Su-20

The Su‑20 is the single‑seat ground‑attack variant of the Soviet Sukhoi Su‑17, itself a development of the earlier Su‑7 fighter‑bomber. First flown in 1968 and entering service with the Soviet Air Forces in 1972, the aircraft incorporated a variable‑sweep wing that could be set between 16° and 72°, allowing both high‑speed dash performance and low‑speed maneuverability for tactical strikes. Powered by a Lyulka AL‑21F-3 afterburning turbojet delivering about 22,400 N of thrust, the Su‑20 could carry up to 2 500 kg of ordnance on external pylons, including rockets, guided missiles, and conventional bombs. Its avionics suite featured a basic navigation radar and a ranging sight for weapon delivery, which, while modest by later standards, provided reliable all‑weather capability. The type saw extensive combat use in the Middle East, notably with the Iraqi Air Force during the Iran‑Iraq War and the Gulf conflicts, proving its ruggedness and adaptability. Though eventually superseded by more modern strike platforms, the Su‑20 remains a significant example of Cold‑War era variable‑geometry design, illustrating Sukhoi’s approach to creating versatile, export‑friendly attack aircraft. Today a few airframes survive in museums and as static displays, serving as reminders of the Soviet Union’s ambitious aerodynamic experimentation and its impact on global air‑power doctrines.

Sukhoi

Classification

Production & History

Design & Classification