Bharat Rakshak:Indian Air Force

KP 1/72 Sukhoi-7 BMK

Based on lessons learnt in the Sep 65 war with Pakistan, the Indian AF selected the SU-7 to fill a much felt gap in the close support and interdiction roles, hitherto carried out by the Hunters and Mystere IV As. Entering sqn service in 1968, the SU-7 finally equipped some six sqns. In the Dec 1971 war with Pakistan, the SU-7 stood out as a close support and interdiction aircraft. Taking the brunt in the crucial armour holding battles of Chamb and Fazilka, the SU-7 also suffered the maximum casualties and damage. Zealous pilots carrying out multiple passes in a dense ack –ack and small arms environment, coupled with a modest fuel capacity led to many losses. By the end of the war, it was the aircraft with the maximum number of holes per square foot. That, many aircraft were recovered; with significant damage was a testimony to its robustness. One aircraft was recovered with most of the tail and empennage shot away and its two tail chutes deployed and on fire. Another being recovered with most of a Pak Sabre launched AIM-9A embedded in its tail pipe. Ultimately IAF SU-7s flew a total of 2577 sorties in 14 days. Their solitary night forays deep into Pakistan even confounded (then) Col Chuck Yeager, on deputation as air advisor to Pakistan who interrogated some of our POWs. One SU-7 even shot down a ‘capping’ Pak Mig-19 whilst pulling up for a photo run over Risalwalla airfield. The last SU-7 was finally retired in 1984. A much maligned aircraft by many ill informed ‘experts’, the SU-7 will be remembered for its sheer power, manoeuverability and punch. This is a KP kit built pretty OOB except for the paint scheme. All Su-7s were received silver ( the initial lot with two fuselage roundels, one on the nose and one on the rear fuselage) and were painted with washable household paints generally dark earth and dark green (very RAF 1940s style), or in the Hunter scheme. The paint rapidly peeled off and lent a very weathered look. I hope my model captures some of that After the war the IAF went in for several formal schemes. Here is one with a distinctive wave line demarcation; the ac was predominantly sea grey and RAF dark green with a patch of Russian red brown around the cockpit. This scheme became pretty much standard on Mig 21s as well till about 1984-85.