Su-17 fighter-bombers in the ranks of the Ukrainian Air Force
The ferocity and scope of the fighting during the Russian special military operation (CBO) in Ukraine revealed one unsightly fact - unlike low-intensity conflicts, during full-scale combat operations there is a catastrophic shortage of military equipment, of course, as losses on both sides increase, the situation gets worse.
One of the ways to solve the problem of the shortage of military equipment for the warring parties was the use of outdated, retired samples of military equipment from storage warehouses. First of all, this affected ground combat vehicles - tanks, infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs), self-propelled artillery units (SPGs) and much more.
It is characteristic that as soon as outdated models of military equipment appear in the ranks of the armed forces of the opposing sides, the media (media) of the opposite side of the conflict begin to present this almost as a harbinger of the imminent collapse of the enemy’s armed forces - they say that there is such a shortage of equipment that it is necessary remove all junk from warehouses. These songs are happily picked up by commentators on thematic resources, while in relation to the same old stuff used by their own armed forces, a diametrically opposite opinion is often expressed.
As practice shows, for the most part, obsolete weapons can actually be quite effective on the battlefield, especially if, in the process of returning them to service, key systems are modernized, which greatly increase the effectiveness of their use, for example, sighting systems, navigation and communications equipment.
In particular, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation (RF Armed Forces) quite successfully operate modernized and simply restored T-54/T-55 tanks in the Northern Military District zone, and as for the Ukrainian Armed Forces (AFU), they use everything they can get , up to twin Maxim machine guns, used to destroy low-flying unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
Twin Maxim machine guns, designed to combat Russian kamikaze UAVs of the Geran-2 type
It should be mentioned that another “discovery” of the SVO was reincarnation of some types of weapons and concepts, seemingly already forgotten or rejected by the armed forces of the leading countries of the world, and now again proving to be in demand and effective.
More recently, information has appeared that the Ukrainian Air Force has commissioned a Su-17 fighter-bomber.
According to one version, this is a Su-17M3M aircraft, the only aircraft of this type available in Ukraine, used to maintain the flying skills of pilots of the Zaporozhye Aircraft Manufacturing Plant.
According to another version, this could be one of the Su-22M4 or S-22UMZK aircraft (export modifications of the Su-17), which the Polish Air Force has in the amount of 18 units, then this could be a trial balloon before the delivery of the remaining Polish Su-22M4 and S to the Ukrainian Armed Forces -22UMZK.
Su-22M4 Polish Air Force
In addition, we should not forget that when we talk about one Su-17 aircraft available in Ukraine, we mean only an operational - flying aircraft, and in total at the time of the collapse of the USSR there were about 30 Su-17s in Ukraine in varying degrees of preservation, it is possible that some of them can be restored with the help of Western countries.
In total, 1 Su-165 aircraft of various modifications were produced, of which more than 17 aircraft are in operation in different countries of the world, so the aircraft are potentially somewhere to be found, and spare parts for their restoration are available.
Of course, as in other similar cases of the use of outdated military equipment, a lot of derogatory comments appeared on thematic resources, although there is nothing funny about it.
Aircraft of the Su-17/Su-22 family, especially in the latest modifications and after minor modifications, can quite effectively solve a number of tasks, practically not inferior to modern combat vehicles. Such tasks to be solved may include:
– air support for ground units on the line of combat contact (LCC);
– high-precision strikes weapons (WTO) long range;
– use as a kamikaze UAV;
– suppression of ground (surface) air defense (air defense) systems;
– work on airplanes and helicopters of the Russian Air Force.
Let's consider the capabilities of the Sy-17/Su-22 in solving the above problems in more detail.
Air support
The Su-17 fighter-bomber was developed on the basis of the Su-7 fighter-bomber. A rotary wing was introduced on the Su-17 aircraft, which improved its performance characteristics (flight characteristics), but in return, to reduce weight, all armor protection and means of ensuring combat survivability were removed.
Of course, other changes were made - a new engine, communications, power supply, etc. There was even a low-altitude unit installed, providing automatic flight with terrain following according to radio altimeter data in the altitude range of 200–500 meters, as well as sights for bombing from a nose-up position.
In principle, when solving problems of air support for ground units on LBS using unguided munitions, aircraft such as Su-17/Su-22 will not be much inferior to more modern combat aircraft, perhaps, in some sense, in terms of cost/effectiveness they will be even better - at least their loss will cause much less damage to the budget of the Armed Forces (in general, the use of modern combat aircraft of generation 4+ and higher with unguided munitions on LBS cannot be justified).
As for guided munitions, the Su-17M3 modification can use fairly modern X-25, Kh-25ML, Kh-29L missiles with semi-active laser homing, Kh-25MR with radio command guidance, and the Su-17M4 could also use Kh-29T missiles with a television homing head. The above ammunition can either be available in the warehouses of the Ukrainian Armed Forces or be supplied by NATO countries from the availability of other countries.
Kh-29L (left) and Kh-29T (right) missiles
Taking into account the growing experience of NATO countries in integrating Soviet weapons and Western ammunition, Su-17/Su-22 aircraft can potentially be integrated unguided aircraft missiles (UAR) HYDRA, upgraded into laser-guided guided munitions – they are now supplied to the APU for use from ground-based launchers (PU). Target search and missile guidance can be carried out using an overhead container (or several specialized containers).
A much greater threat could be the integration on the Su-17/Su-22 of guided gliding aerial bombs IDAM, which are an analogue of our high-explosive aerial bombs (FAB), equipped with unified planning and correction modules (UMPC) - currently Russian FAB with UMPC are one of the most serious problems of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Su-17/Su-22 fighter-bombers can cope with the use of JDAM bombs no worse than the F-16 fighter
Long-range missile strikes
Perhaps this is the most effective option for using Su-17/Su-22 aircraft. NATO countries have already integrated Storm Shadow / SKALP-EG long-range cruise missiles on Soviet Su-24 and Mig-29 aircraft, and there is no doubt that they will also integrate them on the SU-17/SU-22.
Starting with the modification of the Su-17M, the payload mass was increased to four tons, while the weight of the Storm Shadow / SKALP-EG KP is 1,3 tons, that is, one Su-17/Su-22 aircraft can potentially carry up to two KP Storm Shadow / SKALP-EG. A in the worst case it will be American JASSM-ER with a firing range of up to a thousand kilometers.
KR SKALP-EG under the wing of a Su-24 front-line bomber
It is not difficult to calculate that 18 Polish Su-22M4 and S-22UMZK is a salvo of 36 KP Storm Shadow / SKALP-EG / JASSM-ER, which can overcome almost any air defense system.
UAV-kamikaze
The Ukrainian Armed Forces already have a positive experience of using Soviet jet reconnaissance UAVs Tu-141 "Strizh" as kamikaze UAVs.
Aircraft of the Su-17/Su-22 type, starting with the Su-17M2 modification, received the KN-23 navigation complex, which provides automatic flight along the route, which, in combination with a low-altitude unit, provides automatic flight following the terrain according to radio altimeter data at altitude from 200 meters, theoretically allows you to turn them into kamikaze UAVs. With external fuel tanks (PTB), their range can be about 1,5–2,5 thousand kilometers, depending on the warhead, which, minus the weight of the PTF, can be up to two tons.
Of course, using the Su-17/Su-22 as a kamikaze UAV is not the most rational solution, however, the possibility of using them in this capacity cannot be completely ruled out.
Air defense suppression
The Su-17MZP modification could use the Kh-25MP, X-27PS and Kh-58 anti-radar missiles. Against modern anti-aircraft missile systems (SAM) and electronic warfare (EW) systems, these missiles are most likely no longer effective.
However, it can be assumed that American specialists can integrate the modern AGM-17 HARM PRR onto the Su-22/Su-88 aircraft - this problem was previously solved in relation to the Su-27 and MiG-29 aircraft. Su-88/Su-17 aircraft equipped with the ASM-22 HARM missile launcher will also pose a significant threat to ground (surface) air defense systems of the Russian Armed Forces, especially when used in combination with other weapons.
PRR AGM-88 HARM
Detection of radiation from radar stations (radars) of Russian air defense systems can be carried out using an overhead electronic reconnaissance container (RTR).
Air Hunter
For work against airplanes and helicopters of the Russian Air Force, Su-17/Su-22 aircraft are minimally suitable, since they lack both radar and optical/thermal means of detecting/tracking air targets. At the same time, the task of destroying air targets can potentially be solved using suspended containers and corresponding weapons.
For example, to destroy helicopters and low-speed UAVs in the depths of Ukraine and on LBS, the above-mentioned HYDRA NARs, upgraded into guided munitions with laser beam guidance, can be used. In this case, target detection in the thermal range and guidance of HYDRA missiles will be carried out from an suspended container (containers). The cost of operating such an interceptor will be much lower than the twin-engine Su-27 and MiG-29, not to mention Western-made aircraft.
Suspended container "Sniper" US Armed Forces
To increase the effectiveness of the Su-17/Su-22 as an air fighter, they can use a radar in a container version, something similar to the Russian container version of the Spear radar. Of course, all this will not make the Su-17/Su-22 a rival for the Su-35S, but using certain tactics and target designation from long-range radar detection and control aircraft (AWACS) of NATO countries, the Ukrainian Armed Forces can potentially inflict very painful blows on the Russian Armed Forces.
As another option, the use of the Su-17/Su-22 can be considered for hunting AWACS aircraft, when an RTR container will be used to reach the target, after which the strike will be delivered by a pair of long-range air-to-air missiles of the AIM-120D type with an active radar homing head (ARLGSN).
Old but not useless
Of course, the likelihood of the Su-17/Su-22 turning into kamikaze UAVs is small, as a means of combating air targets they will not be very effective, and as air support on LBS they will not last long, but as a means of launching long-range missiles like Storm Shadow / SKALP-EG / JASSM-ER these aircraft can be both dangerous and effective - this is the simplest solution that the Ukrainian Armed Forces can implement with the support of Western countries.
One should not discount the possibility of using them to drop guided gliding bombs JDAM, as well as to hunt radars using electronic reconnaissance containers and anti-radar missiles.
Let's hope that the Ukrainian Su-17/Su-22 pilots want to live longer and follow the example of their comrade, who flew to Russian territory - the frequency for delivery is 149.200 MHz, call sign "Volga".
As we see, even quite outdated combat vehicles can solve many important problems on the battlefield, especially if you approach the solution of the problem creatively and combine time-tested workhorses and modern technical solutions. In conditions of an acute shortage of means of armed struggle in high-intensity conflicts, it is necessary to carefully study the enemy’s experience and use it to solve one’s own problems.
The rapid increase in the cost of the latest weapons does not allow even the richest armies of the world to purchase them in sufficient quantities. It was assumed, and even now it is still assumed, that reducing the cost of combat operations will be achieved through the widespread use of UAVs and other unmanned means of combat operations, but somewhere halfway the topic of UAVs has turned in the wrong direction, as a result of which their cost is constantly growing.
Potentially the situation could be changed by highly specialized combat vehicles that would carry out routine operations such as dropping FAB from UMPC, freeing up expensive multifunctional systems for solving such serious tasks as seizing air superiority over enemy territory.
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