The Su-22 is the export member of Sukhoi's Su-17 Fitter family, a Soviet variable-sweep fighter-bomber built for low-level strike, ground attack, and battlefield interdiction. Direct conflict records on this page emphasize documented combat use and losses: Libyan Su-22s over the Gulf of Sidra, an Azerbaijani Su-22 loss in the First Nagorno-Karabakh War, Iraqi Su-22/Fitter chemical-attack delivery in the Iran-Iraq War, Desert Storm losses, Peruvian Cenepa War air-support missions, and Syrian government bombing near Tabqah in 2017.
A declassified DIA summary hosted by GulfLINK says Iraqi Su-22/Fitters first attacked Iranian troops with chemical weapons in August 1983 and that Fitters and MiG-23/Floggers conducted most Iraqi air-launched chemical attacks during the war.
Two Libyan Su-22s engaged U.S. Navy F-14s over the Gulf of Sidra on 19 August 1981; DVIDS reporting from USS Nimitz states one Libyan aircraft fired first and both Su-22s were then shot down.
The Flight Safety Foundation conflict-zones technical note documents an Azerbaijani Su-22 shot down over Verdenisskiy by an SA-14 MANPADS on 19 February 1994 during the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict-zone case study.
Air Force Historical Research Agency analysis states that USAF pilots shot down four Iraqi SU-22 aircraft during Operation Desert Storm, part of the coalition campaign that eliminated much of Iraq's fixed-wing combat fleet.
Role detailsAir University's Journal of the Americas describes Peruvian Cenepa air operations as including FAP Su-22 attacks in support of surface forces, and Aviation Safety Network records two Peruvian Su-22M losses on a mission during the conflict.
CENTCOM reported that a Syrian regime SU-22 dropped bombs near Syrian Democratic Forces fighters south of Tabqah on 18 June 2017 before a U.S. F/A-18E shot it down in defense of coalition partner forces.
Role detailsThe Su-22 designation covers export members of Sukhoi's Su-17 Fitter family. Soviet-service aircraft used Su-17 designations, the Su-20 was an early export derivative, and later export branches used Su-22, Su-22M, Su-22M3, Su-22M4, and two-seat Su-22UM-series trainer designations.
| Variant | Configuration | Designation notes |
|---|---|---|
 | Soviet-service parent family | Variable-geometry Su-7 derivative from which the Su-20 and Su-22 export designations branched. Sources: FAS Su-17/-20/-22 Fitter, AirVectors Su-7 and Su-17 Fitter |
| Su-20 | Early export derivative | FAS identifies Su-20 as an export designation, and AirVectors describes it as the early export branch that preceded later Su-22 production. Sources: FAS Su-17/-20/-22 Fitter, AirVectors Su-7 and Su-17 Fitter |
| Su-22 | Baseline export Su-17M2 derivative | AirVectors describes the baseline Su-22/Su-22R as an export branch with the R29BS-300 engine, produced before the later Su-22M variants. Sources: AirVectors Su-7 and Su-17 Fitter |
| Su-22M | Export Su-17M3 derivative | AirVectors describes the Su-22M as an export Su-17M3 derivative with the R29BS-300 engine and simpler avionics than Soviet-service Su-17M3 aircraft. Sources: AirVectors Su-7 and Su-17 Fitter |
| Su-22M3 | Later Su-22M avionics fit | Later Su-22M production incorporated most Su-17M3 avionics and used the Su-22M3 designation, including reconnaissance-configured Su-22M3R aircraft. Sources: AirVectors Su-7 and Su-17 Fitter |
| Su-22UM3K | Two-seat trainer / conversion aircraft | AL-21-powered export Su-17UM3 trainer variant; AirVectors lists the UM3K export branch, and TWZ notes Poland's two-seat Su-22UM3K service. Sources: AirVectors Su-7 and Su-17 Fitter, TWZ Polish Su-22 Retirement |
The Su-22's conflict record is tied to conventional and special-purpose air-to-ground stores carried on external pylons.
| Carried item | Item type | Carriage evidence |
|---|---|---|
 | Unguided aerial bomb class | FAS lists FAB-500 bombs among Su-17/Su-22 Fitter armament, and the GulfLINK DIA summary describes Su-17/Fitter and Su-22/Fitter chemical-delivery roles with 500 kg bomb loads. Sources: FAS Su-17/-20/-22 Fitter, GulfLINK Iraqi Air Force Chemical Weapons Summary |
The Su-22 page is scoped to the export branch of the wider Su-17 Fitter family. Sources identify the Su-20 and Su-22 as export designations, while the late Su-22M4/Fitter-K represents the final export generation tied to upgraded avionics, variable sweep, and external strike stores.
Su-22 is an export Su-17-family designation rather than a clean-sheet aircraft line.
The family was built around low-level bombing, rockets, missiles, gun pods, reconnaissance pods, and specialized strike fits.
Polish retirement reporting in 2025 marked the end of Europe's last operational Su-22 force.
The Su-7BM-based S-22I variable-geometry demonstrator made its first flight, establishing the swing-wing path that led to the Su-17/Su-20/Su-22 Fitter family.
Sources: AirVectors Su-7 and Su-17 Fitter
The final-production Su-17M4 development aircraft first flew; the Su-22M4 became the corresponding export Fitter-K version.
Sources: AirVectors Su-7 and Su-17 Fitter, RIAT Su-22M Fitter Profile
Two Libyan Su-22s were shot down by U.S. Navy F-14s over the Gulf of Sidra after one of the Libyan aircraft fired first.
Sources: DVIDS Gulf of Sidra Fast Eagles
Flight Safety Foundation records an Azerbaijani Su-22 shot down by an SA-14 MANPADS during the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict-zone case study.
Sources: FSF Conflict Zones Technical Note
Aviation Safety Network records two Peruvian Air Force Su-22M aircraft lost on a mission during the Cenepa War, while Air University describes Su-22 attacks supporting Peruvian surface forces.
Sources: Air University Cenepa Conflict at 25, ASN Peruvian Su-22 Cenepa Loss
CENTCOM reported a Syrian regime SU-22 dropped bombs near SDF fighters south of Tabqah before a U.S. F/A-18E shot it down.
Sources: CENTCOM Syrian SU-22 Tabqah Release
TWZ reported that the Polish Air Force withdrew Europe's last operational Su-22 Fitter strike aircraft after more than four decades of Polish service.
Sources: TWZ Polish Su-22 Retirement
