This week, over 40 years after coming into service, the swing-wing Su-22 Fitter fighter bomber was withdrawn from the Polish Air Pressure in a farewell ceremony held at Mirosławiec.
The Su-22’s sunset has been imminent for the reason that ultimate determination to retire the fleet was introduced by the Chief of the Common Workers of the Polish Armed Forces in March 2025. With the trendy KAI FA-50 now in service with the Polish Air Pressure, and F-35 Lightning IIs on the best way, the Japanese European nation is looking for to expedite its transfer away from Soviet and Russian designed gear – now with restricted obtainable help as a consequence of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine – and in direction of designs produced by fellow NATO international locations and their allies.
Headed to Poland for the Su-22 retirement occasion they usually had one final shock for us, that is the ultimate particular tail scheme which was unveiled on the occasion. After the loopy occasions of this morning, I used to be nervous this occasion wouldn’t go forward! pic.twitter.com/xTIIHMFCuz
— Nick Jennings (@darealnjennings) September 10, 2025
With the Su-22’s withdrawal, the MiG-29 is now the only real remaining fastened wing sort in Polish service with solely Russian roots. Substitute of the nation’s Soviet and Russian designed helicopters is deliberate to observe. The Air Pressure’s Mi-8s are tipped to get replaced by a follow-on order of AW101 Merlin helicopters, whereas the Polish Navy’s Mi-2 and Mi-14 helicopters are rumored to be up for retirement in 2026.
As a part of the farewell ceremony, three Su-22UM3K twin-seat plane carried out a formation tour of assorted places related to the Su-22 in Poland, whereas at Mirosławiec itself single-seater Su-22M4 plane have been displayed with a fight armament. A separate flypast of an Su-22M4 fitted with an digital intelligence (ELINT) and photograph reconnaissance pod – particularly a KKR-1 – was a specific spotlight for aviation fans.
Brigadier Common Pilot Maciej Trelka, who took half within the farewell flypasts, has been flying the Su-22 with the Polish Air Pressure for 31 years. He advised Polish Radio Koszalin “Most of my skilled life is related with this plane. With it, I used to be in Norway, Finland, Germany, the UK, Italy, and Hungary. With this plane, I entered NATO. It brings a tear to my eye, as a result of it gave me a substantial amount of pleasure, although it was not a simple plane.”
Commander of the twenty first Tactical Air Base, Świdwin, the place the ultimate Su-22s have been primarily based, Colonel Roman Stefaniak added: “It teaches humility, as a result of it’s troublesome to fly. There is no such thing as a laptop, so navigation and lots of different duties are the pilot’s duty. However that’s what makes it so rewarding—you actually really feel the plane.”
Origins of the Su-22
On the fleet’s peak, over 100 Su-22s served with the Polish Air Pressure. That quantity has steadily dwindled with the introduction of newer varieties, and the rising obsolescence of the airframe, which was first flown in 1966. The Su-22 is an export variant of the Su-17, which flew in Soviet after which Russian service between 1970 and 1998.
The Su-17 was designed with the intention of changing Sukhoi’s earlier Su-7 (NATO reporting identify ‘Fitter-A’). An Su-7-based expertise demonstrator, used to check the variable-sweep wing expertise that will discover its approach onto the Su-17, was flown in 1966. On the controls was Vladimir Ilyushin, son of plane designer Sergey Ilyushin. Vladimir would later go on to additionally pilot the primary flights of the Su-24 Fencer, Su-25 Frogfoot, and Su-27 Flanker.
Many programs have been developed from the Su-7, and the resemblance of the 2 varieties is evident when positioned aspect by aspect, however the swing-wing was stated to enhance flight efficiency throughout the board. As a fighter-bomber, the Su-17 was designed from the outset with the potential of deploying free-fall nuclear bombs.
Nearly 3,000 Su-17, Su-20, and Su-22 plane have been produced over 21 years. Plane have been offered throughout the Soviet sphere of affect, flying in service with Afghanistan, Czechoslovakia, East Germany, Iraq, and lots of extra. Angola, Iran, Libya, Syria, Vietnam, and Yemen proceed to function the kind to today. Notably, in 2017, an Su-22 Fitter operated by Syria was shot down by a U.S. Navy F/A-18E Tremendous Hornet after it was noticed participating U.S.-aligned floor forces. Extra Syrian Su-22s have been destroyed earlier that 12 months throughout a big cruise missile strike directed at Shayrat Air Base, carried out by the U.S. in response to the Khan Shaykhun chemical assault.
Drone Incursion
The withdrawal of the Su-22 coincidentally comes amid a serious incursion into Polish airspace by Russian drones. No less than 19 drones traveled throughout the Poland-Ukraine border in a single day on Sept. 9 and 10, 2025, with a number of drones shot down by fighter plane. Others crashed into the bottom or into buildings in numerous places inside Poland’s borders.
NEW: Polish officers offered extra clarification on the impacts of the September 9-10 Russian drone incursion into Polish airspace. Extra ⬇️(1/2)
Poland’s allies reiterated their help for Poland following the drone incursion, condemning Russia for purposefully… pic.twitter.com/fW2KWZnLSX
— Institute for the Examine of Struggle (@TheStudyofWar) September 12, 2025
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said his perception that the drone incursion was not a mistake by Russia, as an alternative portraying the drones as a method to check Poland’s response and resolve forward of additional potential assaults.
The occasion strengthened the necessity for Poland to strengthen its armed forces, and significantly its air defences. Progress is being made in direction of this, however suffers from lengthy supply instances for a lot of items of apparatus as industrial capability struggles to satisfy the elevated demand put up Ukraine invasion.
Poland stated early Wednesday that a number of Russian drones entered and have been shot down over its territory with assist from NATO allies, describing the incident as an “act of aggression” carried out throughout a wave of Russian strikes on Ukraine. pic.twitter.com/EHEUJZJHbH
— The Related Press (@AP) September 10, 2025
Poland’s personal defences have been strengthened, as deliberate, by NATO allies. Dutch F-35As, deployed to Poland as a part of the Enhanced Baltic Air Policing mission, have been within the air to have interaction the drones, supported by an A330 Multi-Position Tanker Transport from the NATO fleet. A NATO E-3A Sentry was additionally reportedly deployed to help with airspace administration, augmenting Poland’s personal Saab 340 airborne early warning & management (AEW&C) plane – a sort which continues to be new to the Polish Air Pressure.
The second a Russian drone was shot down in Poland. pic.twitter.com/A40K1hx7id
— Conflict Report (@clashreport) September 10, 2025
Whereas the introduction of the F-35A within the coming years will definitely bolster Poland’s capabilities, consideration additionally must be turned to rising counter unmanned aerial programs (C-UAS) applied sciences which may supply both mushy kill or laborious kill features at a decrease value. This would possibly embrace directed power, or laser, weaponry. New radar programs and optical/infrared sensors are additionally required, particularly designed to be efficient with the smaller profiles introduced by UAS, to adequately detect incoming threats.
The drone incursion proved that Poland and NATO are heading in the right direction, however nonetheless have far to cowl with a view to absolutely reply to this new approach of warfare.
