The Sukhoi Su-25 ‘Frogfoot’ was
developed as a rugged close air
support aircraft. It too has been
upgraded with modest projects
to help keep it relevant for more
modern campaigns.T
HE SU 25 ‘FROGFOOT’ is a
single-seat, heavily armored,
subsonic close air support
(CAS) aircraft. Early in the
Syrian campaign, the Su-25
was, along with the Su-24, the
most numerous aircraft in the Russian
contingent in the country — 12 Su-25SM/
UB attack aircraft from the 960th Attack
Aviation Regiment at Primorsko-Akhtarsk
were initially stationed in Syria. Under
the ‘ rst withdrawal’ of the Russian forces
from Syria in March 2016, all the Su-
25s returned to Russia. Later, a handful
returned to Syria, but never more than
four jets. One may speculate that the
Su-25s turned out to be much less useful
there than the Su-24s and Su-34s. For
example, the weapon loads carried by the
Su-25s were surprising small. They usually
ew with just four 250kg (551lb) bombs,
although they are capable of carrying up
to four tonnes of weapons.
The Su-25 began its combat career
in Afghanistan. Two test aircraft, T8-1D
and T8-3, were deployed to Shindand,
Afghanistan, for trials in April 1980. In June
1981, the rst full operational squadron of
12 aircraft was deployed there. During the84 August 2018 //^ http://www.combataircraft.net
FORCE REPORT // RUSSIAN TACTICAL BOMBERS
80-87 Russian Strikers C.indd 84 21/06/2018 13:51