The Sukhoi Su-7B was the Soviet Union’s main fighter-bomber from the 1960s into the mid 1980s. It had severe limitation on range and payload but was stable, rugged, could survive serious damage and was popular with its pilots.

The Sukhoi Su-7 first flew in September 1955. It was designed as a low-level dog fighter with many technical innovations but was unsuccessful in that role and the USSR standardised on the MiG-21 instead.

The Su-7 was revised to fill the ground-attack role as the Su-7B and 1,847 of them were built.

Because of its engine’s high fuel consumption its range and payload were limited but it became the USSR’s main ground attack fighter into the 1980s.

It was also used by other countries including North Korea and India.

This model represents a Su-7B in service with the USSR Air Force in the 1970s.

Modelsvit 1:72 kit completed by Leigh Edmonds in February 2025.