The Soviet-Era Fighter/Bomber That’s Now a Rare Sight over Europe

YouTube / Forces News

Hanging By A Thread

The Sukhoi Su-22M4 was a fighter/bomber that succeeded the Su-17. These warbirds were designed for high-speed flight near ground-level and were exported by the Soviet Union to nations around the globe in the 1960s.

It was the Soviet Union’s first variable geometry aircraft, meaning its wings could be put into three different positions to adjust its speed, lift, and maneuverability.

Moreover, the aircraft was known for its knack of destroying ground targets using its guided and non-guided missiles. And even though it was once commonplace in Eastern Europe, finding this old warbird has now been tricky. Poland was the last country in Europe to use the fighter/bomber.

Of the 110 Su-22s delivered between 1984 and 1988, only 18 of these remained in service between two squadrons.

Regardless, the Su-22 is still used elsewhere – including countries like Syria, Iran, and Vietnam. Meanwhile, the remaining Polish planes have gone through a modernization program since 2015, aiming to keep them flying until at least 2025.