Time was running out for the Soviets. The United States Air Force was gaining dominance of the skies with its latest aircraft, the F-111 Aardvark, and there was no Soviet fighter that could match it.Nonetheless, despite the regime’s pressure, the Soviet engineers knew what they were doing. Ten years in the making, Sukhoi unleashed its creation in the late 1970s: the Su-24 Fencer.With its sweeping variable-geometry wings, the Su-24 could transform its silhouette from a nimble spearhead to gain speed to a broad-winged hunter to enhance its payload capacity and range.Armed with state-of-the-art radar and elusive electronic countermeasures, the Su-24 Fencer was more than just a bomber or fighter. It was a versatile multi-role platform engineered to strike unseen and undeterred across diverse battlefields. In its unveiling, the Soviets not only revealed a devastating weapon but a clear message destined for the Americans: They, too, could command the skies.