Frag Out! Magazine
Issue link: https://fragout.uberflip.com/i/1536266
Thanks to substantial structural life and numbers, Su‑22s remained a cornerstone of Polish aviation after the political transition. Accident rates were low, following the infancy period: the last Su‑22 lost in Poland was accidentally shot down during air‑defense exercises at the Central Air Force Range near Ustka on August 19th, 2003 (reg number 9307, downed by a 2K11 Krug system). In total, 11 airframes were lost overall to accidents and crashes. In the 1990s, as Poland moved toward Western structures (EU and NATO integration). Despite that the Su‑22s were still indispensable— there was no budget for Western multirole jets procurement. Early talks with the U.S. explored Lockheed Martin F‑16C/D Fighting Falcon and Boeing F‑15 Eagle purchases, but funding allowed only 48 F‑16C/D Block 52+ jets, filling the gap left by MiG‑21s and keeping the Su‑22 (and MiG‑29) in service. Despite various proposals, no full modernization to Western weapons standards was ever approved ‑ that would decisively enhance the jet's combat capability. From 1999, modest upgrades during overhaul included collision‑avoidance lights, Trimble 2101AP GPS, Bendix/King KLU‑709 TACAN, ANV‑241MMR ILS (replacing RSBN‑7S close‑in navigation system), R‑862 radio control displays, ATM‑QAR/S‑54 flight data recorders, and the Supraśl IFF system. www.fragoutmag.com