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Sukhoi Su-25

The Sukhoi Su-25 Grach (Russian: Грач (rook); NATO reporting name: Frogfoot) is a subsonic, single-seat, twin-engine jet aircraft developed in the Soviet Union by Sukhoi. It was designed to provide close air support for Soviet Ground Forces. The first prototype made its maiden flight on 22 February 1975. After testing, the aircraft went into series production in 1978 in Tbilisi in the Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic.

Early variants included the Su-25UB two-seat trainer, the Su-25BM for target-towing, and the Su-25K for export customers. Some aircraft were upgraded to the Su-25SM standard in 2012. The Su-25T and the Su-25TM (also known as the Su-39) were further developments, not produced in significant numbers. The Su-25, and the Su-34, were the only armoured, fixed-wing aircraft in production in 2007.[1] Su-25s are in service with Russia, other CIS members, and export customers. Production of the Su-25 ended in 2017 in Russia[2] and 2010 in Georgia.[3] Attempts continue to be made to restart production in Georgia using partially completed airframes,[4] but as of June 2022 no new deliveries have been reported.


Since entering service more than 42 years ago, the Su-25 has seen combat in several conflicts. The type was heavily involved in the Soviet–Afghan War, flying counter-insurgency missions against the Afghan Mujahideen. The Iraqi Air Force employed it against Iran during the 1980–88 Iran–Iraq War. Most Iraqi examples were later destroyed or flown to Iran in the 1991 Persian Gulf War. The Georgian Air Force used Su-25s during the Abkhazian war from 1992 to 1993. The Macedonian Air Force used Su-25s against Albanian insurgents in the 2001 Macedonian conflict and, in 2008, Georgia and Russia both used Su-25s in the Russo-Georgian War. African states, including the Ivory Coast, Chad, and Sudan have used the Su-25 in local insurgencies and civil wars. Recently, the Su-25 has seen service in the Russian intervention in the Syrian Civil War, the clashes of the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh War, and on both sides in the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.[5]

Su-25R (Razvedchik) – a tactical variant designed in 1978, but never built.[156]

reconnaissance

Su-25U3 (Uchebnyy 3-myestny) – also known as the "Russian Troika", was a three-seat basic trainer aircraft. The project was suspended in 1991 due to lack of funding.

[156]

Su-25U (Uchebnyy) – a trainer variant of Su-25s produced in Georgia between 1996 and 1998. Three aircraft were built in total, all for the Georgian Air Force.

[156]

Su-25M1/Su-25UBM1 – Su-25 and Su-25UB aircraft modernized by the Ukrainian company MiGremont for the . Ten modernized as of 2013 (seven single-seat and three trainers). Upgrades include a new GPS receiver, a new radio, more accurate weapon delivery thanks to a new sight, and a new digital flight data recorder. Additionally, upgraded aircraft can use S-13 rockets.[157]

Ukrainian Air Force

Ge-31 is an ongoing Georgian program of aiming at producing a renewed version of Su-25 without Russian components and parts.[158]

Tbilisi Aircraft Manufacturing

T-12 ("Shturmovik-90") – a proposed successor to the Su-25. It would have utilized a with two cockpits; one would carry the pilot, who would also operate the plane's radar, while the other would operate the plane's weapons and fire control. The T-12's design also included a forward-swept wing and V-tail.[159]

twin fuselage

An Su-25K of the disappeared in December 2006 during a routine rebasing operation and no wreckage was ever found.[160]

Air Force of the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Another Congolese Su-25K crashed on 30 June 2007 during an Independence Day display, near the city of , killing the pilot. Investigations revealed that the crash was due to an engine failure.[160]

Kisangani

An Su-25 of the Russian Air Force exploded in mid-air on 20 March 2008 during a live firing exercise over the , 143 km (89 mi) from Vladivostok, killing the pilot. Further investigations revealed that the aircraft was downed by a missile accidentally launched by a wingman. After the accident, all Russian Su-25s were grounded until the investigation was concluded.

Primorsky Krai

The Su-25 has been involved in the following notable aviation accidents.

Crew: 1

Length: 15.53 m (50 ft 11 in) (including nose probe)

Wingspan: 14.36 m (47 ft 1 in)

Height: 4.8 m (15 ft 9 in)

Wing area: 33.7 m2 (363 sq ft)

Empty weight: 9,800 kg (21,605 lb)

Gross weight: 14,440 kg (31,835 lb)

Max takeoff weight: 19,300 kg (42,549 lb)

Powerplant: 2 × turbojet engine, 44.18 kN (9,930 lbf) thrust each

Soyuz/Tumansky R-195

Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 2003–2004,[162] Sukhoi,[163] deagel.com,[164] airforce-technology.com[165]


General characteristics


Performance


Armament



Avionics

Sukhoi Su-28

Related development


Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

Su-25К at Sukhoi.org