In 1967, ten years after the start of production, export supplies of the specialized Su-7B fighter-bomber in the export modification Su-7BMK began.
The planes were supplied both to the Warsaw Pact allies and to the "developing countries of a socialist orientation." In terms of deliveries, the Su-7 was second only to the "aviation bestseller" MiG-21.
Egypt was one of the first to receive new attack aircraft, whose president, Hero of the Soviet Union Gamal Abdel Nasser, announced the construction of "Arab socialism" in his country.
The first batch of 14 newly produced aircraft was delivered by sea in April 1967. Soon a full-fledged air regiment was deployed at the Egyptian airfield Faida.
But the Egyptian pilots did not manage to really master these machines, during the "six-day war" almost all of them were destroyed by the Israeli aviation, along with the planes, many pilots were killed under Israeli bombs. Several surviving Egyptian Su-7BMKs flew combat missions to support their troops, however, without much success.
After the end of hostilities, to make up for large-scale losses from the USSR, an "air bridge" was organized. Aircraft taken from Soviet air units were airlifted by BTA aircraft. A year later, after the end of the "six-day war", the Egyptian aviation that had replenished its forces already numbered fifty Su-7Bs. In addition to Egypt, combat aircraft of this type were supplied to Algeria and Syria.
The vehicles did not stand idle at the airfields; during the ongoing Arab-Israeli confrontation, several Su-7Bs were lost. However, as the Arabs gained combat experience, there were successes.
On July 20, 1969, during the "war of attrition", eight Egyptian Su-7BMKs attacked anti-aircraft artillery and radar positions in the Ismailia and Romal regions. The combat load included two FAB-500s, the planes also carried PTBs. The blow was delivered in the afternoon by each of the links at its target at the same time, the enemy was caught by surprise, and he did not even have time to open return fire. All planes bombed from the first approach, reaching direct hits, and successfully returned to base. In total, from July 20, 1969 to April 1970, Egyptian fighter-bombers carried out more than 70 bombing strikes.
In 1973, with the outbreak of the Yom Kippur War, the full might of the Arab coalition's combat aircraft fell upon the Israelis. Fighter-bombers inflicted very effective missile and bomb strikes from low altitudes. The newest Su-20 (the first export modification of the Su-17) operated in the same battle formations with the Su-7B.
In addition to Egyptian pilots, the Su-7B was piloted by Algerians, Libyans and Syrians.
In this war, Israel suffered very high losses, so only about 30% of combat aircraft remained combat-ready in the Air Force. Now the Americans had to build an "air bridge" in order to save their ally from defeat. Due to the loss of the initiative, the Arabs did not succeed in winning, Israel survived at a very high price.
The Syrian fighter-bombers that took part in the 1973 hostilities performed well. The main ammunition used in strikes against troops and equipment were OFAB-250-270 bombs and OFAB-250Sh assault bombs, which made it possible to attack from low altitudes, as well as S-5 and S-24 NARs. The attacks were carried out from a horizontal flight or a gentle dive from a height of 100-200 m. Against tanks and other armored vehicles, very effective RBK-250 cluster bombs were used with equipment from small cumulative bombs PTAB-2, 5 and S-3K and S-5K missiles.
Su-7BMK raided Haifa, attacking the oil refinery with ZAB-250-200 incendiary bombs and high-explosive OFAB-250-270 high-explosive fragmentation bombs. The task was completed without loss, having passed the route at extremely low altitudes and, after completing a slide with a set of 200 m, dropping bombs from horizontal flight.
The Syrian aviation managed to do without losses due to non-combat reasons - errors in piloting technique, loss of orientation and abandonment of cars due to full fuel consumption, which was a real misfortune for the Egyptians, who, according to their own miscalculations, lost two dozen aircraft. The Syrian pilots were better trained and more motivated to complete the combat mission than the Egyptians. In general, the losses of the Su-7BMK were significantly higher than those of the MiG-21. This is due to the fact that it was against the strike vehicles that the enemy air defense missile systems, ZA and interceptors were primarily aimed.
The combat service of the Su-Sevens in Indian aviation has become one of the brightest pages in the aircraft's biography. The interest of the Indian Air Force in updating the aircraft fleet and increasing its strike potential had an understandable justification due to the tensions with neighboring Pakistan, which continued to smolder for two decades. In 1967, an agreement was signed with the USSR on the supply of 90 Su-7BMK combat aircraft and Su-7UMK "twin" aircraft to India.
A year and a half later, the Indian Air Force had six squadrons of modern supersonic fighter-bombers in service, significantly increasing its strike potential. The purpose of the Su-7BMK was determined by direct air support, actions in the operational-tactical depth behind the front line, the fight against enemy aircraft and tactical reconnaissance. According to our instructors, Indian pilots were among the best professional pilots in developing countries in Asia and Africa. The level of professional training was quite high. Indian pilots managed to master their machines very well by the beginning of the next Indo-Pakistani war in 1971.
On December 3, 1971, Indian Su-7BMKs attacked airfields in West Pakistan for the first time during a night flight. In the course of several raids, 14 Pakistani combat aircraft were destroyed on the ground, with the loss of one Su-7BMK.
Loading the NR-30 cannons on the Su-7BMK of the Indian Air Force
During this conflict, Indian pilots demonstrated that the shock "dry" could well stand up for themselves in aerial combat, having conducted several battles with Pakistani Sabers and F-6s.
Later, from strikes on airfields, the Su-7BMKs were reoriented to provide support to ground forces, having achieved good results in this. In addition to strikes against troop concentrations, armored vehicles and artillery, a significant part of the sorties were made to disrupt communications, as well as to conduct tactical photo reconnaissance in the interests of the high command. In accordance with the tasks, high-explosive bombs of 500 kg caliber were widely used here. Very efficiently, the Su-7BMK used large-caliber S-24 rockets, suspended by two on the plane. They inflicted blows on railway trains and hydraulic structures.
Two weeks of fighting ended with a crushing defeat for the Pakistani army. Indian Su-7BMKs destroyed about 150 tanks, 70 trains, many watercraft of various classes, bombed railway junctions, oil and energy facilities. In general, at least 90% of the tanks lost by the Pakistani army were destroyed by Indian aviation. Su-7BMK losses amounted to 19 aircraft. At the end of the war, the Su-7 remained among the main strike vehicles of the Indian Air Force.
By the time the Soviet troops entered Afghanistan, there were 24 Su-7BMKs at the Bagram air base. As the situation in the country aggravated, these planes began to be recruited to strike at the Mujahideen detachments. However, Afghan pilots were not too eager to fight, often dropping bombs anywhere.
At the same time, they flew out of habit, without any maps, not particularly bothering themselves with navigation and navigational calculations, and visually guiding themselves by their signs on the ground. During one of the sorties in early November 1979, the target for a pair of Su-7BMKs lay in the northern regions of Badakhshan. Having missed, they mistakenly worked on Soviet territory, carrying out a bomb attack on a Tajik village near Khorog. In the village, bombs destroyed several houses and killed civilians. During the proceedings, the pilots spoke of a misunderstanding and justified themselves by the fact that they got lost on a long route.
With the start of deliveries of Su-22M fighter-bombers, they replaced the previous Su-7BMK in Bagram, which were withdrawn to Shindand as part of the 335th mixed air regiment, which also included the Il-28 and MiG-21.
The level of flight training at the new location did not become higher, the planes often got into flight accidents. Combat missions and targets were usually indicated in advance from Kabul, direct air support on call was not practiced, and the general rule was to assign targets at a distance from their troops in order to avoid covering them in case of mistakes, which happened more than once.
When preparing for departure, they did not bother themselves with tactical formations, at best assessing the situation from photographs and intelligence data and almost not paying attention to the weather forecast and the availability of radio communications and navigation aids. The success of the business with its inherent fatalism was considered not very dependent on the applied efforts - "as Allah wills!"
With the loss of aircraft, mainly damaged in flight accidents, replenishment was made from the USSR. Since there was no more Su-7BMK left, the Afghans were given vehicles of other modifications, the least worn out, mostly looking more or less "fresh" Su-7BKL of 1971-72 release. A total of 79 aircraft of the Su-7B type were transferred to Afghanistan.
Su-7B in Shindand
After the withdrawal of Soviet troops from the country, these aircraft continued to operate, took part in several mutinies and took to the air, at least until 1992, joining the Air Force of the Islamic State of Afghanistan.
Iraqi Su-7Bs in the amount of 40 units. took an active part in the Iranian-Iraqi war. By that time, the Iraqi Air Force already had more advanced machines. Su-sevenths were usually recruited for direct air support of troops and strikes against the enemy's close rear.
Su-7B Iraqi Air Force at Nellis Air Force Base
Some of them survived until the American invasion of Iraq in 2003, having ended up as trophies in American aviation museums.
In the 70-80s, Soviet fighter-bombers embodied all the best of the Soviet aviation industry. They had a good price-quality ratio, were able to use the widest range of weapons, and their flight performance corresponded to world standards. It is not surprising that Soviet aircraft of this class enjoyed success on the world arms market.
The first modification of the Su-17 delivered to a foreign customer and taking part in the hostilities was the Su-20. In accordance with the then existing practice, the machine had a "deteriorated" composition of avionics.
In 1973, supplies of Su-20 aircraft to Egypt and Syria began. Later, Egypt, having "quarreled" with the USSR, sold part of its fighter-bombers to the PRC and the United States, where they were studied as a weapon of a potential enemy. In the late 70s, Egypt used its Su-20 in the border conflict with Libya.
For the first time, Su-20 fighter-bombers were used in combat conditions in 1973 during the Arab-Israeli war. By the beginning of hostilities, the Syrian Air Force had 15 aircraft of this type. Already on the first day of the conflict, October 6, 12 Syrian Su-20s, under the cover of eight MiG-21s, attacked the Israeli Hebron aviation control center. Subsequently, on October 6 and 7, the Su-20 operated in groups of 6-12 aircraft, striking targets deep in the Israelis' defenses. The aircraft reached targets at extremely low altitudes, using anti-aircraft maneuvers in height, course and speed. In connection with the increasing counteraction of the enemy's air defense, aviation control points and radar posts were increasingly chosen as targets for strikes. The main weapon of the Su-20 to destroy the strongholds of the Israelis was the FAB-500 and FAB-250 free-fall bombs. Troops and military equipment were struck, as a rule, by high-explosive fragmentation bombs OFAB-250 and RBK-250 with PTAB-2, 5, as well as NAR S-24 and S-5k. The fighter-bombers suffered the greatest losses during the escape from the target, as well as in repeated bombing approaches, when the aircraft climbed to an altitude of more than 200 m. In the course of the war, the Syrian Su-20s performed 98 sorties, while losing eight aircraft (50% of the initial composition). All of them were shot down by anti-aircraft artillery fire or air defense systems. The Syrian Su-20 did not enter air battles. However, as the experience of combat use in 1967 shows. the earlier Su-7B fighter-bomber, when meeting with the Israeli "Super Misters" or "Phantoms" there were certain chances of success. The first Su-20 was superior in speed, and the second was not inferior in horizontal maneuverability. When meeting with the Mirages, the pilots were advised not to engage in combat, and to carry out a low-altitude high-speed separation.
The export version of the Su-17M2 was designated the Su-22. At the request of the Ministry of Aviation Industry, the R-29B-300 turbojet engine was installed on it, which are also used on the MiG-23BN and MiG-27 aircraft. This ensured the unification of the power plant with MiGs already available in the air forces of many of the USSR's allies. In addition, this engine had a simpler design and therefore less cost and also had more thrust.
The Kh-25, Kh-29L and R-60 missiles were excluded from the Su-22 armament. The UR X-23 was retained, for conducting air combat, the fighter-bomber was equipped with a K-13 missile. It was envisaged to suspend a container for complex reconnaissance of the KKR (in this case, the aircraft received the Su-22R index).
Afghanistan became a serious test for the Su-17. The Su-17 was the only Soviet combat aircraft to take part in the Afghan war from start to finish. The main modifications were the Su-17M3 fighter-bomber and the Su-17M3R reconnaissance aircraft. In the first year of the war, the early Su-17 and Su-17M were used, and in 1988 the Su-17M4 appeared in Afghanistan. The aircraft were used very widely, although in the second half of the war they were somewhat squeezed by the Su-25 attack aircraft.
Based on the experience of the combat use of the aircraft in 1987, a number of modifications were carried out aimed at increasing the combat survivability. In particular, 12 ASO-2V IR trap launchers were installed on the lower and upper surfaces of the fuselage tail, and armor plates were mounted in the lower fuselage. At the first stage of hostilities, the Su-17 used OFAB-250, NAR S-5 bombs (they hit weakly protected open targets), as well as more powerful S-24 missiles, which "worked" against fortified targets.
The reconnaissance Su-17MZ-R and Su-17M4-R with KKR-1 containers in various configurations were widely used. The aircraft carried out aerial photography in day and night conditions, carried out infrared and electronic reconnaissance (identifying enemy radio stations). In the future, the scouts began to use the latest thermal imaging complex "Winter", which has high accuracy and allows detecting by thermal radiation such targets as the trail of a passing car or a recently extinguished fire.
In 1980, the enemy's air defense capabilities increased markedly. The "spirits" had a large number of 12, 7 and 14, 5-mm machine guns, which required the improvement of the tactics of fighter-bomber aviation, as well as the improvement of the tactical training of pilots.
In 1981, the scale of hostilities increased even more. Instead of insufficiently powerful NAR C-5, more effective C-8, capable of hitting targets from a zone beyond the reach of enemy anti-aircraft machine guns, began to be used more widely. Su-17 aircraft began to be attracted to create rubble in the mountains, on the enemy's caravan trails (for this purpose, the FAB-250 or FAB-500 salvo discharge was used), as well as "free hunting" for caravans (in this case, the aircraft, as a rule, was equipped with two PTB with a capacity of 800 liters, two UB-32 or B-8M units, two RBKs or four NAR S-24). In general, the Su-17 showed a fairly high efficiency and survivability, and the losses incurred by the Sukhoi were largely due to errors in the tactics of using fighter-bombers (for example, in 1984, near Kandahar, one of the Su-17s was shot down after the sixth approach to the target).
In 1983, the "dushmans" had a new weapon - portable anti-aircraft missile systems (MANPADS) - first our Strela-2, then the American Red Eye and British Bloupipe and, finally, the most modern American Stingers. capable of hitting a target in the front and rear hemisphere. This forced the altitude of the Su-17's combat use to be raised, which made the strikes less accurate and increased the consumption of ammunition. Applied technical "novelties" and the Soviet side, began to use volume-detonating ammunition (ODAB). Also, laser-guided bombs were used, as well as the UR Kh-25L and Kh-29L.
Afghan pilots of the 355th Aviation Regiment, based in Bagram, operated on the Su-20 and Su-22. However, the planes of this unit did not fly very actively, "from time to time", despite the fact that its pilots had a fairly good training. Two Afghan Su-22Ms were shot down in 1988 by Pakistani F-16A fighters near the Afghan-Pakistani border, and several more aircraft of this type were destroyed by anti-aircraft machine guns and MANPADS. However, the Afghan regiment suffered almost the main losses not in the air, but on the ground: on June 13, 1985, a group of "mujahideen", having bribed the guards, entered the parking lot and blew up 13 aircraft, including six Su-22Ms.
Su-22M Air Force DRA
In the late 70s and early 80s, Libya received one and a half hundred fighter-bombers MiG-23BN, Su-22 and Su-22M.
Libyan Su-22M
Libyan aircraft were used in the 1980s during the fighting in Chad. Subsequently, they acted there against the French contingent, several aircraft were destroyed by anti-aircraft artillery fire and the Hawk air defense system.
On August 19, 1981, two Su-22Ms of the Libyan Air Force were shot down by American F-14A carrier-based fighters over the Mediterranean Sea. According to the Americans, the Tomkats were attacked by Libyan aircraft using the K-13 missile, in response to which, dodging the missiles, the Sidewinder strike hit the insolent Libyans. According to one of the Libyan pilots who took part in this "battle", the Su-22M, who were not going to attack anyone at all, but were performing a normal training flight, were suddenly attacked by the Americans. In general, the idea of attacking F-14 fighter-interceptors with fighter-bombers created for completely different tasks looks very ridiculous. If Muammar Gadaffi really decided to "punish" the Americans, he would have chosen a more suitable technique for this - MiG-21bis, MiG-23, MiG-25P or Mirage F.1 fighters, specially designed to combat air targets. having the necessary weapons and avionics for this, as well as crews "trained", first of all, on the air, and not on the ground enemy.
Subsequently, almost all Libyan aviation was destroyed at airfields during the civil war.
