Истребитель-бомбардировщик Су-17

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Created in 1966 from the Su-7 fighter-bomber, the prototype S-22I aircraft was the first variable geometry aircraft built in the USSR. The first series production model, which began production in 1970. was the Su-17 (S-32). The next version, which was powered by the AL-21F engine, was the Su-I7M, followed in turn by the Su-I7M2, Su-17M3, and Su-17M4, which were produced in large numbers. Beside that, they were accompanied by the Su- I7UM and Su- 17UM3 two-seat combat trainer variants. The export models were the Su-20. Su-22, Su-22M, Su-22M4( and Su-22UM3, which participated in the conflicts in the Near East, Africa, Latin America, Asia, Afghanistan, and others. During the process of using the Su-17 it showed itself to be a reasonably reliable aircraft. The majority of service losses were due to personnel mistakes—pilot error, shot down in action, or exceeding its operational limits.

When the Su-17 ended its production run in 1990, the WS of the USSR numbered some 1,095 of these aircraft on its books. Together with the export models total production was 1,866 aircraft, some of which are still serving today with a number of countries.

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