Page 49 - AirForces Monthly - Issue 381 (December 2019)

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F F F
Fitters
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NATO’s last
While the Su-22 swing-
W h i le t h e S u - 2 2 s w i n g -
wing strike aircraft may
wing strike aircraft may
be obsolescent by today’s
be obsolescent by today’s
standards, 35 years ago
standards, 35 years ago
it provided Poland with
it provided Poland with
a technological leap
a technological leap
comparable only with
comparable only with
its subsequent purchase
its subsequent purchase
of F-16 fighters. Piotr
of F-16 fighters.
Butowski assesses the
Butowski
current status of NATO’s
current status of NATO’s
last surviving
last surviving Fitters.

T he impressive Su-22M4 Fitter-K Burden of choice
brought the Polish air arm – today’s Siły
Life in the nations of the so-called Socialist
Powietrzne (SP, Polish Air Force) – into bloc was divided into five-year periods. In 1980
the era of flight computers, a variety of modern the United Warsaw Pact Forces Command,
air-to-ground missiles – including its first anti- dominated by the USSR, planned the major
radiation missiles – as well as self-defence military equipment purchases for Poland for
equipment such as pod-mounted jammers the period 1981-85. The air defence fighter
and infrared and radar decoy dispensers. force was to purchase three regiments of MiG-
The purchase of the Su-22 strike aircraft 23ML fighters and a squadron (eight aircraft)
(or fighter-bomber, in Soviet terminology) of MiG-25P interceptors. Tactical aviation
has its origins in the first half of the 1960s, was to be re-equipped with Su-22M3 fighter-
when Poland acquired 44 of the Mach-2- bombers, MiG-25RB reconnaissance and
capable Su-7BM/BKL/U jets (six Su-7BMs, bomber aircraft, Su-25 attack aircraft and Tu-143
30 Su-30BKLs and eight two-seat Su-7U Reys unmanned reconnaissance drones.
versions). Su-7 deliveries took place over 14 Brigadier General Roman Harmoza, who
years: combat versions were delivered to participated in decision-making ahead of
Poland during 1964-72, and trainers during Poland’s Cold War-era military equipment
1970-78. The two-seat Su-7Us were used to purchases, told AFM many years later that “our
train pilots not only on the Su-7, but also the goal was always to shirk from as great a part
later Su-20. When Poland looked to purchase of these plans as it was possible”. The Poles,
further strike aircraft in the 1970s, the variable- using the country’s difficult economic situation
geometry Su-20 was selected. The USSR also as an argument, purchased only one MiG-23MF
offered Poland the MiG-23BN, but the Su-20 squadron in the early 1980s (to supplement
was cheaper and offered continuity with the two squadrons of these fighters acquired in the
already familiar Su-7. The initial six Su-20s were previous five-year period) and one regiment
delivered to Poland in the first half of 1974, of much cheaper MiG-21bis fighters. Purchase
chiefly for propaganda purposes; the goal of the Su-22 was postponed, which had the
of the Su-22 was postponed, which had the
advantage that Poland would receive the M4
was to present the new aircraft during advantage that Poland would receive the M4
version – the best of the Su-17/22 family.
a parade on July 22, 1974 – the 30th version – the best of the Su-17/22 family.
anniversary of the People’s Republic Negotiations with the USSR also
Negotiations with the USSR also
concerned the configuration of the
of Poland. The next 20 aircraft were concerned the configuration of the
aircraft. The Soviets pushed for the
not purchased until 1976. The aircraft. The Soviets pushed for the
air force was satisfied with the version powered by a Tumansky
version powered by a Tumansky
R-29BS-300 turbojet, since
Su-7 and Su-20, so the Su-22 R-29BS-300 turbojet, since
gradual reduction of MiG-23
was an obvious choice as the gradual reduction of MiG-23
subsequent strike aircraft. and MiG-27 output had led to
and MiG-27 output had led to
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