Sukhoi Su-7BM
Sukhoi · Soviet Union · first flew 1963 · fighter
The Su-7BM is an improved production sub-variant of the Su-7B ground-attack fighter, featuring an uprated AL-7F-1 engine with extended time-between-overhaul, a revised fuel system with external piping and provision for tactical nuclear weapons.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, swept |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × turbojet, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | External fuel-system piping visible as raised blisters along the fuselage spine — the key Su-7BM field mark |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- External fuel-system piping visible as raised blisters along the fuselage spine — the key Su-7BM field mark
- Same pointed nose intake and swept wing as all Su-7B variants; no external gun pods carried (internal NR-30)
- Wing fuel tank fairings and provision for tactical nuclear stores — no external indicator
The raised blisters along the fuselage spine carrying external fuel piping are the most reliable distinguisher from the baseline Su-7B. Without access to the spine detail, the BM is indistinguishable from the B at normal observation distances. All Su-7 variants share the circular intake with central body, sharply swept 60° wing and conventional tail.
Specifications
- The Sukhoi Su-7BM has a length of 16.8 m (55 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 9.31 m (31 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 1700 km/h (1056 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
The Su-7BM entered production around 1963 as Sukhoi refined the basic Su-7B design based on operational experience. The main changes were an extended MTBO for the Lyulka AL-7F-1 engine, a revised integral fuel system with visible external piping on the spine, and wing hardpoints capable of carrying nuclear stores. Export customers included Egypt, India and Czechoslovakia.
Variants
Broadly part of the Su-7B production line alongside the Su-7BKL (rough-field variant with larger wheels and JATO) and Su-7BMK (export version of BM).
Where you'll see it
Soviet Air Forces and Warsaw Pact allies; Egypt, India, Iraq and North Korea received export examples. Indian Air Force Su-7s saw combat in the 1971 Indo-Pakistani War.
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