https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sukhoi_Su-25
The Sukhoi Su-25 Grach (Russian: ???? (rook); NATO reporting name: Frogfoot) is
a single-seat, twin-engine jet aircraft developed in the Soviet Union by Sukhoi.
It was designed to provide close air support for the Soviet Ground Forces. The
first prototype made its maiden flight on 22 February 1975. After testing, the
aircraft went into series production in 1978 at 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 being
upgraded to 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. Su-25s are in service with Russia, other CIS states, and export
customers.
The type has seen combat in several conflicts during its more than 30 years in
service. It was heavily involved in the Soviet war in Afghanistan, flying
counter-insurgency missions against the Mujahideen. The Iraqi Air Force employed
or flown to Iran in the 1991 Persian Gulf War. The Georgian Air Force used
Su-25s during the Abkhazia War from 1992 to 1993. The Macedonian Air Force used
Su-25s against Albanian insurgents in the 2001 Macedonia 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.
Role
Close air support
National origin
Soviet Union / Russia
Manufacturer
Sukhoi
First flight
22 February 1975 (T8)
Introduction
19 July 1981
Status
In service
Primary users
Russian Air Force
Belarusian Air Force
Ukrainian Air Force
Korean People's Army Air Force
See Operators for others
Produced
Number built
Over 1,000
Unit cost
US$11 million
Variants
Sukhoi Su-28
Military intervention in Syria
In September 2015, it was reported that at least a dozen Su-25 were deployed by
Russia to an airfield near Latakia, Syria, to support the Russian forces there
who were taking part in the Syrian offensive against ISIL. On 2 October 2015,
Russian Su-24M and Su-25 attack aircraft destroyed an ISIL command post in the
Idlib province, while Su-34 and Su-25 aircraft eliminated an ISIL fortified
bunker in the Hama province. By 15 March 2016, with the scaling down of Russian
presence in Syria, Russian Su-25s had performed over 1,600 sorties in Syria
while dropping 6,000 bombs.
Specifications (Su-25/Su-25K, late production)
General characteristics
Crew: 1
Length: (including nose probe) 15.53 m (51 ft)
Wingspan: 14.36 m (47 ft 2 in)
Height: 4.8 m (15 ft 9 in)
Empty weight: 9,800 kg (21,605 lb)
Loaded weight: 14,440 kg (31,835 lb) (normal take-off weight)
Max. takeoff weight: 19,300 kg (42,549 lb)
Performance
Maximum speed: Mach 0.79 (975 km/h; 606 mph) at sea level
Range: 1,000 km (621 mi; 540 nmi) clean at altitude
Combat range: 750 km (466 mi; 405 nmi) at sea level with 4,400 kg (9,700 lb) of
ordnance and two external fuel tanks
Service ceiling: 7,000 m (23,000 ft) clean; 5,000 m (16,000 ft) with ordnance
Rate of climb: 58 m/s (11,400 ft/min)
Maximum g-load: +6.5 g
Armament
Guns:
rounds
Hardpoints: 11 hardpoints with a capacity of up to 4,400 kg (9,700 lb) of stores
and provisions to carry combinations of: Rockets:
UB-32A rocket pods for S-5 rockets
B-8M1 rocket pods for S-8 rockets
S-13
S-24
S-25
Missiles:
Air-to-air missiles: K-13A
R-60
R-73E
Air-to-surface missiles: Kh-23
Kh-25ML
Kh-29L
Anti-radiation missiles: Kh-28
Bombs:
FAB-250 general-purpose bomb
FAB-500 GP bomb
KAB-500KR TV-guided bomb
ZB-500 incendiary bomb
Other:
ASO-2V decoy dispensers (chaff and flare): Su-25s in Syria have been pictured
with four rows of ASO-2V decoy dispensers (chaff and flare) along the tailcone's
upper surface aft of the vertical stabiliser.
Avionics
Phazotron Kopyo radar
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