After more than forty years in service, Poland has retired its last Soviet-built Su-22 Fitter strike aircraft.
The farewell came at a moment of heightened tension, just as NATO fighters were intercepting Russian drones that had crossed into Polish airspace in an unprecedented violation.
While the drone incident dominated headlines, the retirement of the Su-22 marked the quiet end of a long chapter in European military aviation.
The Polish Air Force gave the aircraft a respectful send-off. A formation of Su-22s flew over the bases where they had once been stationed, a gesture that honored the jet’s long and loyal service.
It was a symbolic moment, showing how Poland has moved from relying on Cold War hardware to building a force that is fully integrated into NATO.
The Birth Of A Swing-Wing
The Su-22’s story begins in the mid-1960s, when Soviet engineers at Sukhoi were experimenting with a new aerodynamic concept.
Variable-geometry wings, better known as swing-wings, allowed a pilot to adjust the sweep of the wings during flight. Straight wings provided more lift at lower speeds, while swept-back wings allowed higher speeds and better performance at altitude.
This innovation gave the aircraft the flexibility to fly faster, maneuver better, and operate from shorter or even semi-prepared runways. For the Soviet Union, it meant a strike aircraft that could keep up with NATO’s swing-wing designs, such as the American F-111 or, later, the Panavia Tornado.
The Su-22 was the export version of the Su-17 family, all of which carried NATO’s reporting name “Fitter.”
The Su-17 first flew in 1966 and entered service soon after, becoming the Soviet Union’s first operational swing-wing fighter-bomber. The family went through steady upgrades, receiving more powerful engines, modernized avionics, and better weapons systems.
The final and most advanced version, the Su-17M4 (known abroad as the Su-22M4), could reach Mach 1.75, carried a laser rangefinder in its nose, and was capable of launching anti-radar missiles. That gave it a specialized role in suppressing enemy air defenses, a mission that became increasingly important during the Cold War.
A Rugged & Exportable Jet
From the start, the Su-22 was designed to be rugged, adaptable, and relatively easy to export. It could carry a wide variety of weapons, from unguided bombs and rockets to precision missiles.
One of its most powerful weapons was the Kh-29 air-to-surface missile, capable of destroying a 10,000-ton warship.
The aircraft first flew in 1966 and went into mass production three years later. Production continued until 1990, making it one of the longest-running Soviet aircraft programs.
More than 2,800 were built. While many stayed in Soviet service, hundreds were exported to allies across Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and even South America.
Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan, Angola, and Peru all operated the type at different points, while Warsaw Pact states like East Germany, Hungary, and Poland received large numbers.
Its engine, the Lyulka AL-21F-3 turbojet, gave the Su-22 impressive performance for its time. With nearly 110 kilonewtons of thrust on afterburner, the jet could reach almost 1,900 kilometers per hour at altitude.
At low level, it still managed around 1,400 kilometers per hour. Its combat range was roughly 1,150 kilometers, but could be more than doubled with external tanks.
Perhaps most importantly, the Su-22 could operate from shorter runways, a valuable feature in any war that might destroy main air bases early on. That, combined with its swing-wings and heavy payload of up to 4,000 kilograms, made it a formidable ground attack aircraft.
By today’s standards, the Su-22 is dated and no match for modern fighter jets. But during the Cold War, it was one of the most capable strike aircraft in the Soviet arsenal.
Poland’s Workhorse
For Poland, the Su-22 became more than just another aircraft in the inventory. It was a backbone of the air force for decades, a symbol of continuity through political change, and eventually a workhorse that stayed on well past its expected retirement.
At its peak, Poland operated about 120 Su-22M4/UM3Ks alongside 27 earlier Su-20s. The first Su-22M4, serial number 3005, arrived at Piła Air Base on August 28, 1984.
Over the following years, Poland acquired 90 Su-22M4s and 20 two-seat Su-22UM3Ks. These were spread across tactical bomber regiments at Pila, Powidz, Miroslawiec, and Swidwin.
Bringing them into service required major adjustments. The initial batch of jets demanded new infrastructure at bases and specialized training for maintenance crews, since the aircraft was more complex than earlier models.
When Poland joined NATO in 1999, the future of the Su-22 looked uncertain. Successive governments considered phasing it out, but the jet proved hard to let go of.
Much like the MiG-29, the Su-22 was kept in service through a series of upgrades that made it compatible with alliance operations. These included NATO-standard radios, identification friend-or-foe systems, and anti-collision lights.
By the early 2000s, Poland was one of the last European countries still flying the type. Russia, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Bulgaria, and East Germany had already retired theirs. That left Polish engineers and technicians carrying the full responsibility for maintenance and repair.
The arrival of F-16C/D Block 50/52 fighters was supposed to replace the Su-22, and an initial retirement date was set for 2016. But no direct replacement for the Su-22’s strike role was available.
The Ministry of Defence extended the fleet’s service life instead. Eighteen aircraft were selected for limited modernization, which kept them flying until 2024—nearly forty years after their debut in Poland.
The 2015 Upgrade
The final modernization came in 2015, when Poland signed a contract with Wojskowe Zaklady Lotnicze Nr 2 in Bydgoszcz, the facility that had maintained the jets since their arrival. The upgrades were modest but practical.
The package included new avionics, a modern VHF/UHF radio, a digital flight data recorder, and a new gun camera. Cockpit instruments were switched from metric to imperial standards to match NATO practice. Each aircraft also received ten additional years of certified airframe life.
The most visible change was cosmetic; the old green-and-brown camouflage was replaced with a subdued two-tone grey. A few aircraft kept special liveries, including one with tiger stripes for NATO’s Tiger Meet and another in matte black.
Despite their age, the Su-22M4s were easier to maintain than older Soviet fighters like the MiG-21. Their modular design, line-replaceable units, and built-in test equipment simplified maintenance and allowed them to operate from semi-prepared runways with limited logistical support.
Strengths & Limitations
The Su-22’s swing-wing design was clever but demanding. Unlike the Tornado, where the entire wing pivoted, only the outer panels of the Su-22 swept back, leaving the inner sections fixed to carry stores.
This reduced structural complexity but added to the pilot’s workload. Managing wing sweep, flaps, and engine settings during take-off, landing, or low-level flight kept pilots busy.
The aircraft could carry a wide array of weapons, from unguided rockets and bombs to specialized pods and missiles. Its maximum payload was about 4,000 kilograms.
For self-defense, it could carry R-60 short-range infrared missiles, known as the AA-8 Aphid. But the Su-22 was never intended to engage in air-to-air combat. Its doctrine emphasized fast, low-level strikes and quick exits, with escort fighters handling any aerial threats.
This was reflected in Polish training exercises. In one event, Su-22 crews launched live R-60 missiles at the Ustka weapons range on the Baltic coast. The day began with a weather reconnaissance flight by a two-seat Su-22UM3K. Once cleared, another jet flew with aerial targets, followed by three strike-configured Su-22M4s armed with missiles and fuel tanks.
For pilots, the aircraft earned a reputation as tough and dependable. The avionics were basic but reliable, reflecting the straightforward Soviet design philosophy… keep it rugged, keep it simple, and make sure it works under pressure.
Su-22: End Of An Era
The retirement of Poland’s Su-22s closes a chapter that stretched back to the Cold War. These aircraft bridged eras—serving first as tools of Warsaw Pact strategy and later as part of a NATO force, adapting old equipment to new alliances.
Their departure also leaves Poland as the last European operator of the Su-22, ending the type’s long career on the continent. For four decades, the swing-wing Fitters were a familiar sight in Polish skies, flying missions, training new generations of pilots, and symbolizing both resilience and adaptation.
Now, with modern jets like the F-16 and incoming fifth-generation fighters taking over, the Su-22 has finally been allowed to rest. Its legacy, however, is secure: a rugged Cold War warrior that kept flying well into the 21st century, serving Poland longer than anyone expected.
- Shubhangi Palve is a defense and aerospace journalist. Before joining the EurAsian Times, she worked for ET Prime. She has over 15 years of extensive experience in the media industry, spanning print, electronic, and online domains.
- Contact the author at shubhapalve (at) gmail.com
