Sukhoi Su-25

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sukhoi_Su-25

The Sukhoi Su-25 Grach (Russian: "????", meaning rook; NATO reporting name:
"Frogfoot") is a single-seat, twin-engine jet aircraft developed in the Soviet
Union by the Sukhoi Design Bureau. 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 Soviet Republic of Georgia.

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.

Role Close air support
Manufacturer Sukhoi Design Bureau
Tbilisi Aircraft Manufacturing (former)
First flight 22 February 1975 (T8)
Introduction 19 July 1981
Status In service
Primary users Russian Air Force
Belarusian Air Force
Ukrainian Air Force
North Korean Air Force
See Operators for others
Produced 1978–present
Number built Over 1,000
Unit cost US$11 million[1]
Variants Sukhoi Su-28

Soviet war in Afghanistan
Main article: List of Soviet aircraft losses during the Soviet–Afghan War

The first Soviet Air Forces Su-25 unit was the 200th Independent Attack
Squadron, initially based at Sitalcay air base in the Azerbaijan Soviet
Socialist Republic. The first eleven aircraft arrived at Sitalchay in May
1981.[16]

On 19 July 1981, the 200th Independent Attack Squadron was reassigned to
Shindand Airbase in western Afghanistan, 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.[17] Another
Soviet Su-25 unit was the 368th Attack Aviation Regiment, which was formed on 12
July 1984, at Zjovtnevoye in Ukraine.[18] It was soon also moved east to conduct
operations over Afghanistan.

Over the course of the Soviet war in Afghanistan, 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, 21–23
aircraft were lost in combat operations, with up to 9 destroyed on the ground
while parked

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.[65] 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.[66] 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: one
Length: 15.53 m[nb 1] (50 ft 111/2 in)
Wingspan: 14.36 m (47 ft 11/2 in)
Height: 4.80 m (15 ft 9 in)
Wing area: 33.7 m² (323 ft²)
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)
Powerplant: 2 × Soyuz/Gavrilov R-195 turbojets, 44.18 kN (9,921 lbf) each

Performance
Maximum speed: Mach 0.82 (975 km/h, 526 knots, 606 mph) at sea level
Range: 1,000 km (621 miles) clean at altitude
Combat range: 750 km (405 nmi, 466 miles) at sea level, 4,400 kg (9,700 lb)
weapons and two external tanks
Service ceiling: 7,000 m (23,000 ft) clean, 5,000 m (16,000 ft) with max weapons
Rate of climb: 58 m/s (11,400 ft/min)

Armament
Guns: 1 × GSh-30-2 30mm cannon with 250 rounds
Hardpoints: 11 with a capacity of 4,000 kg (8,800 lb)
Rockets: UV-32-57 57 mm or B8M1 80 mm rocket pods, S-24 (240 mm (9.4 in)) or
S-25 (330 mm (13 in)) rockets
Missiles: Kh-23 (AS-7), AS-9, Kh-25L (AS-10), Kh-29 (AS-14) air-to-surface
missiles, K-13 (AA-2) or R-60 (AA-8) air-to-air missiles
Bombs: FAB-250, FAB-500, KAB-500 laser-guided bomb[114]



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