While last week’s media agenda was dominated by the incursion of Russian drones in Eastern Europe, another highly significant and relevant event took place for the Polish Air Force. A few days ago, the institution officially retired its Sukhoi Su-22 Fitter fighter-bombers, thus closing a chapter of more than forty years in which these Cold War warriors paradoxically guarded Polish skies—first for the Warsaw Pact and, in later decades, for NATO.
Back in March, the Chief of the General Staff of the Polish Armed Forces officially confirmed that the variable-geometry-wing Su-22 fighter-bombers were in their final months of service. Their replacement comes in the form of new aircraft such as the KAI FA-50GF—and soon the first FA-50PL—as well as new Bayraktar TB2 combat drones, all part of the country’s fast-paced military modernization program.
In terms of combat aviation, alongside the South Korean-made light fighters, the acquisition of new F-35A “Husarz” stealth jets from the United States and the modernization of the F-16 Block 50 fleet to the Block 70 standard are accelerating the transition now underway, one in which aging Soviet-origin models are being replaced by Western platforms.
With the Su-22s retired just days ago, the MiG-29 remains as the last survivor of what was once one of the most important military fleets in Eastern Europe and the former Warsaw Pact. On the rotary-wing side, Poland still operates Mil Mi-8 helicopters, which will be replaced by new Leonardo AW101 Merlins, while the Mil Mi-2 and naval Mi-14s will end their service with the Polish Navy in 2026.
In terms of numbers, the Su-22 fleet peaked during the Cold War at an estimated one hundred aircraft in various variants, totaling 41 years of service in the Polish Air Force at the time of its retirement.
As part of the farewell commemorations, a formation of three Su-22UM3Ks—the twin-seat variant—flew over several locations and air bases where the fighter-bomber had operated over the past four decades.
One of the pilots in the formation, Brigadier General Maciej Trelka, whose 31-year career was spent flying the Su-22, told local media: “Most of my professional life is tied to this aircraft. With it, I was in Norway, Finland, Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy, and Hungary. With this aircraft, I entered NATO. It moves me to tears, because it gave me a lot of joy, even though it was not an easy aircraft,” as reported by Polskie Radio Koszalin.
For his part, the commander of the 21st Tactical Air Base in Świdwin—one of the last homes of the Su-22—highlighted the aircraft’s qualities and challenges, stating: “It teaches humility, because it is difficult to fly. It has no computer, so navigation and many other tasks are the pilot’s responsibility. But that is what makes it so rewarding: you truly feel the aircraft.”
Finally, the retirement of Poland’s Su-22s follows the withdrawal of other Cold War warriors in recent months. These include the last F-4 Phantom IIs of the South Korean Air Force and the R/F-5 Tiger IIs of the Taiwanese Air Force. In the coming days, the Indian Air Force is expected to pay tribute to its MiG-21s as they are officially retired. Despite the geographical distance that separates them, these aircraft share a common bond: along with their pilots, ground crews, and support staff, they once formed the backbone of the combat and strike aviation power of their respective nations.
Cover photo: st.sierż. Łukasz Fiedorowicz/49BLot
You may also be interested in: For US$1.85 billion, the U.S. authorizes the sale of a logistics package for the fleet of 32 F-35A stealth fighters of the Polish Air Force
