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The
Sukhoi Su-25 (
NATO reporting nameNATO reporting names are unclassified code names for military equipment of the Eastern Bloc...
:
Frogfoot) is a single-seat, twin-engine
jet aircraftA jet aircraft is an aircraft propelled by jet engines. Jet aircraft generally fly much faster than propeller-powered aircraft and at higher altitudes — as high as 10,000 to 15,000 meters . At these altitudes, jet engines achieve maximum efficiency over long distances...
developed in the
Soviet UnionThe Union of Soviet Socialist Republics was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia from 1922 to 1991. The name is a translation of the , tr. Soyuz Sovetskikh Sotsialisticheskikh Respublik, abbreviated СССР, SSSR. The common short name is Soviet Union, from , Sovetskiy Soyuz...
by the
Sukhoi Design BureauSukhoi is a major Russian aircraft manufacturer famous for its fighters. Founded by Pavel Sukhoi in 1939 as the Sukhoi Design Bureau , it is currently known as Sukhoi Corporation...
. It was designed to provide
close air supportIn military tactics, close air support is air action against hostile targets that requires detailed coordination and integration with ground forces. It is typically used to support ground troops, providing firepower at critical points....
for the
Soviet Ground ForcesThe Red Army The Red Army The Red Army was the Soviet government’s revolutionary militia beginning in the Russian Civil War of 1918-1922. It grew into the national army of the USSR. Since 1946, after the Second World War, it was called the Soviet Army.The 'Red...
. The first prototype made its maiden flight on 22 February 1975. After testing, the aircraft went into series production in 1978 at
TbilisiTbilisi is the capital and the largest city of Georgia, lying on the banks of the Mt'k'vari River. The name is derived from an early Georgian form Tp'ilisi and it was officially known as Tiflis until 1936...
in the
Soviet Republic of GeorgiaThe Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic , also known as the Georgian SSR for short, was one of the republics that made up the former Soviet Union.- History :- Preceding Events :On November 28 1917, after October Revolution in Russia, there was established...
. Russian
airThe Russian Air Force is the air force of Russia. It is the second or third largest Air Force in the world, depending on whether aircraft or personnel numbers are compared with the People's Liberation Army Air Force. It is currently under the command of Colonel General Aleksandr Zelin...
and
groundThe Russian Ground Forces are the land forces of the Russian Federation, formed from parts of the collapsing Soviet Army in 1992. This in turn, posed many economic challenges coupled with reforms to professionalize the force during the transitional phase that Russia had to endure due to the...
forces nicknamed it "
Grach" ("
RookThe Rook is a member of the Corvidae family in the passerine order of birds. Named by Linnaeus in 1758, the species name frugilegus is Latin for "food-gathering"....
").
Early variants included the Su-25UB two-seat trainer, the Su-25BM for target-towing, and the Su-25K for export customers. Upgraded variants developed by Sukhoi include the Su-25T and the further improved Su-25TM (also known as Su-39). By year 2007, the Su-25 is the only armoured airplane still in production except the
Su-34The Sukhoi Su-34 is an advanced Russian 2-seat fighter-bomber and strike aircraft...
whose production just started. It is currently in service with
RussiaRussia , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia . It is a semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
and various other
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states as well as export customers.
During its more than twenty-five years in service, the Su-25 has seen combat with several air forces. It was heavily involved in the
Soviet war in AfghanistanThe Soviet War in Afghanistan, also known as the Soviet–Afghan War, was a nine-year conflict involving the Soviet Union, supporting the Marxist government of the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan at their own request, against the Islamist Mujahideen Resistance...
, flying
counter-insurgencyCounter-insurgency is a military term for the armed conflict against an insurgency by forces aligned with the recognised government of the territory in which the conflict takes place...
missions against the
MujahideenA Mujahideen is a person who is fighting for freedom. The plural is mujahideen . The word is from the same Arabic triliteral as jihad ....
. The
Iraqi Air ForceThe Iraqi Air Force or IQAF is the military branch in Iraq responsible for the policing of international borders, surveillance of national assets and aerial operations...
employed Su-25s against Iran during the 1980–89 Iran–Iraq War. Most of them were later destroyed or fled to Iran in the 1991
Persian Gulf WarThe Persian Gulf War , known also as the Gulf War, the First Gulf War,or often as the Second Gulf War and by Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein as The Mother of all Battles, or commonly as Desert Storm, for the military response...
. In 1993,
AbkhaziaAbkhazia is a disputed region on the eastern coast of the Black Sea. Since its declaration of independence from Georgia in 1991 during the Georgian–Abkhaz conflict, it is governed as the partially-recognized Republic of Abkhazia.Georgia considers Abkhazia part of its territory and has designated...
n separatists used Su-25s against
GeorgiansThe Georgians are a South Caucasian people and nation mainly centered in Georgia. They also live in Turkey, Russia, the United States, Iran, and other countries....
during
Abkhazian WarThe War in Abkhazia from 1992 to 1993 was waged chiefly between Georgian government forces on one side and Abkhaz separatist forces supporting independence of Abkhazia from Georgia on the other side. Ethnic Georgians, who lived in Abkhazia fought largely on the side of Georgian government forces...
. Eight years later, the
Republic of Macedonia Air ForceThe Army of the Republic of Macedonia The Army of the Republic of Macedonia The Army of the Republic of Macedonia ( is the name of the unified armed forces of the Republic of Macedonia. The Macedonian military is a defence force consisting of an army (Армија, Armija); an air force (Воено...
employed Su-25s against Albanian insurgents in the
2001 Macedonia conflictThe insurgency in Macedonia was an armed conflict which began when the ethnic Albanian National Liberation Army militant group attacked the security forces of the Republic of Macedonia at the beginning of January 2001...
, and in 2008,
GeorgiaGeorgia Georgia Georgia is a country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Situated at the juncture of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded to the west by the Black Sea, to the north by Russia, to the south by Turkey and Armenia, and to the east by Azerbaijan...
and
RussiaRussia , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia . It is a semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
reportedly used Su-25s in the
South Ossetian conflictThe 2008 South Ossetia War, also known as the Russia–Georgia War, was an armed conflict in August 2008 between Georgia on one side, and the Russian Federation together with Ossetians and Abkhazians on the other....
.
Development
In early 1968, the Soviet Ministry of Defence decided to develop a specialised
shturmovik armoured assault aircraft in order to provide close air support for the
Soviet Ground ForcesThe Red Army The Red Army The Red Army was the Soviet government’s revolutionary militia beginning in the Russian Civil War of 1918-1922. It grew into the national army of the USSR. Since 1946, after the Second World War, it was called the Soviet Army.The 'Red...
. The idea of creating a ground-support aircraft came about after analysing the experience of
shturmovaya (attack) aviation during
World War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including all great powers, organized into two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, and in local wars during the 1950s and 1960s. The Soviet fighter-bombers in service or under development at this time (
Su-7For the World War II mixed-power ground attack aircraft see Su-7The Sukhoi Su-7 was a swept wing, turbojet-powered fighter-bomber used by the Soviet Union and its allies.-Design and development:...
,
Su-17The Sukhoi Su-17 was a Soviet attack aircraft developed from the Sukhoi Su-7 fighter-bomber. It enjoyed a long career in Soviet, later Russian, service and was widely exported to Eastern Bloc and Middle Eastern air forces.-Development:Seeking to improve low-speed and takeoff/landing performance...
,
MiG-21The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 is a supersonic jet fighter aircraft, designed and built by the Mikoyan-Gurevich Design Bureau in the Soviet Union. It was popularly nicknamed "balalaika", from the aircraft's planform-view resemblance to the Russian stringed musical instrument or ołówek by Polish...
and
MiG-23The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23 is a swing-wing fighter aircraft, designed by the Mikoyan-Gurevich bureau in the Soviet Union. It is considered to belong to the Soviet "Third Generation" aircraft category along with similar-aged Russian-produced fighters like the MiG-25 "Foxbat"...
) did not meet the requirements for close air support of the army. They lacked essential armour plating to protect the pilot and vital equipment from ground fire and missile hits, and their high flight speeds made it difficult for the pilot to maintain visual contact with a target. Having taken into account these problems,
Pavel SukhoiPavel Osipovich Sukhoi was a Belarusian Soviet aircraft constructor and designer....
and a group of leading specialists in the Sukhoi Design Bureau started preliminary design work in a comparatively short period of time, with the assistance of leading institutes of the Ministry of the Aviation Industry and the Ministry of Defence.
In March 1969, a competition was announced by the
Soviet Air ForceThe Soviet Air Force, officially known in Russian as Военно-воздушные силы or Voenno-Vozdushnye Sily and often abbreviated VVS was the official designation of one of the air forces of the Soviet Union...
that called for designs for a new battlefield close-support aircraft. Participants in the competition were the Sukhoi Design Bureau and the Design Bureaux of
YakovlevThe Yak Aircraft Corporation is a Russian aircraft designer and manufacturer .-Overview:...
,
IlyushinIlyushin , or Ilyushin Design Bureau is a Russian design bureau and aircraft manufacturer, founded by Sergey Vladimirovich Ilyushin. Ilyushin was established under the Soviet Union. Its operations began on January 13, 1933, by order of P. I. Baranov, People's Commissar of the Heavy Industry and the...
and
MikoyanRussian Aircraft Corporation MiG, or RSK MiG, is a Russian joint stock company. Formerly Mikoyan or Mikoyan-i-Gurevich Design Bureau , it is a military aircraft design bureau, primarily designing fighter aircraft...
. Sukhoi finalised its "T-8" design in late 1968, and began in work on the first two prototypes (T8-1 and T8-2) in January 1972. The T8-1, the first airframe to be assembled, was completed just before a major national holiday on 9 May 1974. However, it did not make its first flight until 22 February 1975, after a long series of test flights by
Vladimir IlyushinLieutenant General Vladimir Sergeyevich Ilyushin is a son of aircraft designer Sergei Ilyushin and a noted test pilot in the Soviet Union. He spent most of his career as a test pilot for the Sukhoi OKB...
. The Su-25 surpassed its main competitor in the Soviet Air Force competition, the
Ilyushin Il-102The Ilyushin Il-102 was an experimental jet powered ground-attack aircraft designed by Ilyushin. This aircraft was never chosen for production, being surpassed by the Su-25, and only a few development prototypes were built.-Design and development:...
, and series production was announced by the Ministry of Defence.
During flight-testing phases of the T8-1 and T8-2 prototypes' development, the Sukhoi Design Bureau's management proposed that the series production of the Su-25 should start at Factory No. 31 in
TbilisiTbilisi is the capital and the largest city of Georgia, lying on the banks of the Mt'k'vari River. The name is derived from an early Georgian form Tp'ilisi and it was officially known as Tiflis until 1936...
,
Soviet Republic of GeorgiaThe Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic , also known as the Georgian SSR for short, was one of the republics that made up the former Soviet Union.- History :- Preceding Events :On November 28 1917, after October Revolution in Russia, there was established...
, which at that time was the major manufacturing base for the MiG-21UM "Mongol-B" trainer. After negotiations and completion of all stages of the state trials, the Soviet Ministry of Aircraft Production authorised manufacture of the Su-25 at Tbilisi, allowing series production to start in 1978.
In the late 1980s and early 1990s, several Su-25 variants appeared, including modernised versions, and variants for specialised roles. The most significant designs were the Su-25UB dual-seat trainer, the Su-25BM target-towing variant, and the Su-25T for antitank missions. In addition, an Su-25KM prototype was developed by
GeorgiaGeorgia Georgia Georgia is a country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Situated at the juncture of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded to the west by the Black Sea, to the north by Russia, to the south by Turkey and Armenia, and to the east by Azerbaijan...
in co-operation with Israeli company
Elbit SystemsElbit Systems Ltd. is one of the world's largest defense electronics manufacturers and integrators. Established in 1967, and based in Haifa, Israel, Elbit has over ten thousand employees....
in 2001, but so far this variant has not achieved much commercial success. The Su-25 is the only armoured airplane still in production in 2007.
The
Russian Air ForceThe Russian Air Force is the air force of Russia. It is the second or third largest Air Force in the world, depending on whether aircraft or personnel numbers are compared with the People's Liberation Army Air Force. It is currently under the command of Colonel General Aleksandr Zelin...
operates the largest number of Su-25s, and has plans to upgrade older aircraft to the Su-25SM variant. However, this process has been slowed due to a funding shortfall, by early 2007 only seven aircraft had been modified.
Design
The Su-25 has a normal aerodynamic layout with a shoulder-mounted
trapezoidal wingThe trapezoidal or diamond wing is a high-performance wing configuration. It is a short tapered wing having little or no overall sweep, such that the leading edge sweeps back and the trailing edge sweeps forwards....
and a conventional
tailplaneA tailplane, also known as horizontal stabilizer, is a small lifting surface located behind the main lifting surfaces of a fixed-wing aircraft as well as other non-fixed wing aircraft such as helicopters and gyroplanes...
and
rudderA rudder is a device used to steer a ship, boat, submarine, hovercraft, aircraft,or other conveyance that moves through a fluid . On an aircraft the rudder is used primarily to counter adverse yaw and p-factor and is not the primary control used to turn the airplane...
. Several different metals in differing amounts are used in the construction of the
airframeThe term airframe refers to the mechanical structure of an aircraft, and as generally used does not include the propulsion system. Airframe design is a challenging field of engineering, combining aerodynamics, materials technology and manufacturing methods to achieve favorable balances of...
: 60%
aluminiumAluminium or aluminum is a silvery white and ductile member of the boron group of chemical elements. It has the symbol Al; its atomic number is 13. It is not soluble in water under normal circumstances....
, 19%
steelSteel is an alloy consisting mostly of iron, with a carbon content between 0.2% and 2.1% by weight, depending on the grade. Carbon is the most cost-effective alloying material for iron, but various other alloying elements are used such as manganese, chromium, vanadium, and tungsten...
, 13.5%
titaniumTitanium is a chemical element with the symbol Ti and atomic number 22. Sometimes called the “space age metal”, it has a low density and is a strong, lustrous, corrosion-resistant transition metal with a silver color.Titanium can be alloyed with iron, aluminium, vanadium, molybdenum, among other...
, 2%
magnesium alloyMagnesium alloys are mixtures of magnesium with other metals , often aluminum, zinc, manganese, silicon, copper and zirconium. Magnesium is the lightest structural metal. Magnesium alloys have hexagonal lattice structure, which effect fundamentals properties of these alloys...
, and 5.5% other materials.
Cockpit
The pilot flies the aircraft by means of a
centre stickAn aircraft cockpit arrangement where the control column is located conventionally in the center of the cockpit between the pilot's legs...
and left hand
throttleA throttle is the mechanism by which the flow of a fluid is managed by constriction or obstruction. An engine's power can be increased or decreased by the restriction of inlet gases , but usually decreased. The term throttle has come to refer, informally and incorrectly, to any mechanism by which...
s. The pilot sits on a
ZvezdaResearch & Development Production Enterprise Zvezda, or R&D PE Zvezda is a Russian manufacturer of life-support systems for high-altitude flight and human spaceflight. Its products include space suits, ejector seats, aircraft escape slides, lifejackets and fire extinguishers...
K-36 ejection seat (similar to the
Sukhoi Su-27The Sukhoi Su-27 is a one-seat Mach-2 class jet fighter plane originally manufactured by the Soviet Union, and designed by the Sukhoi Design Bureau...
), and has standard
flight instrumentsFlight instruments are the instruments in the cockpit of an aircraft that provide the pilot with information about the flight situation of that aircraft, such as height, speed and attitude...
. At the rear of the
cockpitA cockpit or flight deck is the area, usually near the front of an aircraft, from which a pilot controls the aircraft. Most modern cockpits are enclosed, except on some small aircraft, and cockpits on large airliners are also physically separated from the cabin.It is a place where from which flight...
is a 6 mm (0.24 in) thick steel headrest, mounted on the rear bulkhead. The cockpit has a bathtub-shaped armoured enclosure of welded
titaniumTitanium is a chemical element with the symbol Ti and atomic number 22. Sometimes called the “space age metal”, it has a low density and is a strong, lustrous, corrosion-resistant transition metal with a silver color.Titanium can be alloyed with iron, aluminium, vanadium, molybdenum, among other...
sheets, with transit ports located in the walls. Guide rails for the ejection seat are mounted on the rear wall of the cockpit.
The canopy hinges open to the right, and the pilot enters using the flip-down ladder. Once inside, the pilot sits low in the cockpit, protected by the bathtub assembly which makes for a cramped cockpit. Visibility from the cockpit is limited, being a trade-off for improved pilot protection. Rearwards visibility is very limited, though a
periscopeA periscope is an instrument for observation from a concealed position. In its simplest form, it is a tube in each end of which are mirrors set parallel to each other at 45 degree angle....
is fitted on top of the canopy to compensate. The basic model's cockpit control layout is rather old-fashioned. The newer Su-25TM and Su-25SM models have an upgraded avionics and weapons suite, resulting in improved survivability and combat capability.
The
cannonA cannon is any tubular piece of artillery that uses gunpowder or other usually explosive-based propellants to launch a projectile. Cannon vary in caliber, range, mobility, rate of fire, angle of fire, and firepower; different forms of cannon combine and balance these attributes in varying degrees,...
is located in a compartment beneath the cockpit, mounted on a load-bearing beam attached to the cockpit floor and the forward fuselage support structure. An airtight
avionicsAvionics means "aviation electronics". It comprises electronic systems for use on aircraft, artificial satellites and spacecraft, comprising communications, navigation and the display and management of multiple systems...
compartment is behind the cockpit and in front of the forward fuel tank. On the left-hand rear side of the cockpit, a built-in
ladderA ladder is a vertical or inclined set of rungs or steps. There are two types: rigid ladders that can be leaned against a vertical surface such as a wall, and rope ladders that are hung from the top. The vertical members of a rigid ladder are called stringers or stiles...
provides access to the cockpit, the upper part of the engine nacelles, and the wing. The nose is fitted with distinctive twin pitot probes and hinges up for service access.
Wings and fuselage
All versions of the Su-25 have a metal cantilever wing, of
moderate sweepA swept wing is a wing planform with a wing root to wingtip direction angled beyond the spanwise axis, generally used to delay the drag rise caused by fluid compressibility. Swept wings provide lateral stability and it was for this reason that the concept was first employed in the designs of...
and
high aspect ratiothumb|The low aspect ratio wing of a [[Piper PA-28 Cherokee]].In aerodynamics, the aspect ratio of a wing is defined as the square of the wing span divided by the wing area....
, and equipped with high-lift devices. The wing consists of two cantilever sections attached to a central
torsion boxA torsion box consists of two skins applied to a core material, usually a grid or framework of some kind. The torsion box functions as a beam, but is considerably lighter than a solid beam of the same size without losing much strength...
, forming a single unit with the fuselage. The air brakes are housed in separate fairings at the tip of each wing. Each wing has five hardpoints for weapons carriage, with the attachment points mounted on load-bearing ribs and spars. Each wing also features a five-section leading edge slat, a two-section
flapFlaps are hinged surfaces on the trailing edge of the wings of a fixed-wing aircraft. As flaps are extended, the stalling speed of the aircraft is reduced, which means that the aircraft can fly safely at slower speeds...
, and an
aileronFor the band with a similar name, see The AileronsAilerons are hinged control surfaces attached to the trailing edge of the wing of a fixed-wing aircraft. The ailerons are used to control the aircraft in roll...
.
The flaps are mounted by steel sliders and rollers, attached to brackets on the rear spar. The trapezoidal ailerons are located near the wingtips. The
fuselageThe fuselage is an aircraft's main body section that holds crew and passengers or cargo. In single-engine aircraft it will usually contain an engine, although in some amphibious aircraft the single engine is mounted on a pylon attached to the fuselage which in turn is used as a floating hull...
of the Su-25 has an ellipsoidal section and is of semi-
monocoqueMonocoque, from Greek for single and French for shell , is a construction technique that supports structural load by using an object's external skin as opposed to using an internal frame or truss that is then covered with a non-load-bearing skin. Monocoque construction was first widely used in...
, stressed-skin construction, arranged as a longitudinal load-bearing
frameworkA framework is a basic conceptual structure used to solve or address complex issues. This very broad definition has allowed the term to be used as a buzzword, especially in a software context....
of
longeronthumb|right|150px|Interior of a Boeing/Stearman PT-17 showing small channel section stringers.In aircraft construction, a Longeron or Stringer or stiffener is a thin strip of wood, metal or carbon fiber, to which the skin of the aircraft is fastened...
s, beams and stringers, with a transverse load-bearing assembly of frames. The one-piece horizontal
tailplaneA tailplane, also known as horizontal stabilizer, is a small lifting surface located behind the main lifting surfaces of a fixed-wing aircraft as well as other non-fixed wing aircraft such as helicopters and gyroplanes...
is attached to the load-bearing frame at two mounting points.
Powerplant
Early versions of the Su-25 were equipped with two R95Sh non-afterburning
turbojetTurbojets are the oldest kind of general purpose jet engines. Two engineers, Frank Whittle in the United Kingdom and Hans von Ohain in Germany, developed the concept independently into practical engines during the late 1930s, although credit for the first turbojet is given to Whittle who submitted...
s, in separate compartments on either side of the rear fuselage. The engines, sub-assemblies, and surrounding fuselage structure are cooled by air provided by the
cold air intakeA cold air intake is a device used to bring lower temperature air into a car's internal-combustion engine, to increase engine
power and efficiency.Standard air intake systems tend to be very restrictive, in order to eliminate engine noise...
s located on top of the engine's nacelles. A
drainage system*In geomorphology, a drainage system is the pattern formed by the streams, rivers, and lakes in a particular watershed. They are governed by the topography of the land, whether a particular region is dominated by hard or soft rocks, and the gradient of the land...
collects oil,
hydraulic fluidHydraulic fluids, also called hydraulic liquids, are the medium by which power is transferred in hydraulic machinery. Common hydraulic fluids are based on mineral oil or water...
residues, and fuel from the engines after flight or after an unsuccessful start. The engine control systems allows independent operation of each engine. The latest versions (Su-25T and TM) are equipped with improved R-195 engines.
Avionics
The
avionicsAvionics means "aviation electronics". It comprises electronic systems for use on aircraft, artificial satellites and spacecraft, comprising communications, navigation and the display and management of multiple systems...
system of the Su-25 consists of several components:
- Weapons-aiming system, providing targeting data for ground munitions, as well as the targeting of aircraft in VMC
VMC can mean:*Visual meteorological conditions, in which visual-flight-rules flight is permitted*The VMC speed in aviation related to the critical engine*Vertical machining center, a vertical milling machine with CNC control...
: the Klen-PS laser rangefinder utilises a glass porthole in the aircraft's nose and is perhaps the most notable item of avionics. It provides a laser target designation capability whereby the pilot locks the designator onto a target through his gun-sight allowing launch of a laser-guided missile and using the Klen-PS to guide it. Dropping a laser-guided bomb would be more difficult, however, given the porthole’s forward view. This suggests that Su-25s would use "buddy designation" i.e. one aircraft standing off a safe distance to illuminate a target while the other attacked it.
- A DISS-7 Doppler radar
- Navigation
Navigation is the process of reading, and controlling the movement of a craft or vehicle from one place to another. It is also the term of art used for the specialized knowledge used by navigators to perform navigation tasks. The word navigate is derived from the Latin "navigare", meaning "to sail"...
system, permitting flight in day and night conditions, both in VMCIn aviation, visual meteorological conditions are those in which visual flight rules flight is permitted—that is, conditions in which pilots have sufficient visibility to fly the aircraft maintaining visual separation from terrain and other aircraft. They are the opposite of Instrument...
and IMCInstrument meteorological conditions , sometimes referred to as Blind flying, is an aviation term that describes weather conditions that normally require pilots to fly primarily by reference to instruments, and therefore under Instrument Flight Rules , rather than by outside visual references under...
, and providing flight data for the weapons-control system and flight instruments
- Radios for air-to-ground and air-to-air communications
- Weapons-control system
- Self-defence suite, incorporating infra-red, flare
-In culture and the arts:*Flare , a female hero who is a member of the League of Champions.*Flare , a Canadian fashion and style magazine*Flare , a move employed in breakdancing*Mylene Flare Jenius -In culture and the arts:*Flare (comics), a female hero who is a member of the League of...
and chaffChaff, originally called Window by the British, and Düppel by the World War II era German Luftwaffe, is a radar countermeasure in which aircraft or other targets spread a cloud of small, thin pieces of aluminium, metallised glass fibre or plastic, which either appears as a cluster of secondary...
dispensers capable of launching about 250 flares and dipoleIn physics, there are two kinds of dipoles:*An electric dipole is a separation of positive and negative charges. The simplest example of this is a pair of electric charges of equal magnitude but opposite sign, separated by some, usually small, distance. A permanent electric dipole is called an...
chaff, and an SRO radar warning receiverTypically fitted to military aircraft, radar warning receivers detect the radio emissions of radar systems, whether ground-based or on-board other aircraft. The system is often capable of classifying the source of the radar by type and strength...
that can alert the pilot of incoming attacks on the aircraft
- An SPO-15 radar homing & warning system (RHAWS)
- An SO-69 identification-friend-or-foe (IFF
IFF, Iff or iff may refer to:Technology/Science:* Identification Friend or Foe, an electronic radio-based identification system using transponders...
) transponder
Soviet war in Afghanistan
On 19 July 1981, the 200th Independent Shturmovaya Air Squadron was assigned to
Shindand AirbaseShindand Airbase is located in the western part of Afghanistan in the Herat province, 7 miles northwest of the city of Sabzwar. The runway has a concrete surface...
in western
AfghanistanThe Islamic Republic of Afghanistan is a landlocked country in south central Asia. It is variously described as being located within Central Asia, South Asia, or the Middle East...
, becoming the first Su-25 unit deployed to that country. Its main task was to conduct air strikes against mountain military positions and structures controlled by the Afghan rebels.
Over the course of the
Soviet war in AfghanistanThe Soviet War in Afghanistan, also known as the Soviet–Afghan War, was a nine-year conflict involving the Soviet Union, supporting the Marxist government of the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan at their own request, against the Islamist Mujahideen Resistance...
, Su-25s launched a total of 139 guided missiles of all types against Mujahideen positions. On average, each aircraft performed 360 sorties a year, a total considerably higher than that of any other combat aircraft in Afghanistan. By the end of the war, nearly 50 Su-25s were deployed at Afghan airbases, carrying out a total of 60,000 sorties. Between the first deployment in 1981 and the end of the war in 1989, 21 aircraft were lost in combat operations.
Iran–Iraq War
The Su-25 also saw combat during the Iran–Iraq War of 1980–1988. The first Su-25s were commissioned by the
Iraqi Air ForceThe Iraqi Air Force or IQAF is the military branch in Iraq responsible for the policing of international borders, surveillance of national assets and aerial operations...
in 1987 and performed approximately 900 combat sorties throughout the course of the war, carrying out the bulk of Iraqi air attack missions. During the most intense combat of the war, Iraqi Su-25s were performing up to fifteen sorties per day each. In one recorded incident, an Iraqi Su-25 was shot down by an Iranian
HawkThe Raytheon MIM-23 HAWK is an American medium range surface-to-air missile. As a backronym, some consider HAWK to stand for Homing All the Way Killer. The HAWK was initially designed to destroy aircraft and was later adapted to destroy other missiles in flight. The missile entered service in 1960,...
surface to air missile, but the pilot managed to eject. This was the only confirmed successful Iranian attack against an Iraqi Su-25. After the war,
Saddam HusseinSaddam Hussein Abd al-Majid al-Tikriti was the President of Iraq from 16 July 1979 until 9 April 2003...
decorated all of the Iraqi Air Force's Su-25 pilots with the country's highest
military decorationA military decoration is a decoration given to military personnel or units for heroism in battle or distinguished service. They are designed to be worn on military uniform....
.
Gulf War
During the
Gulf WarThe Persian Gulf War , known also as the Gulf War, the First Gulf War,or often as the Second Gulf War and by Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein as The Mother of all Battles, or commonly as Desert Storm, for the military response...
(Operation Desert Storm), the air superiority of the coalition forces was so great that the majority of Iraqi Su-25s did not even manage to get airborne. On 25 January 1991, seven Iraqi Air Force Su-25s fled from Iraq and landed in Iran.
On the evening of 6 February 1991, two
US Air ForceThe United States Air Force is the aerial warfare branch of the U.S. armed forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on 18 September 1947 under the National Security Act of 1947 - 80 P.L....
F-15C EagleThe McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle is a twin-engine, all-weather tactical fighter designed to gain and maintain air superiority in aerial combat. Developed for the United States Air Force, it first flew in July 1972, and is one of the most recognized modern fighters. The F-15 is expected to remain...
fighters of the 53rd Tactical Fighter Squadron, operating out of
Al KharjAl-Kharj is a city and governorate in central Saudi Arabia. The population of the governorate as a whole was 623,394 according to the 2004 census, 75,716 of whom were non-Saudis. The city is located at around ....
Air Base in
Saudi ArabiaSaudi Arabia , is an Arab country and the largest country of the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by Jordan on the northwest, Iraq on the north and northeast, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates on the east, Oman on the southeast, and Yemen on the south...
, intercepted a pair of Iraqi
MiG-21sThe Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 is a supersonic jet fighter aircraft, designed and built by the Mikoyan-Gurevich Design Bureau in the Soviet Union. It was popularly nicknamed "balalaika", from the aircraft's planform-view resemblance to the Russian stringed musical instrument or ołówek by Polish...
and a pair of Su-25s. All four Iraqi aircraft were shot down, with both Su-25s coming down in the desert not far from the Iraqi border with Iran. This was the Iraqi Su-25's only air combat of the war.
Ethiopian-Eritrean War
{{Main|Ethiopian-Eritrean War}}
The Su-25 was used by the Ethiopian Air Force. On 15 May 2000, An Ethiopian Su-25 attack plane was shot down by an Eritrean
MiG-29The Mikoyan MiG-29 is a 4th generation jet fighter aircraft designed in the Soviet Union for an air superiority role. Developed in the 1970s by the Mikoyan design bureau, it entered service with the Soviet Air Force in 1983, and remains in use by the Russian Air Force as well as in many other...
, killing the pilot.
2001 insurgency in the Republic of Macedonia
{{Main|2001 insurgency in the Republic of Macedonia}}
Su-25s were used by the
Macedonian Air ForceThe Macedonian Air Force is the air arm of the Army of the Republic of Macedonia.-History:The development of the Macedonian Air Force and Air Defence Forces started from scratch in 1992, because the former Yugoslav Peoples Army took all the weapons and equipment which Macedonia had accumulated,...
during the against Albanian separatists. Beginning on 24 June 2001, the aircraft made multiple attack runs against separatist positions. The most successful operation took place on 10 August 2001, in the village of
RadušaRaduša can refer to the following:*Raduša , a village in the Tutin municipality, Serbia*Raduša , a village in the Ub municipality, Serbia*Raduša , a village in the Užice municipality, Serbia...
, when Su-25s attacked Albanian militants who had ambushed and killed sixteen Macedonian soldiers over the previous two days.
Ivorian-French War
{{Main|Ivorian-French War}}
On 6 November 2004, at least one Ivorian Sukhoi Su-25 attacked a position of
FranceFrance , officially the French Republic , is a country located in Western Europe, with several overseas islands and territories located on other continents. Metropolitan France extends from the Mediterranean Sea to the English Channel and the North Sea, and from the Rhine to the Atlantic Ocean...
's Unicorn peacekeeping force in the rebel stronghold of
BouakeBouaké is the second largest city in Côte d'Ivoire, with a population of 775,300 , and also the department of which the city is the center. Bouaké Department and Bouaké City lie in Vallée du Bandama Region....
at 1300 hours local time, causing nine deaths and 37 wounded among the French soldiers. Shortly afterwards, the French military retaliated by attacking the air base in
YamoussoukroThe District of Yamoussoukro is the official capital city of Côte d'Ivoire. A city of 200,659 inhabitants as of 2005, and located north of Abidjan on rolling hills and plains, the municipality covers 3,500 km² and is coterminous with the department of the same name...
and destroyed the Ivorian air force's only two Sukhoi Su-25s.
2008 South Ossetia War
{{Main|2008 South Ossetia War}}
In August 2008, an unknown number of Su-25s of the
Georgian Air ForceThe Georgian Air Force is the air arm of the Georgian Armed Forces. Currently, it has 1,813 military and civilian personnel, up to 22 fixed wing aircraft and 11 helicopters of different type and 380 air defense missiles of the "surface-to-air' class. The Air Force was founded in 1991 in the wake...
participated in bombing raids on targets in
South OssetiaSouth Ossetia is a disputed region in the South Caucasus, located in the territory of the South Ossetian Autonomous Oblast within the former Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic....
during the
War in South OssetiaThe 2008 South Ossetia War, also known as the Russia–Georgia War, was an armed conflict in August 2008 between Georgia on one side, and the Russian Federation together with Ossetians and Abkhazians on the other....
, and Russian military Su-25 undertook air raids on targets in Georgia. The Russian military officially confirmed the loss of three Su-25 aircraft to the Georgian air defense, while it estimates that it destroyed 3 Georgian Su-25s in the war. In early August 2008, Russian Su-25s attacked the Tbilisi aircraft plant, where Su-25 is produced, dropping bombs on the factory's airfield.
Su-25
The basic version of the aircraft was produced at Factory 31, at Tbilisi, in the
Soviet Republic of GeorgiaThe Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic , also known as the Georgian SSR for short, was one of the republics that made up the former Soviet Union.- History :- Preceding Events :On November 28 1917, after October Revolution in Russia, there was established...
. Between 1978 and 1989, 582 single-seat Su-25s were produced in Georgia, not including aircraft produced under the Su-25K export program. This variant of the aircraft represents the backbone of the
Russian Air ForceThe Russian Air Force is the air force of Russia. It is the second or third largest Air Force in the world, depending on whether aircraft or personnel numbers are compared with the People's Liberation Army Air Force. It is currently under the command of Colonel General Aleksandr Zelin...
's Su-25 fleet, currently the largest in the world.
The aircraft experienced a number of accidents in operational service caused by system failures attributed to salvo firing of weapons. In the wake of these incidents, use of its main armament, the 240 mm
S-24The S-24 is a rocket weapon designed and used by the Soviet Air Force. It remains in use by the Russian Air Force. The name is based on the diameter of the rocket, 240 mm ....
missile, was prohibited. In its place, the FAB-500 500 kg general-purpose high-explosive bomb became the primary armament.
Su-25K
The basic Su-25 model was used as the basis for a commercial export variant, known as the Su-25K (
Komercheskiy). This model was also built at Factory 31 in Tbilisi. The aircraft differed from the Soviet Air Force version in certain minor details concerning internal equipment. A total of 180 Su-25K aircraft were built between 1984 and 1989.
Su-25UB
The Su-25UB trainer-A professional:* Animal training, a person who trains animals for obedience, tricks, and work* Horse trainer, a person responsible for preparing a horse for horse racing* Personal trainer, a person who guides another person in developing physical fitness...
(Uchebno-
Boyevoy) was drawn up in 1977. The first prototype, called "T-8UB-1", was rolled out in July 1985 and its maiden flight was carried out at the
Ulan-UdeUlan-Ude is the capital city of the Buryat Republic, Russia, is located about 100 km south-east of Lake Baikal on the Uda River at its confluence with the Selenga...
factory airfield on 12 August of that year. It was intended for training and evaluation flights of active-duty pilots, and for training pilot cadets at Soviet Air Force flying schools.
The performance of the Su-25UB did not differ substantially from that of the single-seater. The navigation, attack, sighting devices and weapons-control systems of the two-seater enabled it to be used for both routine training and weapons-training missions. By the end of 1986, a total of 25 Su-25UBs had been produced at Ulan-Ude, despite the fact that the twin-seater had not yet completed its State trials and therefore had not been officially cleared for service with the Soviet Air Force.
Su-25UBK
From 1986 to 1989, in parallel with the construction of the main Su-25UB combat training variant, the Ulan-Ude plant produced the so-called "commercial" Su-25UBK, intended for export to countries that bought the Su-25K, and with similar modifications to that aircraft.
Su-25UTG
The Su-25UTG (U
chebno-T
renirovochnyy s Gakom) is a variant of the Su-25UB designed to train pilots in takeoff and landing on a land-based simulated carrier deck, with a sloping ski-jump section and arrester wires. The first one flew in September 1988, and approximately 10 were produced. About half remained in Russian service after 1991, used with Russia's sole
aircraft carrierAn aircraft carrier is a warship designed with a primary mission of deploying and recovering aircraft, acting as a seagoing airbase. Aircraft carriers thus allow a naval force to project air power great distances without having to depend on local bases for staging aircraft operations...
, the {{Ship|Russian aircraft carrier|Admiral Kuznetsov||2}}. Such a small number of aircraft were insufficient to serve the training needs of Russia's carrier air group, so a number of Su-25UBs were converted into Su-25UTGs, these aircraft being distinguished by the alternative designation Su-25UBP (Uchebno-
Boyevoy
Palubny) —the adjective "
palubnyy" meaning "deck", indicating that these aircraft have a naval function. About ten of these aircraft are currently operational in the
Russian NavyThe Russian Navy or VMF is the naval arm of the Russian Armed Forces. The international designation of Russian naval vessels is RFS—"Russian Federation Ship"....
as part of the 279th Naval Aviation Regiment.
Su-25BM
The Su-25BM (B
uksirovshchik Misheney) is a target-towing variant of the Su-25 whose development began in 1986. The prototype, designated "T-8BM1", successfully flew for the first time on 22 March 1990, at Tbilisi, and the aircraft was put into production after completion of the test phase.
The Su-25BM target-tower was designed to provide towed target facilities for training ground forces and naval personnel in ground-to-air or naval surface-to-air missile systems. It is powered by an R-195 engine and equipped with an RSDN-10 long-range
navigation systemNavigation system may refer to* Automotive navigation system* GPS navigation device* Inertial guidance system* Global Positioning System* Robotic mapping...
, an analogue of the Western
LORANLORAN is a terrestrial radio navigation system using low frequency radio transmitters that uses multiple transmitters to determine location and/or speed of the receiver. The current version of LORAN in common use is LORAN-C, which operates in the low frequency portion of the EM spectrum from 90...
system.
Su-25T
The Su-25T (Tankovy) is a dedicated antitank version, which has been battle tested with notable success in combat missions over
ChechnyaThe Chechen Republic , or, informally, Chechnya , sometimes referred to as Ichkeria, Chechnia, Chechenia or Noxçiyn, is a federal subject of Russia...
. Avionics have been modified, including sophisticated autopilot and HUD installed. It is equipped with "Shkval" TV observation and aiming system with laser rangefinder and target designator in the nose cone (the same is used on the Ka-50 attack helicopter) and may carry "Vikhr" laser beam riding AT missiles in 8-tube launchers (Ka-50 carries the same missiles in 6-tube launchers). The efficiency of this weapon system on a jet plane is disputed, as it is not a "fire-and-forget" weapon, and while a hovering helicopter may illuminate a target with a laser while staying at maximum range, a Su-25T flying towards its target until the "Vikhr" impact may eventually enter the range of close air defences. The night vision capabilities of "Shkval" are limited. For night operations a container with low-light TV "Merkuriy" system may be carried under the fuselage (having only 5x magnification in comparison with 23x of the "Shkval"). Alternatively, the "Fantasmagoria" passive radar sensor container may be carried, which provides targeting data for anti-radiation missiles, giving the Su-25T an air defence suppression capability. The Su-25T can also employ the KAB-500Kr
TV-guidedPrecision-guided munitions are guided weapons intended to precisely hit a specific target, and to minimize damage to things other than the target...
bomb and Kh-29T TV-guided heavy tactical air-to-ground missile.
A second-generation Su-25T, the
Su-25TM (also designated
Su-39), has been developed with improved navigation and attack systems, and better survivability. While retaining the built-in "Shkval" of Su-25T, it may carry "Kopyo" (rus. "Spear") radar in the container under fuselage, which is used for engaging air targets (with RVV-AE/R-77 missiles) as well as ships (with Kh-31 and Kh-35 antiship missiles). The Russian Air Force has received only a small number of each version so far. However, the improved avionics systems designed for these aircraft have been utilised in the
Su-25SM, an interim upgrade for the series-produced Russian Air Force Su-25, resulting in superior survivability and combat capability.
Su-25KM
The SU-25KM (K
ommercheskiy Modernizirovannyy), nicknamed "Scorpion", is an Su-25 upgrade programme announced in early 2001 by the original manufacturer,
Tbilisi Aircraft ManufacturingTbilisi Aircraft Manufacturing , also known as JSC Tbilaviamsheni, is a Tbilisi, Georgia manufacturing company specializing in aerospace...
in Georgia, in partnership with
Elbit SystemsElbit Systems Ltd. is one of the world's largest defense electronics manufacturers and integrators. Established in 1967, and based in Haifa, Israel, Elbit has over ten thousand employees....
of Israel. The prototype aircraft made its maiden flight on 18 April 2001 at Tbilisi in full
Georgian Air ForceThe Georgian Air Force is the air arm of the Georgian Armed Forces. Currently, it has 1,813 military and civilian personnel, up to 22 fixed wing aircraft and 11 helicopters of different type and 380 air defense missiles of the "surface-to-air' class. The Air Force was founded in 1991 in the wake...
markings.
The aircraft uses a standard Su-25 airframe, enhanced with advanced avionics including a
glass cockpitA glass cockpit is an aircraft cockpit that features electronic instrument displays. Where a traditional cockpit relies on numerous mechanical gauges to display information, a glass cockpit uses several displays driven by flight management systems, that can be adjusted to display flight information...
, digital
mapA map is a visual representation of an area—a symbolic depiction highlighting relationships between elements of that space such as objects, regions, and themes....
generator,
helmet-mounted displayA head-mounted display or Helmet mounted display, both abbreviated 'HMD', is a display device, worn on the head or as part of a helmet, that has a small display optic in front of one or each eye .- Overview :...
, computerised weapons system, complete mission pre-plan capability, and fully redundant backup modes. Performance enhancements include a highly accurate navigation system, pinpoint weapon delivery systems, all-weather and day/night performance,
NATOThe North Atlantic Treaty Organization ); ), also called "the Atlantic Alliance", is an intergovernmental military alliance based on the North Atlantic Treaty which was signed on April 4, 1949...
compatibility, state-of-the art safety and survivability features, and advanced onboard debriefing capabilities complying with international requirements.
Su-28
The
Sukhoi Su-28The Sukhoi Su-28 is a downgraded variant of the Su-25UB/Su-25T, with reductions in avionics and aircraft systems, together with a full reduction of weapon-carrying capability. The Su-28 trainer is intended for technical skill, general flight and formation flying training...
(also designated as Su-25UT
- Uchebno-
Trenirovochnyy) is an advanced basic jet trainer, built on the basis of the Su-25UB as a private initiative by the Sukhoi Design Bureau. The Su-28 is a light aircraft designed to replace the Czechoslovak Aero L-39 Albatros. Unlike the basic Su-25UB, it lacks a weapons-control system, built-in cannon, weapons hardpoints, and engine armour.
Other
- Su-25R (Razvedchik) – a tactical reconnaissance
Reconnaissance is a military and medical term denoting exploration conducted to gain information. Militarily, its shorthand Canadian and British form is recce , its American usage form is recon...
variant designed in 1978, but never built.
- Su-25U3 (Uchebnyy 3-myestny) – also known as the "Russian Troika
A general meaning of the Russian word troika is three of a kind, a collection of three. It may also mean:* A three-horse drawn sled or carriage* Troika , a folk dance* Troika of judges or political leaders...
", was a three-seat basic trainer aircraft. The project was suspended in 1991 due to lack of funding.
- 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.
Operators
{{ANG}}:
People's Air and Air Defence Force of AngolaThe National Air Force is the air branch of the Armed Forces of Angola.The FAN was established, after the independence of Angola from Portugal, on January 21st 1976 as the People's Air and Air Defence Force of Angola and initially...
. An agreement was reached at the beginning of 1988 between the Soviet Union and Angola that arranged for the delivery of a squadron of Su-25s. The Angolan export agreement comprised 12 single-seat Su-25Ks and two Su-25UBKs trainers. Later, these aircraft were augmented by further deliveries comprising at least three two-seater aircraft.
{{ARM}}:
Armenian Air ForceThe Armenian Air Force is a small air arm formed by independent Armenia in 1992 in the wake of the dissolution of the Soviet Union. It is organized and equipped principally to provide Armenian ground forces with tactical air support in the form of ground attack and airlift in mountainous terrain...
. Following the break-up of the Soviet Union, Armenia had no Su-25s in its inventory, but following the start of the conflict in
Nagorno-KarabakhNagorno-Karabakh is a landlocked region in the South Caucasus, lying between Lower Karabakh and Zangezur and covering the southeastern range of the Lesser Caucasus mountains...
in 1991–92, the newly independent Republic of Armenia unofficially acquired a small number of aircraft. It operates 5 Su-25, 9 Su-25K and 1 Su-25UBK as of January 2009.
{{AZE}}:
Azerbaijan Air ForceThe Azerbaijan Air Force is the air force of the military of Azerbaijan.The roots of the current organization go back to the June 26, 1918, when Azerbaijan Democratic Republic bought their first military aircraft.State of war and useful landscape, as well as deployment of former Soviet air bases...
. Like Armenia, Azerbaijan did not inherit any Su-25s after the collapse of the USSR, but a single aircraft was obtained in April 1992 as a consequence of a pilot defecting from the
Russian Air ForceThe Russian Air Force is the air force of Russia. It is the second or third largest Air Force in the world, depending on whether aircraft or personnel numbers are compared with the People's Liberation Army Air Force. It is currently under the command of Colonel General Aleksandr Zelin...
base at Sital-Chai. Following the incident, Azerbaijan acquired at least five Su-25s through unofficial channels, and one more aircraft has been obtained as the result of yet another defection, this time from the
Georgian Air ForceThe Georgian Air Force is the air arm of the Georgian Armed Forces. Currently, it has 1,813 military and civilian personnel, up to 22 fixed wing aircraft and 11 helicopters of different type and 380 air defense missiles of the "surface-to-air' class. The Air Force was founded in 1991 in the wake...
. Other aircraft are believed to have been acquired later, as a 2001 inventory of Azerbaijan aircraft revealed that the Azerbaijan Air Force still had three of the type in its inventory, despite the reported loss of four Su-25s in combat operations relating to Nagorno-Karabakh against Armenia.
{{BLR}}: Belarus Air Force. After the break-up of the Soviet Union, Belarus was the second member state of the
CIS{{Redirect|CIS}}{{Redirect|CIS}}{{Redirect|CIS}}{{Redirect|CIS}}{{Redirect|CIS}}{{Redirect|CIS}}{{Infobox Geopolitical organisation|native_name = Commonwealth of Independent States...
, after
RussiaRussia , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia . It is a semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, to have a significant number of Su-25s. Seventy Su-25s and six Su-25UBs are reported to be operational and are mostly concentrated at Lida air base by 2004.
{{BUL}}:
Bulgarian Air ForceThe Bulgarian Air Force is a branch of the Bulgarian Army, the other two being the Bulgarian Navy and Bulgarian land forces. Its mission is to guard and protect the sovereignty of Bulgarian airspace, to provide aerial support and to assist the Land Forces in case of war. The Bulgarian Air Force is...
. Bulgaria was the second
Warsaw PactThe Warsaw Pact is the informal name for the mutual defense Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance subscribed by eight Communist states in Eastern Europe, that was established at the USSR’s initiative and realised on 14 May 1955, in Warsaw, Poland...
country to obtain the Su-25, acquiring its first examples of both Su-25K and the Su-25UBK in 1985. The aircraft were intended to replace the obsolete
MiG-17F Fresco-CThe Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17 is a high-subsonic performance jet fighter aircraft produced in the USSR from 1952 and operated by numerous air forces in many variants...
which had been the backbone of the Bulgarian Air Force fighter-bomber fleet for many years. Twenty Su-25Ks and three Su-25UBKs were commissioned and are operational at Bezmer air base by 2004.
{{CHA}}: Chadian Air Force. In 2008 Chad acquired a total of six aircraft (4 Su-25 and 2 Su-25UB) from
UkraineUkraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It is bordered by Russia to the east; Belarus to the north; Poland, Slovakia, and Hungary to the west; Romania and Moldova to the southwest; and the Black Sea and Sea of Azov to the south. The city of Kiev is both the capital and the largest city of...
.
{{COD}}:
Air Force of the Democratic Republic of the CongoThe Air Force of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, also known as the Democratic Republic of the Congo Air Force , is the air force branch of the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo...
. In late 1999, the
TbilisiTbilisi is the capital and the largest city of Georgia, lying on the banks of the Mt'k'vari River. The name is derived from an early Georgian form Tp'ilisi and it was officially known as Tiflis until 1936...
Aerospace Manufacturing plant signed a contract with the Democratic Republic of Congo for the delivery of 10 Su-25Ks to the
Force Aerienne CongolaiseThe Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo is the state military organisation responsible for defending the Democratic Republic of Congo. The FARDC is being rebuilt as part of the peace process which followed the end of the Second Congo War in July 2003.The majority of FARDC members are...
. The deal was reported to be valued at 6 million US Dollars, and the first four aircraft were delivered on board an An-124 in November 1999. The remaining six aircraft were delivered in January 2000. One aircraft crashed in December 2006 during a routine flight, while another one crashed on 30 June 2007, during a Congolese independence day display.
Equatorial Guinea: In 2005, 4 Su 25s including 2 Su-25UB combat trainers were delivered to the Equatorial Guinea Air Corps. The current status of the aircraft is unknown.
{{ERI}}:
Eritrean Air ForceThe Eritrean Air Force was established shortly after Eritrean War of Independence in 1994. The make-up of the original force was composed of aircraft that were abandoned by the defeated Ethiopian armed forces...
. In total, six Su-25s have been delivered to the Eritrean Air Force between 2001 and 2006. Unfortunately the exact date is not known.
{{ETH}}:
Ethiopian Air ForceThe Ethiopian Air Force is the air arm of the Ethiopian National Defense Forces and is tasked with protecting the air space, providing support to the ground forces as well as assisting during national emergencies.- Early years :...
. A pair of Su-25Ts and two Su-25UBK combat trainers were delivered to
EthiopiaEthiopia , officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a landlocked country situated in the Horn of Africa. Ethiopia is bordered by Eritrea to the north, Sudan to the west, Kenya to the south, Somalia to the east and Djibouti to the northeast. Its size is 1,100,000 km² with an...
in the first quarter of 2000. The twin-seaters were withdrawn from
Russian Air ForceThe Russian Air Force is the air force of Russia. It is the second or third largest Air Force in the world, depending on whether aircraft or personnel numbers are compared with the People's Liberation Army Air Force. It is currently under the command of Colonel General Aleksandr Zelin...
service and modified in accordance to a special request by the Ethiopian Air Force. Since acquiring the aircraft, the Ethiopians have used them in combat operations against
EritreanEritrean may refer to:* Something of, from, or related to the country of Eritrea* A person from Eritrea, or of Eritrean descent. For information about the Eritrean people, see Demographics of Eritrea and Culture of Eritrea. For specific persons, see List of Eritreans.* Note that there is no...
insurgent groups.
{{GEO}}:
Georgian Air ForceThe Georgian Air Force is the air arm of the Georgian Armed Forces. Currently, it has 1,813 military and civilian personnel, up to 22 fixed wing aircraft and 11 helicopters of different type and 380 air defense missiles of the "surface-to-air' class. The Air Force was founded in 1991 in the wake...
. Georgia, which with the
Tbilisi Aircraft ManufacturingTbilisi Aircraft Manufacturing , also known as JSC Tbilaviamsheni, is a Tbilisi, Georgia manufacturing company specializing in aerospace...
produced scores of single-seat Su-25s during the Soviet era, was left with virtually no aircraft following the break-up of the Soviet Union. Only a small number of single-seat Su-25s were actually brought into inventory of the newly formed
Georgian Air ForceThe Georgian Air Force is the air arm of the Georgian Armed Forces. Currently, it has 1,813 military and civilian personnel, up to 22 fixed wing aircraft and 11 helicopters of different type and 380 air defense missiles of the "surface-to-air' class. The Air Force was founded in 1991 in the wake...
, these aircraft having been left in the factory at the time of Georgian independence. Georgia had nine Su-25s of various types with of them eight Su-25KM "Scorpion"s (an upgraded version of the Su-25 in collaboration with
IsraelIsrael officially the State of Israel , is a developed state in Western Asia located on the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea. It borders Lebanon in the north, Syria in the northeast, Jordan in the east, and Egypt on the southwest, and contains geographically diverse features within its...
) as of 2004.
{{IRN}}: Iranian Air Force. On 21 January 1991, seven Iraqi Su-25s were flown to Iran in an effort to find a temporary safe haven from Operation Desert Storm attacks on major Iraqi airfields. These Iraqi aircraft were considered by the Iranians to be a gift from their former adversary, and were seized by the Iranian military. However, as a result of lack of spare parts, documentation, and pilot training, these aircraft were never flown by the Iranian Air Force. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps Air Force has added at least six new aircraft to its inventory and has since likely restored ex-Iraqi Su-25s to flight status as well.
{{KAZ}}: The
Kazakh Air ForceThe Military of Kazakhstan is derived from a remnant force of the former Soviet Union. On June 30, 1992, the Soviet Armed Forces' Turkestan Military District disbanded, following the collapse of the Soviet Union....
received 12 single-seat Su-25s and two Su-25UB trainers in December 1995 as compensatory payment for the return of the Tu-95MS "Bear-H" strategic bombers which had been rapidly flown out of the republic at the time of the collapse of the USSR. The Kazakh Su-25s are located at Chimkent air base in the south of the country.
{{PRK}}:
North Korean Air ForceThe Korean People's Air Force, , is the name of the unified aviation forces of North Korea. The KPAF is the second-largest branch of the Korean People's Army with an estimated 110,000 personnel. It possesses between 1,600 and 1,700 aircraft of different types, mostly of Soviet and Chinese origin....
. North Korea was the first
Asian countryAsia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.6% of the earth's total surface area and with approximately 4 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population.Asia is traditionally defined as part of the...
to obtain the Su-25. In the 1950s, the North Korean Air Force had accumulated useful experience of operating the Su-25's piston-engined predecessor, the
Ilyushin Il-10 "Beast"Ilyushin Il-10 was a Soviet ground attack aircraft developed at the end of World War II by the Ilyushin construction bureau...
. In the period from the end of 1987 until 1989, the DPRK acquired a total of thirty-two single-seat Su-25Ks and four Su-25UBKs. The aircraft are based at
SonchonSonchon is a kun, or county, on the coast of the Yellow Sea in west-central North Pyongan province, North Korea. To the north it borders Chonma, to the east Kusong and Kwaksan, and to the west Tongrim; to the south, it borders nothing but the sea...
air base (80 km from
PyongyangPyongyang is the capital of North Korea, located on the Taedong River. According to preliminary results from the 2008 population census, it has a population of 3,255,388.The city was split from the South P'yŏngan province in 1946...
), which features heavily-fortified natural hangars equipped with blast-proof doors capable of protecting the aircraft from conventional and
nuclear explosionA nuclear explosion occurs as a result of the rapid release of energy from an intentionally high-speed nuclear reaction. The driving reaction may be nuclear fission, nuclear fusion or a multistage cascading combination of the two, though to date all fusion based weapons have used a fission device...
s.
{{PER}}:
Peruvian Air ForceThe Peruvian Air Force is the branch of the Peruvian Armed Forces tasked with defending the nation and its interests through the use of air power...
. Peru received 18 Su-25s in late 1998 from Belarus, which refurbished them prior to delivery. The shipment comprised 10 single-seat and eight dual-seat Su-25UB trainers. The aircraft were all built just before the collapse of the Soviet Union and thus represented the final versions of the Soviet Su-25. It is believed that between 1998 and December 2005, at least 25 light aircraft transporting
cocaineCocaine is a crystalline tropane alkaloid that is obtained from the leaves of the coca plant. The name comes from "coca" in addition to the alkaloid suffix -ine, forming cocaine. It is a stimulant of the central nervous system and an appetite suppressant...
had been shot down by the Peruvian Su-25s.
{{RUS}}: Today, Russia possesses a reduced fleet of Su-25s, which are operated by "Shturmovoi" Assault Regiments. The major variants used are the single-seat Su-25, the twin-seat Su-25UB, and the Su-25BM target-towing version. In addition, the
Russian Air ForceThe Russian Air Force is the air force of Russia. It is the second or third largest Air Force in the world, depending on whether aircraft or personnel numbers are compared with the People's Liberation Army Air Force. It is currently under the command of Colonel General Aleksandr Zelin...
received a small number of Su-25T anti-tank variants, which have been tested with notable success under combat conditions in
ChechnyaThe Chechen Republic , or, informally, Chechnya , sometimes referred to as Ichkeria, Chechnia, Chechenia or Noxçiyn, is a federal subject of Russia...
. The Su-25 is also operated by the
Russian Naval AviationThe Russian Naval Aviation , is the air arm of the Russian Navy...
, both in standard land-based Su-25 and Su-25UB guise, as well as in the specialised Su-25UTG role as a carrier-operable trainer. Overall, 245 Su-25s are in service with the Russian Air Force, including 10 being operated by the navy as of 2008. A modernisation program of single-seat Su-25s to the Su-25SM variant is underway. The first modernised Su-25SM was delivered in August 2001, while another six were delivered in late December 2006 at
LipetskLipetsk is a city located in the Central Federal District of Russia. It is the administrative center of Lipetsk Oblast. It is located on the banks of the Voronezh River in the Don basin, 438 km southeast of Moscow.-History:...
air base.
{{SUD}}: The
Sudanese Air ForceThe Sudanese Air Force is the air force operated by the Republic of the Sudan. As such it is part of the Sudanese Armed Forces.-History:...
is equipped with 11 Su-25s.{{Citation needed|date=July 2009}}
{{TKM}}: Following the downfall of the Soviet Union, the newly independent Republic of Turkmenistan was given 46 Su-25s which had been disassembled for storage in Turkmenistan at that time. In accordance with an agreement between Georgia and Turkmenistan in 1999, the Tbilisi Aerospace Manufacturing corporation refurbished 45 of these aircraft for use by the
Turkmenistan Air ForceThe armed forces of Turkmenistan consist of an Army, Air and Air Defense Forces, Border Troops, and Internal Troops, and a National Guard. The Turkmen military inherited several motor rifle divisions from the Soviet Armed Forces Turkestan Military District, forming the basis of the Turkmen ground...
as payment for the delivery of
natural gasNatural gas is a gas consisting primarily of methane. It is found associated with fossil fuels, in coal beds, as methane clathrates, and is created by methanogenic organisms in marshes, bogs, and landfills...
. The refurbished aircraft were relocated at Ak-Tepe air base, and a total of 18 operational Su-25s are known to be based there by 2004.
{{UKR}}:
Ukrainian Air ForceThe Ukrainian Air Force is a part of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Ukrainian Air Force Command and headquarters are located in the city of Vinnytsia....
. Ukraine obtained 92 Su-25s of differing variants following the country's independence in the wake of the break-up of the USSR. Currently, the Ukrainian Air Force operates approximately 60 Su-25, Su25UBs, and Su-25UTGs, which are operated by the 299th Independent Assault Regiment (299 OShAP) based at Kulbakino,
Mykolaiv OblastMykolaiv Oblast is an oblast of Ukraine. The administrative center of the oblast is the city of Mykolayiv.-Geography:...
, and at
SakiHector Hugh Munro , better known by the pen name Saki, was a British writer, whose witty and sometimes macabre stories satirized Edwardian society and culture. He is considered a master of the short story and is often compared to O. Henry and Dorothy Parker. His tales feature delicately drawn...
in the
CrimeaCrimea or the Autonomous Republic of Crimea is the only autonomous republic of Ukraine. It is located on the northern coast of the Black Sea, occupying a peninsula of the same name.The territory of Crimea was conquered and controlled many times throughout its history...
, and the 456th Assault Regiment (456 ShAP) at
ChortkivChortkiv is a city in the Ternopil oblast in western Ukraine. It is the administrative center of the Chortkiv Raion . Population: 29,057...
. Up to 30 Su-25s are reportedly stored at the 4070th Reserve Base. Evidently, three Su-25s sold to Macedonia came from this reserve pool.
{{UZB}}: Until 1990, a
Soviet Air ForceThe Soviet Air Force, officially known in Russian as Военно-воздушные силы or Voenno-Vozdushnye Sily and often abbreviated VVS was the official designation of one of the air forces of the Soviet Union...
pilot training centre equipped with around 20 Su-25, Su-25UB, and Su-25BM variants was located at Chirchik air base in Uzbekistan. In 1991, a small number of Su-25s were also located at Dzhizak air base, but after 1991, all Su-25s in Uzbekistan were concentrated at Chirchik, operated by the 59th Fighter-Bomber Aviation Regiment (59 APIB) of the Soviet Air Force. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, all the Su-25s on the territory of the now independent republic became the property of the new government.
Former operators
{{CIV}} (Ivory Coast):
Cote d'Ivoire Air Force*Combat aircraft** 2 Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23 MLD** 4 Sukhoi Su-25 *Trainers** 3 Reims F150** 3 Reims F337 E** 7 Dassault/Dornier Alpha Jet*Transport aircraft** 1 Antonov An-12** 6 Beechcraft F33 Bonanza...
. Nine French soldiers were killed and twenty-three wounded when two Ivorian Su-25s bombed French positions in
BouakéBouaké is the second largest city in Côte d'Ivoire, with a population of 775,300 , and also the department of which the city is the center. Bouaké Department and Bouaké City lie in Vallée du Bandama Region....
. As a result,
French soldiersThe Military of France encompasses an army, a navy, an air force and a gendarmerie. The President of the Republic heads the armed forces, with the title of "chef des armées" - "chief of the military forces". The President is the supreme authority for military matters and is the sole official who...
destroyed the Su-25s on the ground at
YamoussoukroThe District of Yamoussoukro is the official capital city of Côte d'Ivoire. A city of 200,659 inhabitants as of 2005, and located north of Abidjan on rolling hills and plains, the municipality covers 3,500 km² and is coterminous with the department of the same name...
air base.
{{CZS}}: Czechoslovakian Air Force. Passed aircraft onto successor states, in the ratio of 2:1 in favour of the
Czech RepublicThe Czech Republic is a country in Central Europe that is sometimes considered to be Eastern European. The country borders Poland to the northeast, Germany to the west and northwest, Austria to the south and Slovakia to the east. The capital and largest city is Prague...
.
{{CZE}}:
Czech Air ForceThe Czech Air Force, ICAO code CEF, is the air force branch of the Armed Forces of the Czech Republic. The Air Force, with the Ground Forces, comprises the main combat power of the Armed Forces of the Czech Republic...
. After the dissolution of
CzechoslovakiaCzechoslovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
, the Czech Republic acquired twenty-four Su-25Ks and one Su-25UBK. In December 2000, the Czech Su-25s were retired from service and placed in storage at
PřerovPřerov is a town in the Olomouc Region of the Czech Republic where Bečva river goes through. Přerov is a statute town . It has population of about 47,373 to January 2, 2008. Přerov is about 22 km far from Olomouc northwesterly...
air base.
{{MKD}}:
Macedonian Air ForceThe Macedonian Air Force is the air arm of the Army of the Republic of Macedonia.-History:The development of the Macedonian Air Force and Air Defence Forces started from scratch in 1992, because the former Yugoslav Peoples Army took all the weapons and equipment which Macedonia had accumulated,...
. The Republic of Macedonia purchased three single-seat Su-25s and one Su-25UB following
incursions and attacksThe insurgency in Macedonia was an armed conflict which began when the ethnic Albanian National Liberation Army militant group attacked the security forces of the Republic of Macedonia at the beginning of January 2001...
by
AlbanianAlbanians are a people from southeast Europe who live in Albania and neighboring countries. They speak the Albanian language. About half of them live in Albania, with other large groups residing in Kosovo, the Republic of Macedonia, Serbia, and Montenegro...
separatists. The aircraft were supplied by
UkrainianUkraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It is bordered by Russia to the east; Belarus to the north; Poland, Slovakia, and Hungary to the west; Romania and Moldova to the southwest; and the Black Sea and Sea of Azov to the south. The city of Kiev is both the capital and the largest city of...
authorities after having been withdrawn from
Ukrainian Air ForceThe Ukrainian Air Force is a part of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Ukrainian Air Force Command and headquarters are located in the city of Vinnytsia....
service. The aircraft were retired in 2004 and later sold to Georgia in 2005.
{{IRQ}}:
Iraqi Air ForceThe Iraqi Air Force or IQAF is the military branch in Iraq responsible for the policing of international borders, surveillance of national assets and aerial operations...
. During the course of the early phase of the Iran–Iraq War, Iraq approached the Soviet Union with a request to purchase a wide variety of military equipment. As a result, Iraq become the first non-Warsaw Pact country to obtain the Su-25K and Su-25UBK combat trainer. It is believed that Iraq received a total of 73 Su-25s, of which four were the Su-25UBK trainer. In January 1998, the Iraqi Air Force still possessed 12 Su-25s, and at least three Su-25Ks were seen in a demonstration over
BaghdadBaghdad is the capital of Iraq and of Baghdad Governorate, with which it is coterminous. Having a municipal population estimated at 6.5 million, it is the largest city in Iraq and the second largest in the Arab World....
in December 2002. However, the remaining Su-25s were phased out immediately after the
2003 Invasion of IraqThe 2003 invasion of Iraq, was led by the United States, backed by British forces and smaller contingents from Australia, Denmark, Poland and Spain. Four countries participated with troops during the initial invasion phase, which lasted from March 20 to May 1...
.
{{SVK}}: The
Slovak Air ForceThe Slovak Air Force, known since 2002 as the Air Force of the Armed Forces of the Slovak Republic , is the aviation and air defense branch of the Slovak Armed Forces. Operating 64 aircraft from 3 major bases - Kuchyňa, Sliač, Prešov...
received 12 Su-25Ks and one Su-25UBK following the dissolution of Czechoslovakia. The aircraft were based at the Slovak 33rd Air Base in Malacky-Kuchyna. They were sold to Armenia.
{{USSR}} :
Soviet Air ForceThe Soviet Air Force, officially known in Russian as Военно-воздушные силы or Voenno-Vozdushnye Sily and often abbreviated VVS was the official designation of one of the air forces of the Soviet Union...
. Passed aircraft onto successor states.
Accidents and incidents
- An Air Force of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Air Force of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, also known as the Democratic Republic of the Congo Air Force , is the air force branch of the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo...
Su-25K disappeared in December 2006 during a routine rebasing operation and no wreckage was ever found.
- Another Congolese Su-25K crashed on 30 June 2007 during an Independence Day display, near the city of Kisangani
Kisangani is a city in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in Central Africa. It is the provincial capital of Tshopo Province. Kisangani is located where the Lualaba River becomes the Congo River north of the Boyoma Falls...
, killing the pilot. Investigations revealed that the aircraft crashed due to an engine failure.
- A Su-25 of the Russian Air Force exploded in air on 20 March 2008 during a live firing exercise over the Primorsky Krai
Primorsky Krai also known as Primorye , is a federal subject of Russia . Primorsky means "maritime" in Russian, hence the region is sometimes referred to as Maritime Province.-Geography:...
, {{convert|143|km|mi|abbr=on}} from VladivostokVladivostok is Russia's largest port city on the Pacific Ocean and the administrative center of Primorsky Krai. It is situated at the head of the Golden Horn Bay not far from Russia's border with China and North Korea...
, 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 concluded.
Specifications (Su-25TM)
{{aircraft specifications|
|plane or copter?=plane
|jet or prop?=jet
|ref=Sukhoi Su-25 Frogfoot
|crew=one pilot
|length main=15.33 m
|length alt=50 ft 11
|span main=14.36 m
|span alt=47 ft 1 in
|height main=4.80 m
|height alt=15 ft 9 in
|area main=30.1 m²
|area alt=324 ft²
|empty weight main=10,740 kg
|empty weight alt=23,677 lb
|loaded weight main=16,990 kg
|loaded weight alt=37,456 lb
|max takeoff weight main=20,500 kg
|max takeoff weight alt=45,194 lb
|engine (jet)=
Tumansky-Engines:* M-87* M-88* RD-9* RD-10 * R-11* R-13* R-15* R-25-External links:* *...
R-195
|type of jet=
turbojetTurbojets are the oldest kind of general purpose jet engines. Two engineers, Frank Whittle in the United Kingdom and Hans von Ohain in Germany, developed the concept independently into practical engines during the late 1930s, although credit for the first turbojet is given to Whittle who submitted...
s
|number of jets=2
|thrust main=44.18 kN
|thrust alt=9,480
lbfThe pound-force or simply pound is a unit of force.- Definitions :The pound-force is approximately equal to the gravitational force exerted on a mass of one avoirdupois pound on the surface of Earth...
|max speed main=950 km/h
|max speed alt=590 mph, Mach 0.82
|combat radius main=375 km
|ferry range main=2,500 km
|combat radius alt=235 mi
|ferry range alt=1,553 mi
|ceiling main=10,000 m
|ceiling alt=22,200 ft
|climb rate main=58 m/s
|climb rate alt=11,400 ft/min
|loading main=584 kg/m²
|loading alt=119 lb/ft²
|thrust/weight=0.51
|armament=
- 1 × GSh-30-2 30mm cannon
The Gryazev-Shipunov GSh-30-2 or GSh-2-30 is a powerful twin-barrel autocannon used on certain Russian military aircraft....
with 250 rounds
- 11 hardpoints for up to 4,400 kg (9,700 lb) of disposable ordnance, including rails for 2 × R-60 (AA-8 'Aphid')
The Molniya R-60 is a lightweight air-to-air missile designed for use by Soviet fighter aircraft. It has been widely exported, and remains in service with the CIS and many other nations....
or other air-to-air missileAn air-to-air missile is a guided missile fired from an aircraft for the purpose of destroying another aircraft. AAMs are typically powered by one or more rocket motors, usually solid fuelled but sometimes liquid fuelled...
s for self-defence and a wide variety of general-purpose bombA general-purpose bomb is an air-dropped bomb intended as a compromise between blast damage, penetration, and fragmentation in explosive effect.-Characteristics:...
s, cluster bombCluster munitions or cluster bombs are air-dropped or ground-launched explosive weapons that eject smaller submunitions: a cluster of bomblets. The most common types are designed to kill enemy personnel and destroy vehicles...
s, gun podA gun pod is a detachable pod or pack containing machine guns or automatic cannon and ancillaries, mounted externally on a vehicle such as a military aircraft which may or may not also have its own guns....
s, rocketA rocket or rocket vehicle is a missile, spacecraft, aircraft or other vehicle which obtains thrust by the reaction of the rocket to the ejection of a jet of fast moving fluid exhaust from a rocket engine. Chemical rockets create their exhaust by the combustion of rocket propellant...
pods, laser-guided bombA laser-guided bomb is a precision-guided munition that uses semi-active laser homing to strike a designated target with greater accuracy than a free-fall bomb. LGBs are one of the most common and widespread PGMs, used by a large number of the world's air forces.-Overview:Laser-guided munitions...
s, and air-to-surface missileAn air-to-surface missile is a missile designed to be launched from military aircraft and strike ground targets on land, at sea, or both...
s such as the Kh-25ML or Kh-29The Kh-29 is a Russian air-to-surface missile with a range of 10-30 km. It has a large warhead of 320 kg, has a choice of laser or TV guidance, and is typically carried by tactical aircraft such as the...
L
}}
See also
{{aircontent|
|related=
|similar aircraft=
- A-10 Thunderbolt II
The A-10 Thunderbolt II is an American single-seat, twin-engine, straight-wing jet aircraft developed by Fairchild-Republic for the United States Air Force to provide close air support of ground forces by attacking tanks, armored vehicles, and other ground targets with a limited air interdiction...
- Northrop YA-9
The Northrop YA-9 was a prototype attack aircraft developed for the USAF, but passed over in preference for the Fairchild YA-10 that became the A-10 Thunderbolt II in service.-Design and development:...
- Ilyushin Il-102
The Ilyushin Il-102 was an experimental jet powered ground-attack aircraft designed by Ilyushin. This aircraft was never chosen for production, being surpassed by the Su-25, and only a few development prototypes were built.-Design and development:...
|lists=
|see also=
}}
External links
{{Commons+cat|Sukhoi Su-25|Sukhoi Su-25}}
{{Sukhoi aircraft}}
{{aviation lists}}