,000 of the Su-17 and its derivatives were built between 1966 and 1991, and the type was widely exported to Eastern Bloc and Middle-Eastern airforces. Export versions are designated the Su-20 (equivalent to the Soviet Su-17M) and Su-22 (equivalent to the Soviet Su-17M2, M3, and M4)
Development
The Su-17 began as an attempt to improve the performance of the Su-7. The most drastic change was changing the earlier aircraft's delta wing to a variable geometry wing, with only the outer panels moveable. A Su-7 was modified into this configuration and flew on August 2 1966 as the Su-7IG (изменяемой геометрии - izmenyaemoi geometrii, "variable geometry") (aka S-22I). The results were very pleasing, an aircraft with twice the warload and 30% more range and able to take off with only half the runway. Soviet Air Force units started to be equipped with the type from 1972 onwards.
Specifications (Su-17M)
General Characteristics
- Crew: one, pilot
- Length: 17.75 m (58 ft 3 in)
- Wingspan: 9.90 m (32 ft 6 in) - 13.70 m (44 ft 11 in)
- Height: 4.75 m (15 ft 7 in)
- Wing Area: m² ( ft²)
- Empty: kg ( lb)
- Loaded: kg ( lb)
- Maximum takeoff: 19,000 kg (41,800 lb)
- Powerplant: 1x Sukhoi Su-7
Comparable aircraft:
Designation sequence:
Su-10 -
Su-11 -
Su-15 -
Su-17 -
Su-20 -
Su-21 -
Su-22 -
Su-24 -
Su-25 -
Su-26
