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 2014 civil unrest began in Crimea and Russia annexed the area. Russian sympathizers
launched attacks throughout parts of the Ukraine and Ukraine forces reacted. On July 2, 2014,
returning from a sortie in Eastern Ukraine Su-25M1 Blue 06, assigned to the 299th Aviation
Brigade at Nikolaev, Kulbakino Airport (UKOR) crashed at Dneproptrovsk Airport with the pilot
safely ejecting. The crash was listed as “due to technical difficulties” but was likely caused by
ground fire. Ukrainian Air Force Blue 06 MSN 10121 c/n 25508110121 was the first Su-25 with
the pixel paint scheme.

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

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