Poland has marked the retirement of its final Sukhoi Su-22s, bringing to an end 41 years of operating the fighter-bomber.

Staged at the Polish air force’s 12th Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Base in Miroslawiec on 10 September, a farewell event involved three Su-22UM3K trainers – each with a special livery.

The jets took off before making formation flypasts at previous operating locations Powidz, Pila and Swidwin, before returning to land.

Poland purchased 90 single-seat Su-22M4s and 20 UM3K-model examples at the end of the 1980s and early 1990s. A gradual withdrawal saw the fleet size reduced to 48 in 2005, before dropping to 32 in 2012.

In 2014, a decision was taken to continue operating the type for another 10 years and to conduct inspections and necessary modifications on 12 single-seaters and six trainers. The first modernised examples were returned to use in the second half of the following year.

The 21st Tactical Air Base at Swidwin was the last Polish operator of the single-engined model.

“It’s not a comfortable feeling to be part of such a [farewell],” says Brigadier General Maciej Trelka, a former commander of the service’s 1st Tactical Air Wing. “There were three pilots from the same promotion on this flight: in 1994, all three of us started in Pila.

“I’ve lived a long life with this aircraft, and I have many positive memories associated with it,” Trelka says. “I joined NATO with this aircraft,” he adds.

Poland had been the only alliance member still operating the Sukhoi-built type. Its air force currently operates the Lockheed Martin F-16C/D, Korea Aerospace Industries F-50GF and RAC MiG-29, and also will introduce Lockheed’s fifth-generation F-35A.