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In 1999 Russia decided to upgrade their aging Su-25 aircraft with actual work beginning in 2001.
The first of the upgraded aircraft designated Su-25SM (Stroyevoy Modernizirovannyi) Grach
(Rook) flew on March 3, 2002 with the first six modernized aircraft entering service with the
Russian Air Force in December 2006. The idea behind the modernization was to expand the life
of the Su-25, make it All-Weather capable, more lethal and reduce operating and maintenance
cost. Increased ordnance loads and a wider selection were also added.
In September 2015 twelve Russian Su-25SM Frogfoot aircraft had been deployed to Hmeimim
(Khmeimim) airbase in Latakia province, Syria to support the Syrian Government in its battles with
ISIS and opposition forces. This was seen as an opportunity to test the Su-25SM in actual
combat conditions. Before leaving Syria in April 2016 the Su-25SM had flown 1,600 sorties and
dropped 6,000 bombs, mostly un-guided. In October 2016 the Frogfoot would once again return
to Syria but this time they were the latest up-graded variant, the Su-25SM3 “Super Rook”.
General Sukhoi Su-25 Specifications
Manufacturer – Sukhoi Design Bureau
Role – Close Air Support (CAS)
Number Built – 1,024
User Countries – Approximately 28
Crew – 1 (Pilot)
Dimensions
Length – 15.53 m (51 ft) including nose probe
Wingspan – 14.3 m (47 ft 2 in)
Height – 4.8 m (15 ft 9 in)
Weight
Empty – 9,800 kg (21,605 lbs)
Normal Take-Off – 14,400 kg (31,835 lbs)
Maximum Take-Off – 19,300 kg (42,549 lbs)
Performance
Power Plants – 2 X Soyuz/Tumansky R-195 Turbojets Producing 44.18 kN (9,921 lbf) Per
Engine
Maximum Speed – Mach .079 (975 km/h) (606 mph) @ Sea Level
Rate Of Climb – 58 m/s (11,400 ft/min)
Service Ceiling
Clean - 7,000 m (23,000 ft)
With Ordnance – 5,000 m (16,000 ft)
Range
Cruise Clean @ Altitude – 1,000 km (621 nmi)
Combat Range
750 km (405 nmi) @ Sea Level With 4,400 kg (9,700 lbs) Of Ordnance and 2 External Fuel
Tanks
Maximum G’s – 6.5 g+
Armament
Guns
1 X 30 mm Gryazev-Shipunov GSh-30-2 Auto-Cannon With 250 Rounds
SPPU-22 Gun Pods To House 2 X 23 mm Gryazev-Shipunov GSh-23 Auto-Cannons With 260
Rounds
Hard-Points
11 For Maximum Load of 4,400 kg (9,700 lbs) Of Various Combinations
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
K-13A
R-60
R-73E
Air-To-Surface
Kh-23
Kh-25ML
Kh-29L
Anti-Radiation
Kh-28
Bombs
FAB-250 GPB
FAB-500 GPB
KAB-500K TV-Guided
ZB-500 Incendiary
Other
ASO-2V Chaff and Flare Dispensers
Some Su-25 Deployed in Syria Carried 4 Rows of ASO-2V Dispensers Along Upper Tail Cone
Surface Behind Vertical Stabilizer
Radar – Phazoton Kopyo
Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series
HA6101
Su-25 SM "Frogfoot"
Red 24, Russian Air Force,
Latakia Air Base,
Syria, November 2015
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True 1/72 scale.
Professionally painted.
Great attention to detail.
All markings are Tampoed (pad applied).
Option to display the model on a stand that is provided.
Model can be shown with the landing gear in the down or up
positions.
Canopy can be displayed open or closed.
Pilot figure included.
Extremely heavy metal with a minimum of plastic.
Highly collectable.
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