page_title: Sukhoi Su-17
section_title: Former operators
hierarchical_section_title: Sukhoi Su-17 / Operators / Former operators
caption_attribution_description: English: Sukhoi Su-22M4 of Slovak air force, retired from service is seen here in Košice, Slovakia.
context_page_description: The Sukhoi Su-17 is a Soviet variable-sweep wing fighter-bomber developed from the Sukhoi Su-7. It enjoyed a long career in Soviet, later Russian, service and was widely exported to Eastern Bloc, Arab air forces, Angola and Peru as the Su-20 and Su-22. It is the first variable-sweep wing of Soviet origin.
context_section_description: Democratic Republic of Afghanistan
  Afghan Air Force. More than 70 were sent to the Afghan Air Force from 1982, including 45 Su-22M4 delivered from 1984.
   Armenia
   Azerbaijan
  The Azerbaijan Air Force
   Belarus
  Belarus Air Force. The Belarusian Air Force inherited Su-17s from the Soviet Air Force, but none remain in service.
   Bulgaria
  Bulgarian Air Force. The Bulgarian Air Force operated 18 Su-22M4 and five Su-22UM aircraft. All are retired.
   Czechoslovakia
  Czechoslovak Air Force. The Czechoslovak Air Force's Su-22 (49 Su-22M4 and 8 Su-22UM3K in 1992) inventory was split between the Czech Republic and Slovakia in 1993.
   Czech Republic
  Czech Air Force. The Czech Air Force inherited 31 Su-22M4 and five Su-22UM3K. All were retired in 2002.
   East Germany
  Air Forces of the National People's Army. The East Germany operated 48 Su-22M4 and 8 Su-22UM-3K until unification, when they were passed on to the Luftwaffe.
  Volksmarine. The East German Navy operated eight Su-22M-4Ks and two Su-22UM-3K aircraft.
   Egypt
  Egyptian Air Force. The Egyptian Air Force operated 48 of Su-20/22 aircraft, although all have been withdrawn, being replaced by the F-4 Phantom II and General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcons in their role.
   Germany
  Luftwaffe. A number of Su-22 aircraft were inherited from East Germany, although these did not serve in the Luftwaffe, but some of them were painted with a Luftwaffe color scheme for test and evaluation. All of them have been decommissioned.
  German Navy. Ex-Volksmarine aircraft.
   Hungary
  Hungarian Air Force. The Hungarian Air Force maintained 12 Su-22M3 and three Su-22UM3 aircraft from 1983. Two single seat and one training aircraft crashed. Withdrawn from service in 1997.
   Iraq
  Iraqi Air Force. The Iraqi Air Force received a large number of Su-22 models, of which 40 were impounded by Iran after having escaped coalition air campaign in 1991. None survived the 2003 invasion of Iraq by the United States.
  No. 1 Squadron IqAF - "as of September 1980, the Iraqi air force’s No. 1 Squadron was still equipped with 16 out of 18 Sukhoi Su-20s Iraq acquired in 1973."
  No. 44 Squadron IqAF - flying Su-20/22s in September 1980.
   Kazakhstan
  Su-17 aircraft were inherited by the Armed Forces of the Republic of Kazakhstan, but never put into service.
   Libyan Arab Jamahiriya
  The Libyan Air Force operated as many as 90 Su-22 aircraft, with around 40 Su-22M3 and Su-22UM3K aircraft in service at the beginning of 2011 when the Libyan uprising started. During the Libyan Civil War, the Gaddafi regime used Su-22s in combat operations.
   North Yemen
  North Yemen Air Force
   Peru
  Peruvian Air Force. The Peruvian Air Force acquired 32 Sukhoi Su-22A Fitter F, 4 Su-22U Fitter E, 16 Su-22M Fitter J and 3 Su-22UM Fitter G aircraft between 1977 and 1980. Retired in 2006, 11 remain in reserve status.
   Russia
  Russian Air Force. The Russian Air Force inherited Soviet Su-17 aircraft, but has withdrawn the type from service. At least one example remains flying as a chase aircraft operated by Sukhoi at their KnAAPO facility.
  Russian Naval Aviation
   Slovakia
  Slovak Air Force. The Slovak Air and Air Defense Forces inherited 18 Su-22M4 and three Su-22UM3K aircraft from Czechoslovakia in 1993. In 1999, six Su-22M4 and in 2001, four Su-22M4 and one Su-22UM3K aircraft were sold to Angola while rest of the fleet was grounded and is being used as museum exhibits and as teaching aid in flight schools.
   South Yemen
  South Yemen Air Force
   Ukraine
  Ukrainian Air Force. Approximately 50 Su-17M3, MR4 and UM3 aircraft were inherited from the Soviet Union. All of them were retired from active service until 2004. Some aircraft were scrapped and others put on storage. In 2005-2007, 24 S-17M4R/MU3 underwent overhaul and were sold to Yemen and Vietnam. Remaining 13 aircraft being on storage located at Shkilnii Airfield, Odesa and the aerodrome of Zoporizhian aircraft repair plant. As of 2016, a single Su-17UM3 was operated by the plant to keep flying skills of its pilots and to test equipment.
   Soviet Union
  Soviet Union Su-17s were split between post-USSR countries.
  Soviet Air For
caption: Retired Slovak Su-22M4
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