Sukhoi Su-17M4 izdeliye S-54 "Fitter-K" - The Top AK-47 of CAS

[EpicBlitzkrieg87 8,350]

Introducing the Su-17M4, the ultimate development of the Su-17/20/22 series! This beast could actually have eight to twelve pylons, which translates to 8 x R-60 AAMs! 

 

Quick overview: 

 

 

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The Sukhoi Su-17M4 (NATO codename "Fitter-K") is the ultimate development of the Sukhoi Su-17/20/22 attacker series, featuring an improved avionics package which includes:

 

• KKR-1/54 integrated reconnaissance equipment
• Klyon-54 laser rangefinder
• RSDN-4 navigation system
• SPO-15LE Beryoza RWR system
• KD-36M ejection seat
• SDR-5M radar, NATO reported name "High Fix"
• New SPPU-22-01 gunpod with up to 260 rounds, containing a GSh-23L

 

Otherwise, it retained the KDS-23 flare dispensers and all of the features its predecessor possessed, the Su-17M3. It had eight pylons for ordnance, twin NR-30 cannons with 80 rpg, R-60 missiles, up to 500 kg bombs and a wide array of air-to-ground missiles. It was produced between 1981 and 1988, with 231 - 265 units of this specific variant completed. 

 

 

 

 

History, design and development:

 

 

Spoiler

 

The last version of the Su-17, introduced into mass production, was the S-54 / Su-17M4. Its development was carried out in the Sukhoi Design Bureau since March 1977. The first prototype aircraft appeared at the airbase in 1980, and in the same year, three prototype aircraft were presented for state tests, successfully completed in November 1982. The S-54 test team was led by S.V. Nazarenko, Leading Engineer of the Air Force Research Institute. Leading engineer from OKB G.S. Kuznetsov.

 

An ejection seat, designated K-36DM was installed on the plane. Given the main purpose of the machine, attackomg ground targets, they refused to install an adjustable air intake, fixing the cone in the optimal position for transonic low-altitude flight. The maximum speed at altitude was limited by the value corresponding to mach 1.75. A modern walkie-talkie R-862 was installed on the plane. Externally, the S-54 differed from the Su-17M3 by a small air intake on the garrot before the keel, but it was a completely different machine for the “filling”. On the Su-17M3, the collaboration of various on-board systems was provided by the pilot. During tests of the aircraft with an ASP-17B sight with an analog-to-digital computer, the need for inclusion in the onboard complex of the BCVM was revealed. For S-54, PNK-54 was developed on the basis of the Orbit-20-22, SAU-22M2, SUO-54 BTsVM. The use of guided weapons with semi-active laser guidance was provided by the Klen-PS laser rangefinder-target indicator, and with the television ones, the IT-23M teleindicator. On the S-54, when launching the UR, the central mark of the sight was imposed on the target by the joystick, and not by maneuvering the aircraft, as on the Su-17M3, in which the mark was moved by the joystick after the missile left the guide.

The armament included a wide array of air-to-ground missiles, such as the Kh-23, Kh-25ML, Kh-25MP, Kh-27PS, Kh-28 and Kh-58U. Moreover, the KAB-500KR TV-guided bombs were included, requiring large angles for pumping the laser beam to illuminate the target due to the significant lag of the bomb from the aircraft at the time of the fall, were replaced by the KAB-500T with a television seeker. The lack of automatic tracking of the target required such a choice of the dynamic characteristics of the target — pilot-operator — Klen-PS station loop, so that with manual correction of the Klen-PS sighting line, the necessary accuracy of the Kh-25ML's guidance was ensured. This problem was brilliantly solved, and the Kh-25ML did not lose its effectiveness. The Kh-29T missile was also included in the armament of the aircraft. State tests were successfully completed in November 1982, under the designation Su-17M4, the aircraft was put into service in September 1983.

 

In January 1983, a group of employees of the MMO named after P.O. Sukhoi was awarded state awards in connection with the adoption of the Su-17UM3 and Su-17UM4. And in February, N.G. Zyrin was relieved of the duties of chief designer of the Su-17M4. All further work on the machine was carried out under the guidance of the chief designer A.A.Slezev. The use of a computer as a part of the Su-17M4 airborne system made it possible to solve another urgent problem of front-line aviation: attacking aircraft often entered the zone of destruction of their own ammunition, and there were collisions with the ground due to untimely exit from the dive, especially guided ones.

 

After the aircraft was taken into service, the Uvod system was developed on it. The system was built on the principle of predicting the danger zone and choosing the optimal turnaround time, taking into account the maneuverability of the aircraft and the zone of effective use of weapons. If the pilot did not respond to the appropriate indication, the system automatically removed the aircraft from the danger zone.

Served Su-17 various modifications in the states that formed in the post-Soviet space, until the mid-1990s. In conditions of high temperatures and mountainous-desert terrain, despite the not always high fuel quality and combat damage, the AL-21F-3 engine worked out by that time was not satisfactory. Fuel tanks with a polyurethane sponge did not explode when bullets and fragments hit, and after installing armored plates in vulnerable places from the bottom of the fuselage, vehicle losses from damage to the drive box, generator, fuel pump and hydraulic components were reduced. The ASO-2V system installed during the war with thermal traps made it possible in many cases to successfully solve problems under conditions of enemy use of MANPADS. In Afghanistan, the Su-17M3R and Su-17M4R were actively used not only to control the results of bombing assaults, but also reconnaissance of the enemy using overhead containers with photos, radio equipment, infrared and television equipment. Most of all in Afghanistan had to fight the Su-17M3. At the height of the war in 1985, the Su-17M3 was more reliable than attack aircraft and combat helicopters. Having a mean time between failures of 145 hours, they were more than 11 hours higher than this figure for the Air Force of the 40th Army.

 

To solve reconnaissance missions, some of the aircraft designated Su-17M4-R (Su-17M3-R) were equipped with overhead containers KKR-1/54 for integrated reconnaissance (radio, photo, infrared and television). The container contained an AFA of planned, panoramic and perspective shooting, a side-view radar, an infrared system and lighting cartridges for shooting at night. In addition, when conducting reconnaissance, these aircraft were additionally equipped with containers with active jamming stations.

Serial production of the Su-17 lasted 20 years. During this time, the plant in Komsomolsk-on-Amur manufactured 2820 units of various modifications, which indicates the correctness of the direction chosen by P.O. Sukhim in the spring of 1965. Over a thousand vehicles served, and many of them still serve in the air forces of various countries.

 

 

 

 

Internal Components:

 

Spoiler

 

 

Cockpit:

 

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Camouflages:

 

 

 

Armament
 

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Specifications

 

 

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Sukhoi Su-17M4 (S-54) "Fitter-K"

 

General Characteristics

 

First flight:  1980 

Role:  Fighter-bomber

Number built: 231 - 265

Status:  Production, canceled (1981 - 1988)

Crew: 1

Length: 19.06 m (62.42 ft)

Wingspan: 

• Fully spread: ?
• 30°: 13.68 m (44.88 ft)
• 45°: ?
• 63° (fully swept): 10.02 m (32.87 ft)

Wing area: 

• Fully spread: ?
• 30°: 38.49 m ² (413.87 ft²)
• 45°: ?
• 63° (fully swept): 34.5 m ² (370.96 ft²)

Height: 4.97 m (16.3 ft)

Empty weight: 12,161 kg (26,810 lbs)

Loaded weight: 16,400 kg (36,155.8 lbs)

Max. takeoff weight: 19,700 kg (43,431 lbs)

Powerplant: 1 x Lyulka AL-21F-3 afterburning turbojet:

• without afterburner: 7,800 kgf (76.49 kN, 17,196 lbf)
• with afterburner: 11,200 kgf (109.83 kN, 24,691 lbf)

 

Performance

 

Maximum speed:

• at sea level: 1,350 km/h (838.8 mph, 729 kts)
• at altitude (12,500 m / 82,021 ft) (full power): 2,230 km/h (1,385.65 mph, 1,204 kts)

Never-exceed speed (=IAS):  1,400 km/h (870 mph, 756 kts)

Never-exceed speed (=M): 

• Technical: 2.1M
• Practical: 1.75M

Rate of climb: 200 m/s (656.168 ft/s) (full power)

Takeoff distance:  850 m (2,790 ft)

Takeoff speed: 335 km/h (208 mph, 180.88 kts)

Landing distance:  800 m (2,624.67 ft)

Landing speed: 280 km/h (174 mph, 151.2 kts)

Service ceiling:  G tolerance: 

• Positive: +7G
• Negative: -3G

Range: 

• min: 330 km (205 mi, 178 nmi)
• normal: 1,520 km (944.5 mi, 820.7 nmi)
• max (with drop tanks): 2,550 km (1,584.5 mi, 1,377 nmi)

Wing loading (min. sweep):

• Empty weight: 315.952195 kg/m ² (64.71 lb/ft²)
• Loaded weight: 426.084697 kg/m ² (87.27 lb/ft²)
• Max. takeoff weight: 511.821252 kg/m ² (104.83 lb/ft²)

 

Wing loading (max. sweep):

• Empty weight: 352.492754 kg/m ² (72.2 lb/ft²)
• Loaded weight: 475.362319 kg/m ² (97.36 lb/ft²)
• Max. takeoff weight: 571.014493 kg/m ² (116.95 lb/ft²)

Thrust/weight (without afterburner):

• Empty weight: 0.64
• Loaded weight: 0.47
• Max. takeoff weight: 0.39 

Thrust/weight (with afterburner):

• Empty weight: 0.92
• Loaded weight: 0.68
• Max. takeoff weight: 0.57

 

Armament

 

NOTE: much like most ground attackers, there are many and almost endless weapon combinations. This is not the full list, it is a brief overview. Maximum extra weight: 4,000 kg.

 

Guns:  2 x 30mm Nudelman-Rikhter NR-30 autocannons (80 rpg, 160 rds total) 

Air-to-Air Missiles:

• 2 - 4 x R-3S infrared-homing / heat-seeking air-to-air missiles

or

• 2 - 6 x R-60 infrared-homing / heat-seeking air-to-air missiles

Air-to-Ground Missiles: 2-6 of each

• Kh-23

or

• Kh-25M

or

• Kh-25ML

or

• Kh-25MP

or

• Kh-27PS

or

• Kh-28

or

• Kh-29L

or

• Kh-29T

or

• Kh-58U

or

• S-25L

or

• S-25LD

Bombs: a wide array of bomb types, up to 100, 250 and 500 kg, 12 pylons, bomb types include:

• FAB / OFAB regular bombs

or

• RBK cluster bombs

or

• ZB / ZBsh napalm bombs

or

• KAB-500KR television-guided bombs

or

• KAB-500T improved television-guided bombs

Rockets: 2-6 of each pod

• B-8M1 rocketpods (18 x 57mm S-5K rockets each)

or

• UB-32-57 rocketpods (32 x 57mm S-5K rockets each)

or

• UB-16-57UM rocketpods (16 x 57mm S-5K rockets each)

Other: 

• 2 x 23mm Gryazev-Shipunov GSh-23L autocannon in a UPK-23-250 gunpod (250 rpg)

or

• 2 x 23mm Gryazev-Shipunov GSh-23L autocannon in a SPPU-22-01 gunpod (260 rpg)

Electronics:

• SDR-5M ranging radar, NATO reported name "High Fix"
• KKR-1/54 Integrated Reconnaissance Equipment
• Klyon-54 Laser Rangefinder
• KN-23 NAV Suite
• RSDN-4 Navigation System
• ASP-17 Gunsight
• PBK-3-17S HUD Bombing Sight 
• SPO-15LE Beryoza RWR 
• KD-36M Ejectrion Seat
• SAU-22 Flight Control System
• KDS-23 Flare Dispensers

 

 

 

 

Sources/References:

 

 

Spoiler

 

Sukhoi Su-7/-17/-20/-22 Soviet Fighter and Fighter-Bomber Family by Yefim Gordon, Aerofax, Midland Publishing, 2004, ISBN: 1-85780-108-3

Soviet Aircraft Industry by Peter G Dancey, Su-17 chapter

Markovsky Viktor, Prochodchenko Igor: Su-17 fighter-bomber; Armada 21; Exprint 2000

 

 

Edited January 20, 2022 by EpicBlitzkrieg87

[ItssLuBu 1,803]

Approved and open for discussion. 

[ColdMatches 943]

+1, a good addition for the Sukhoi line, can't wait for a Su-17 possibly in the next patch(s).

[Z3r0_ 4,128]

We're getting an Su-7B.  An Su-17 would be the next logical step.

[EpicBlitzkrieg87 8,350]

14 hours ago, Z3r0_ said:

We're getting an Su-7B.  An Su-17 would be the next logical step.

 

This would be the best Su-17 to see; the M1 lacked AGMs, the M2 and M3 are good but they're not as capable as the M4. 

 

It's also good to see this variant first so that whatever export version of it the Germans may get, it's worse so the Russians have a step ahead. 

[Milocat 4,857]

Looks like a solid addition to the Soviet tree.  +1.

[User94998549 2,838]

+1

Definitely want it! After Su-7B, let's just skip those unneeded useless steps that the only thing they would do would be to add even more grind to the tier that is already crippled by it.

[MonkeyBussiness 1,228]

+1 , not enough R-60

[Borotovas 4,500]

+1

[EpicBlitzkrieg87 8,350]

On 24/05/2020 at 21:16, jackTIGR said:

Definitely want it! After Su-7B, let's just skip those unneeded useless steps that the only thing they would do would be to add even more grind to the tier that is already crippled by it.

 

I do think we should just skip right towards the Su-17M4, so that if Germany gets the Su-20 or Su-22, the Russians will definitely be a step ahead in USSR tech, as it should always be the case. 

[m_a_r_v 27]

+1 

[RanchSauce39 397]

+1 this will be a proper fighter bomber succeeding the Su7B. for top level b.r

 

 

Althouh this below is an Su22m4 it would have in common cockpit avionics because after all how would you launch TV guided missiles or bomb without a TV screen to see through the missile/bomb sensors?

 

[EpicBlitzkrieg87 8,350]

9 hours ago, RanchSauce39 said:

+1 this will be a proper fighter bomber succeeding the Su7B. for top level b.r

 

 

Althouh this below is an Su22m4 it would have in common cockpit avionics because after all how would you launch TV guided missiles or bomb without a TV screen to see through the missile/bomb sensors?

 

 

Their cockpits are identical so there should be no issue  though personally I'd rather see the Su-22M3 at best for Germany

[LeMemeAesthetic 266]

Going to bump this just because I think it's a likely addition for this patch, or perhaps a later patch. A ground attacker with TV guided weapons and flares would be a great addition to the Soviet tech tree, and the extra hardpoints will also be nice.

 

It also lengthens the grind to the Su-25, which while being worse, will likely be more interesting to much of the playerbase.

[MonkeyBussiness 1,228]

On 19/05/2021 at 00:42, LeMemeAesthetic said:

It also lengthens the grind to the Su-25, which while being worse, will likely be more interesting to much of the playerbase.

it'll be different not really worse

[LeMemeAesthetic 266]

1 hour ago, MonkeyBussiness said:

it'll be different not really worse

 

What does an Su-25A do better than an Su-17M4? It can carry more S-13 pods or S-25's, but they both carry an equal number of laser guided missiles, and most importantly, the Su-17M4 can carry TV guided missiles and bombs. Those alone will make it much better, the improved speed and mobility will just be icing on the cake.

 

The Su-25A will have a better gun, and very well could have a more favorable BR (you might be able to make a strong 10.0/10.3 line up, which as the top end BR's slowly increase will be a nice option). Other than that, the Su-17M4 will be the superior aircraft in game.

[MonkeyBussiness 1,228]

21 minutes ago, LeMemeAesthetic said:

 

What does an Su-25A do better than an Su-17M4? It can carry more S-13 pods or S-25's, but they both carry an equal number of laser guided missiles, and most importantly, the Su-17M4 can carry TV guided missiles and bombs. Those alone will make it much better, the improved speed and mobility will just be icing on the cake.

 

The Su-25A will have a better gun, and very well could have a more favorable BR (you might be able to make a strong 10.0/10.3 line up, which as the top end BR's slowly increase will be a nice option). Other than that, the Su-17M4 will be the superior aircraft in game.

first you talk about the Su-25 in general and not the first production model "Su-25A" like you just did so i'll keep the first one , the Su-25T for example could carry the vikhr and no need to tell you how strong those are plus having a medium speed aircraft is better in some situations , so like i said :"it will be different not really worse" wich mean depending on the situation one might be more appropriate than the other

ps: i also think gaijin might do like the Su-17M2 with the Su-25 and not give the earliest model because it doesn't bring much (in this case even worse) compare to the previous aircraft

Edited June 4, 2021 by MonkeyBussiness

[LeMemeAesthetic 266]

7 hours ago, MonkeyBussiness said:

first you talk about the Su-25 in general and not the first production model

Perhaps I could have been more clear, but in my experience saying 'Su-25' generally refers to the Su-25A. If you want to refer to the Su-25T, write out 'Su-25T' (or Su-25TM, they're similar in many respects). It's also worth noting that only a dozen or so Su-25T/TM's were built, so the vast majority of Su-25's you'll ever see are Su-25A/K's, or the SM/SM3 upgrades that Russia has done.

 

Obviously, the Su-25T does offer things an Su-17M4 simply can't do, though again my comment was directed at the first major production variant of the Grach.

7 hours ago, MonkeyBussiness said:

 

"Su-25A" like you just did so i'll keep the first one , the Su-25T for example could carry the vikhr and no need to tell you how strong those are plus having a medium speed aircraft is better in some situations

Again, I was referring to the Su-25A in my earlier comments. Also, an Su-25T would still be exposed when using a Vikhr, the real advantage it would bring would be the use of TV guided weapons (which could be used in conjunction with Vikhr's).

7 hours ago, MonkeyBussiness said:

ps: i also think gaijin might do like the Su-17M2 with the Su-25 and not give the earliest model because it doesn't bring much (in this case even worse) compare to the previous aircraft

While that's true with tanks and helicopters, Gaijin has been pretty reluctant so skip to the most advanced variant with planes (see: MiG-23M). The Su-17 and Su-17M didn't offer new missiles, to be introduced alongside the AGM-65's the A-7D got in Ixwa Strike, and as such would have basically been swing wing Su-7's. The M2 added R-60's and laser guided missiles, which made it a meaningful addition. Though giving the Soviets access to a plane that could carry two slightly larger laser guided missiles, while the US got four slightly smaller TV guided missiles still seems rather unbalanced.

 

Still, compared to the Su-17 and Su-17M, the Su-25A still offers a lot of capabilities, being analogous to an Su-17M3 in armament, and only a step down from an Su-17M4 or MiG-27M/D.

[MonkeyBussiness 1,228]

5 hours ago, LeMemeAesthetic said:

Perhaps I could have been more clear, but in my experience saying 'Su-25' generally refers to the Su-25A. If you want to refer to the Su-25T, write out 'Su-25T' (or Su-25TM, they're similar in many respects). It's also worth noting that only a dozen or so Su-25T/TM's were built, so the vast majority of Su-25's you'll ever see are Su-25A/K's, or the SM/SM3 upgrades that Russia has done.

 

Obviously, the Su-25T does offer things an Su-17M4 simply can't do, though again my comment was directed at the first major production variant of the Grach.

Again, I was referring to the Su-25A in my earlier comments. Also, an Su-25T would still be exposed when using a Vikhr, the real advantage it would bring would be the use of TV guided weapons (which could be used in conjunction with Vikhr's).

While that's true with tanks and helicopters, Gaijin has been pretty reluctant so skip to the most advanced variant with planes (see: MiG-23M). The Su-17 and Su-17M didn't offer new missiles, to be introduced alongside the AGM-65's the A-7D got in Ixwa Strike, and as such would have basically been swing wing Su-7's. The M2 added R-60's and laser guided missiles, which made it a meaningful addition. Though giving the Soviets access to a plane that could carry two slightly larger laser guided missiles, while the US got four slightly smaller TV guided missiles still seems rather unbalanced.

 

Still, compared to the Su-17 and Su-17M, the Su-25A still offers a lot of capabilities, being analogous to an Su-17M3 in armament, and only a step down from an Su-17M4 or MiG-27M/D.

i agree with most of what you said but gaijin like to introduce something with a little progression (or a lot if the choice is limited) over his predecessor so IMO the Su-25A could end up in the premium TT since it doesn't offer any AGM and would litteraly be worse than the entire sukhoï line in a way , here is how i can see it in the futur SU-17M2 -> Su-17M4 -> Su-25T or they will put the Su-25A in the TT but after the IL-28Sh and in that case it would make sense there going like this : IL-28Sh -> Su-25A -> Su-25T.

 

If you paid attention they put early/mid version and not the really first model , we didn't get the Mig-19 , the Mig-21F , the F-4A , Mig-23S but rather a more advance variant that fit better the cureent state of the game (aka their weapon system mostly) , that's why they chose the Mig-19PT, Mig-21F13 (cause early aam)  Mig-23M (cause they were introduce with more advance missile such as R-23).

 

it's not because 1 variant of a vehicule (here the Su-25A in your case) was more produced than others (Su-25T etc) that when we talk about it (Su-25) we are force to talk about the most numerous variant ( Su-25A) , IMO opinion if we don't precise wich variant it mean we talk about all of them , but anyway i hope we are on the same line and i hope we have the Su-17M4 quite soon , it would be cool to have a top tier Sukhoï with flares and F&F AGM

[LeMemeAesthetic 266]

8 hours ago, MonkeyBussiness said:

If you paid attention they put early/mid version and not the really first model , we didn't get the Mig-19 , the Mig-21F , the F-4A , Mig-23S but rather a more advance variant that fit better the cureent state of the game (aka their weapon system mostly)

The versions we did get were not that much later though, and they certainly weren't the most advanced version possible of those airframes (like the Su-25T would probably be). With the possible exception of the MiG-19, every other plane you listed would be considered an 'eary' model.

8 hours ago, MonkeyBussiness said:

it's not because 1 variant of a vehicule (here the Su-25A in your case) was more produced than others (Su-25T etc) that when we talk about it (Su-25) we are force to talk about the most numerous variant ( Su-25A)

Not necessarily, though the Su-25T is unique enough that one should specific that that is the aircraft one is referring to (due to its more advanced capabilities and far smaller production numbers). Without context, most people upon hearing 'Su-25' would think of the Su-25A.

8 hours ago, MonkeyBussiness said:

but anyway i hope we are on the same line and i hope we have the Su-17M4 quite soon , it would be cool to have a top tier Sukhoï with flares and F&F AGM

Agreed, and I'd still like to see the Su-25A in the main tree. It's too iconic of a vehicle to lock behind an event/paywall.

[MonkeyBussiness 1,228]

12 hours ago, LeMemeAesthetic said:

Agreed, and I'd still like to see the Su-25A in the main tree. It's too iconic of a vehicle to lock behind an event/paywall.

don't underestimate gaijin , the F-11F is an event plane , A-4E is a squadron vehicule , harrier gr1 , AV-8A , Yak-38 are all premium

[WreckingAres283 4,262]

@MonkeyBussiness

Spoiler

 

[MonkeyBussiness 1,228]

8 minutes ago, WreckingAres283 said:

@MonkeyBussiness

Hide contents

 

i was refering to the Mig-27 )))

[WreckingAres283 4,262]

4 minutes ago, MonkeyBussiness said:

i was refering to the Mig-27 )))

it was tested with 4x Kh-25 but never carried 4 in service afaik

Edited June 30, 2021 by WreckingAres283

[Mr_Pokemon26295 358]

8 dispensers with 30 flares/chaff each will be lovely

Spoiler

Su-17m2 is one of my favorite planes don't mind me cant wait for the m4

Oh n yeah ik flare chaff numbers may be different

Edited July 20, 2021 by Mr_Pokemon26295