Page 51 - AirForces Monthly - Issue 381 (December 2019)

purchased six KKR-1 reconnaissance pods for
the Su-20s, later also used by the Su-22s.
The final unit to re-equip was the 8 PLMB
based at Mirosławiec, which accepted ten new
Su-22M4s from the 37th and 38th production
batches, delivered during September and
October 1988; these were the aircraft ordered
under the 1986 contract. The remaining aircraft
were handed over to the Mirosławiec regiment
from other units, which had a surplus above
the standard complement of ten single-seat
and two twin-seat aircraft per squadron.
Warsaw Pact duty
The primary role of the Su-22 was tactical air
interdiction 31-93 miles (50-150km) behind the The Su-22 can carry up to four examples
of the unusual SPPU-22-01 cannon pods,
front line, flying at low altitude. Typical targets two of which can be configured to fire

would include command posts, bridges, railway backwards with barrels tilted up to 23°
hubs, tactical missile launchers and enemy downwards. The pod contains a twin-barrel
troop concentrations. In Warsaw Pact doctrine, GSh-23 cannon and 260 rounds.
the Su-22 (or Su-17) was positioned between However, avionics were still insufficient. In position by RSDN-10, the computer automatically
the Su-25 attack aircraft operating directly over low-level flight deep behind the front line, guided the aircraft to the target and dropped
the ground troops’ contact line and up to 31 the aircraft left the TACAN range, and the bombs without the need for the pilot to have
miles (50km) behind, and the Su-24 tactical inertial-Doppler KN-23 navigation system lost visual contact with the target. However, this
bomber, which performed similar tasks to the accuracy; over a distance of 155 miles (250km) mode of attack had two serious limitations: it
Su-22, but with a heavier load and wider array of the circular error probability (CEP) increased required knowledge of the precise co-ordinates
weapons delivered over longer distances, 93-186 to 1.7 miles (2.8km). The pilot then had to seek of the target before take-off and the LORAN
miles (150-300km) deep into enemy territory. the target and attack it on his own – due to the system was vulnerable to electronic jamming.
The most severe limitation of the combat lack of radar this could only be done visually. The new targeting sensor for the Su-22M4 was
capabilities of the initial Su-17 and Su-17M To remedy this, the Su-17M4 (Su-22M4) the Klyon-54 (maple) laser rangefinder and
(Su-20) versions produced in 1969-75 was a was fitted with an RSDN-10 long-range radio target designator; previously there was only a
simple short-range radio navigation system navigation (LORAN) receiver, meaning it was rangefinder, without target indication function.
(RSBN, the Russian equivalent of TACAN) able to correct its position close to the target.
and basic targeting sensors (optical sight). All navigation devices, including the RSDN- Weapons and stores
The subsequent Su-17M2 (Su-22) produced 10 LORAN and RSBN-7S TACAN receivers, The Su-22M4 carries up to 8,818lb (4,000kg)
in 1974-80 was additionally fitted with DISS- DISS-7 Doppler navigation radar and others of weapons and stores on eight pylons: four
7 Doppler radar for navigation and a Fon- were combined into single PrNK-54 (pritselno- under the fuselage in tandem pairs and four
1400 laser rangefinder for targeting. In the navigatsyonnyi kompleks, targeting and under the fixed wing sections. Additionally,
subsequent Su-17M3 (Su-22M3) produced navigation system) controlled by a digital each of two small underwing pylons can
in 1976-83, the navigation devices were Orbita-20-22 mission computer (a small air accommodate one R-60 (AA-8 Aphid) air-
combined into a single KN-23 system scoop for computer cooling in front of the to-air missile (AAM) for self-defence.
(originally developed for strike versions of tail fin is externally the most visible feature During wartime, the main armament of the Su-17
the MiG-23), enabling automatic guidance of distinguishing the M4 from the previous (Su-22) was to comprise two tactical nuclear
the aircraft over a pre-programmed route. versions). After correction of the aircraft’s bombs (the yield of which partially compensated
KKR-1 reconnaissance pod

Any Su-22 can carry the large KKR-1 (konteyner (780kg) loaded. It contains three photo cameras (A-39,
kompleksnoi razvedki) reconnaissance pod suspended UA-47 and PA-1; the last of these develops the film during
beneath the fuselage. The pod has a length of 22.3ft flight), a KDF-38 dispenser with 38 illuminating flares
(6.79m), a diameter of 2ft (60cm) and weighs 1,720lb and the SRS-9 electronic intelligence (ELINT) package.

Neither the Su-22 or its Su-20 predecessor had dedicated reconnaissance variants, but both could be

used for reconnaissance after fitting the KKR pod, carried on the centreline station.

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