Ag1 parachute
Ag2 trim set
Ag3 airbrake
Ag4 drop all bombs
AG5
AG5 lights
AG7 drop tanks
AG8 canopy

HISTORY
The Sukhoi Su-7BMK, an export version of the Soviet Su-7 fighter-bomber, had a prominent presence in the Egyptian Air Force in the late 1960s and throughout the first half of the 1970s.

It arrived in Egypt at a time when the country needed an aircraft capable of operating at low altitudes, penetrating air defenses, and launching direct attacks against ground targets, especially in the context of rising tensions with Israel.

The BMK (Bespilotniy Modernizirovanniy Kommercheskiy) maintained the robustness of the Soviet Su-7B, with the powerful Lyulka AL-7F-1 turbojet and the ability to carry bombs, rockets, and air-to-ground missiles. However, like all Su-7s, it was a demanding aircraft for the pilot and had limited range, which would affect its combat performance.

Egypt received its first Su-7BMKs shortly before the 1967 Six-Day War. However, their actual use of combat was very limited in that conflict due to the fact that a large portion of the Egyptian air force was destroyed on the ground during the Israeli preemptive strike of June 5 (Operation Focus).

The surviving Su-7s flew some retaliatory missions, but operated under very unfavorable conditions: without air superiority, with limited air control and escort support, and facing increasingly organized air defenses.

The results were modest and with notable losses, reflecting both technical limitations and the strategic surprise suffered by Egypt.

Their most sustained use came during the War of Attrition (1969-1970).

During this period, Egyptian Su-7BMKs became a key tool for precision strikes against Israeli positions in the Suez Canal and the Sinai Peninsula.

They typically operated in pairs or small groups, flying at very low altitudes to evade radar and briefly climbing over the target to launch bombs or rockets.

The robustness of their fuselage allowed them to withstand damage that would have brought down other aircraft, and their low-altitude speed made them difficult to intercept.

However, their short range required planning direct and rapid routes, and the effective warload was limited by high fuel consumption. Israeli defenses, with anti-aircraft artillery and Hawk surface-to-air missiles, caused losses, but the Su-7s fulfilled their role as a rapid and decisive attack vector.

In the 1973 Yom Kippur War, the Su-7BMK became a protagonist in the first waves of Egyptian attacks.

On October 6, hours after the ground forces had crossed the canal, Su-7 squadrons carried out bombing raids against fortifications along the Bar Lev Line and logistical targets, directly supporting the offensive.

Their speed and low-level capabilities allowed them to surprise several positions, but losses were significant when Israeli forces reorganized their air defenses and deployed Mirage III and F-4 Phantom fighters.

Although less comfortable than the MiG-21 in air-to-air combat, the Su-7 demonstrated remarkable resilience: there were documented cases of aircraft returning to base with severe structural damage and still landing successfully.

In terms of overall effectiveness, the Su-7BMK in Egypt served more as a "tactical hammer" than a strategic weapon.

Its role was to deliver quick and heavy strikes against specific targets, especially in support of ground forces, and in that capacity it was successful in several instances, helping to neutralize artillery nests, depots, and troop concentrations.

However, its short range, lack of advanced attack avionics, and high vulnerability to enemy fighters in airspace did not limit its impact in prolonged campaigns

In the two major wars in which it fought under the Egyptian flag, the Su-7BMK displayed the typical combination of Soviet-designed aircraft of its era: extremely tough and powerful, but dependent on strict tactical planning and a suitable support environment to excel on the battlefield.

Photos by: ollielebananiaCFSP
FT edensk