Sukhoi Su-7 - WikiHQ

The Sukhoi Su-7 (NATO designation name: Fitter-A) is a swept wing, supersonic fighter aircraft developed by the Soviet Union in 1955. Originally, it was designed as a tactical, low-level dogfighter, but was not successful in this role. On the other hand, the soon-introduced Su-7B series became the main Soviet fighter-bomber and ground-attack aircraft of the 1960s. The Su-7 was rugged in its simplicity, but its Lyulka AL-7 engine had such high fuel consumption that it seriously limited the aircraft's payload, as even short-range missions required that at least two hardpoints be used to carry drop tanks rather than ordnance.

Design and development

After Joseph Stalin's death, the Sukhoi OKB was reopened and by the summer, it began work on a swept-wing front-line fighter. The first prototype, designated S-1, was designed to use the new Lyulka AL-7 turbojet engine. It was the first Soviet aircraft to utilize the all-moving tailplane and a translating centerbody, a movable inlet cone in the air intake for managing airflow to the engine at supersonic speeds. The aircraft also had a wing sweep of 60°, irreversible hydraulically boosted controls, and an ejection seat of Sukhoi’s own design. This was dictated by the highly swept wing. Combined with poor visibility from the cockpit and the lack of an instrument landing system, operations were very difficult, especially in poor weather or airfields. In 1961–1962, Sukhoi experimented with blown flaps on S-25 but the benefit was too small to warrant implementation. JATO rockets tested on S-22-4 proved more useful and were incorporated into the Su-7BKL. Attempts to improve takeoff and landing performance eventually resulted in the variable geometry Sukhoi Su-17.

The Su-7B and its variants became the main Soviet ground-attack aircraft of the 1960s. They were also widely exported (691 planes,

1971 Indo-Pakistan War

The Indian Air Force (IAF) used the Su-7 extensively in the 1971 war with Pakistan. Six squadrons, totaling 140 aircraft, flew almost 1,500 offensive sorties during the war,

After the war, it was found that the aircraft had high survivability, being able to fly home safely despite receiving heavy damage, resulting in many disputed kills. For example, Wing Commander H.S. Mangat's Su-7 was badly damaged by a PL-2 missile fired by a Pakistan Air Force F-6. The impact was so severe that half the rudder was missing, the elevators, ailerons, and flaps were severely damaged, and half the missile was stuck in the chute pipe. The pilot made it back to his base. The death of at least one Indian pilot can be attributed, at least indirectly, to poor cockpit design. A pilot had moved his seating forward to a dangerous position, "because he found the bombsight and the front gun sight easier to operate" while in that position and was killed on ejection.

Indian Su-7BMKs shot down at least two Shenyang F-6s in the 1971 war,

Syria

Syria and Iraq both received their first SU-7s from the Soviet Union in 1968, with the Syrians receiving 25 airframes in an initial batch followed by more purchases in the lead up to the 1973 Arab-Israeli war. These Su-7s were used intensively, primarily for ground attack and support missions and were valued for their supersonic performance and hard punch, and when the war broke out, the Syrian Air Force Command - let by Major General Najr Jamil - had about 80 Fitter-As ready for combat (not counting a number of Iraqi SU-7s also based in Syria at the time). SU-7s were used intensively and especially in low level attacks which the Israelis had a lot of trouble detecting and intercepting (in comparison to the MiG-21s flying top cover for the Fitters and MiG-17s). After the war, during which the Syrians suffered considerable losses, 35 SU-7s were supplied by the Russians as replacements or extra airframes, and they would be in Syrian service until the 1990s before being phased out.

Variants

thumb|S-26 on display at Monino.

thumb|Su-7BKL landing gear with the unique skid, and a UB-16 57 mm rocket launcher

thumb|Two-seat trainer variant Su-7UMK (NATO designation: Moujik)

A total of 1,847 Su-7 and its variants were built.

;Su-7BM

:Upgraded AL-7F-1 engine, upgraded fuel system with external piping on either side of the fuselage spine, fuel tanks installed in the wings, "wet" underwing hardpoints for carrying external fuel tanks, capable of carrying tactical nuclear bombs. Manufactured 1963–1965 with 290 built.

Czechoslovak Air Force – the Czechoslovak Air Force was the first foreign operator of the Su-7 in 1963. Totals included 64 Su-7BM, 31 Su-7BKL and Su-7U. During operations service, 30 aircraft were lost in accidents. The remaining aircraft were phased out in 1990.

Egyptian Air Force – The first batch of 14 Su-7BMK was destroyed during the Six-Day War. From 1967–1972, Egypt received an additional 185 Su-7BMK/SU-7UMK. Those which survived the Yom Kippur War with Israel were retired in the mid-1980s.

thumb|Indian Air Force Sukhoi Su-7 preserved at the Indian Air Force Academy Museum

Indian Air Force – 140 were delivered in 1968, equipping six squadrons. An additional 14 attrition replacements were provided. The last aircraft were retired in 1986.

Iraqi Air Force – The first contract for up to 34 Su-7BMK was signed in 1965, with deliveries starting in the spring of 1967. An additional order for 20 Su-7BMK was signed in July 1967. No longer in service.

Polish Air Force – operated 6 Su-7BM, 33 Su-7BKŁ and 8 Su-7U from July 1964 until June 1990; no longer in service.

Soviet Air Force

Syrian Air Force – Shortly after the Six-Day War of 1967, Syria received 25 Su-7s. During the 1973 Yom Kippur War, Syria lost most of the aircraft supplied. After 1973, The Soviet Union resupplied Syria with 35 more aircraft. By the mid 1980s, the Su-7 had been transferred to the reserves, and by the 1990s were decommissioned.

Specifications (Su-7BKL)

thumb|3-view drawing of Sukhoi Su-7

References

Notes

Citations

Bibliography

Nijboer, Donald and Dan Patterson. Cockpits of the Cold War. Eden Prairie, Ontario: The Boston Mills Press, 2003. .
Wheeler, Barry C. The Hamlyn Guide to Military Aircraft Markings. London: Chancellor Press, 1992. .

External links

Su-7 from Global Security
Su-7 from Global Aircraft
Su-7 from Military Factory
Su-7 BKL walkaround