Page 53 - AirForces Monthly - Issue 381 (December 2019)

Left: Su-22M4 ‘3816’ in the climb over the clouds
as the wingman breaks. With recent US State
Department approval granted to buy up to 32
F-35As, the Su-22’s service career in Poland is
finally set to end. Right: Serials ‘3819’ and ‘3816’

over the airfield at Świdwin, with its network of

Cold War-era hardened aircraft shelters. This was
the second Polish Su-22 base, the resident 40

PLMB receiving its first examples in August 1985.
Phathom radar (from the Russian Phazotron about the Su-22’s future. Instead, only a minor from Powidz – and later another squadron
and French Thomson-CSF), plus beyond- upgrade of the aircraft’s equipment and its from Świdwin – to the NATO Quick
visual-range (BVR) AAMs and new ASMs. adaptation to NATO requirements was made. Reaction Force. The initial four pilots from
Sukhoi’s lower-cost offer of 1997 provided During the 1990s, the aircraft were retrofitted Powidz attained combat-ready status in
for separate upgrade modules beginning with Bendix/King (Honeywell) KTU-709 TACAN summer 2000, becoming the first Polish
with introduction of a GPS receiver, new and Rockwell Collins ANV-241MMR instrument pilots authorised to fly within NATO.
identification friend or foe (IFF) and flight landing system in place of the Russian RSBN- Currently, the role of the Polish Su-22s is
data sensors, followed by a new RWR and 7S, Trimble 2101AP GPS receiver replacing the more modest, and they are intended for
electronic jammer, and then multifunction Russian RSDN-10, Polish-made Radwar SC-10 operations from Polish territory only.
displays and helmet-mounted sight. The most Supraśl IFF in place of the Russian Parol, as well In 2014, another limit was surpassed: the
advanced option provided for use of a podded as a digital control panel for the Russian R-862 service life of aircraft previously extended
RLPK-22 radar, which enabled the aircraft to radio, anti-collision lights and other additions. out to 30 years began to end. It was decided
use Kh-31A (AS-17 Krypton) anti-ship missiles. to conduct another overhaul and service
An Israeli offer submitted by Israel Aircraft Reorganisation under NATO extension to 2023-25 for just 18 Su-22s; the
Industries’ Lahav Division included new In May 1999, Poland joined NATO and a remaining aircraft were retired. Currently, there
avionics integrated via Mil Std 1553B reorganisation of air units was made during are 12 Su-22M4 aircraft in service with the
data bus, new on-board computer, plus a 1999-2000, consisting of replacement of the 21. BLT at Świdwin: ‘3201’, ‘3304’, ‘3612’, ‘3713’,
gyroscopic inertial platform integrated with aviation regiments with squadrons and bases; ‘3715’, ‘3816’, ‘3817’, ‘3819’, ‘3920’, ‘8101’, ‘8205’ and
GPS, TACAN, new VHF/UHF communications the standard complement of the ‘new’ eskadra ‘8309’, and six Su-22UM3K two-seat combat
radios and other items. An Elta EL/M lotnictwa taktycznego (ELT, tactical aviation trainers: ‘305’, ‘308’, ‘310’, ‘508’, ‘509’ and ‘707’ .
2032 radar could be suspended in a pod. squadron) was 16, not 12 aircraft as it had During 2014-16, the aircraft were overhauled
The proposal also included computerised been in the squadrons composing an aviation at WZL 2 in Bydgoszcz while their engines
mission-planning system, new electronic regiment. The 40 PLMB at Świdwin was went to WZL 4 in Warsaw. After overhaul, the
warfare (EW) and self-defence systems. reorganised into two squadrons, the 39 ELT aircraft’s service life was extended to a further
A Sukhoi offer of 2000 was similar to that and 40 ELT; in 2002, the 39 ELT was disbanded 800 flight hours or ten years of service. New
of 1997, but more modest, and targeted and its aircraft assigned to other units. In Polish-made RS-6113 communication radios
extension of the assigned service life to 2000, the 7 PLBR at Powidz was reorganised were installed (the previous Soviet-made
2,500 hours or 5,000 cycles, or 25-30 years. into the 6 ELT and 7 ELT. In 2006 the 6 ELT left R-862 remains as a back-up) and the flight
The basic package also included installation its aircraft at Powidz and moved to Poznań- instruments were re-scaled into Imperial units.
of several new devices including an A737 Krzesiny, where it was equipped with new The lifetime of the aircraft’s weapons also
GPS receiver, digital chart and additional F-16s. A year later, the 7 ELT redeployed its gradually expired. First, the Kh-29T and L
mission computer (the old unit would remain Su-22s from Powidz to Świdwin. The 8 PLMB missiles were decommissioned, followed by
unchanged) to complete new tasks and at Mirosławiec was reorganised into the 8 ELT the Kh-25MPs. Only a small number of laser-
provide Mil Std 1553B interface. Separately, in 2000; in 2010, the squadron was disbanded guided Kh-25ML missiles remained, but
the Kh-31A anti-ship missile was offered once and its personnel and aircraft were redeployed after 2008, each launch required individual
again, together with podded RLPK-22 radar. to Świdwin. During 35 years of Su-22 service in expertise for a particular missile. Currently,
Offers were also prepared by the Polish Poland, 14 aircraft have been lost in accidents; Polish Su-22s carry only unguided weapons.
Wojskowe Zakłady Lotnicze Nr 2 (WZL 2, six were fatal, claiming the lives of eight pilots. However, Kh-25ML training missiles are used
Military Aircraft Works No 2) in Bydgoszcz, Aircraft nearing the end of their service life for training in guided ordnance delivery. AFM
including installation of a new mission were gradually retired. For some Fitters, service
computer, inertial navigation, air data computer, life was extended to 30 years and in 2010 the Acknowledgements:
replacement of some cockpit instruments with Polish Su-22 fleet shrank to two squadrons
a multifunction LCD display and new head- with 32 aircraft, based at Świdwin. In the Sincere thanks to the 21. BLT pilots who
up display (HUD), as well as other kit. In a same year, a new unit, the 21. Baza Lotnictwa took part in the series of photo sessions
more advanced variant, installation of the Mil Taktycznego (21. BLT, 21st Tactical Air Base), in Świdwin in July: Lt Col Roman ‘Stefan’
Std 1553B data bus was stipulated, which was formed from the two squadrons at Stefaniak who was the pilot of the Su-
would open the way to the use of new sensors Świdwin. Colonel Karol Jędraszczyk has been 22UM3 with Katsuhiko Tokunaga on board,
(including podded radar) and weapons. commander of the 21. BLT since June 2015. and Capt Krzysztof ‘Kretek’ Kręciejewski
The Polish defence ministry didn’t accept Immediately after joining NATO in 1999, and Capt Fabian ‘Kolba’ Kolbusz who flew
any of these proposals, a result of uncertainty Poland assigned a squadron of Su-22s the other two aircraft.

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