19 Facts About Sukhoi Su-25

Sukhoi Su-25 Grach is a subsonic, single-seat, twin-engine jet aircraft developed in the Soviet Union by Sukhoi.

Recently, the Sukhoi Su-25 has seen service in the Russian intervention in the Syrian Civil War, the clashes of the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh War, and the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Sukhoi Su-25 finalised its "T-8" design in late 1968, and began in work on the first two prototypes in January 1972.

The Sukhoi Su-25 surpassed its main competitor in the Soviet Air Force competition, the Ilyushin Il-102, and series production was announced by the Ministry of Defence.

All versions of the Sukhoi Su-25 have a metal cantilever wing, of moderate sweep, high aspect ratio and equipped with high-lift devices.

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The fuselage of the Sukhoi Su-25 has an ellipsoidal section and is of semi-monocoque, stressed-skin construction, arranged as a longitudinal load-bearing framework of longerons, beams and stringers, with a transverse load-bearing assembly of frames.

Early versions of the Sukhoi Su-25 were equipped with two R-95Sh non-afterburning turbojets, in compartments on either side of the rear fuselage.

Sukhoi Su-25 often has radios installed for air-to-ground and air-to-air communications, including an SO-69 identification-friend-or-foe transponder.

In one recorded incident, an Iraqi Sukhoi Su-25 was shot down by an Iranian, Hawk surface-to-air missile, but the pilot managed to eject.

On 15 May 2000, An Ethiopian Sukhoi Su-25 was shot down by an Eritrean Air Force MiG-29, killing the pilot.

On 6 November 2004, at least one Ivorian Sukhoi Su-25 attacked a unit of France's Unicorn peacekeeping forces stationed in Bouake at 1300, killing nine soldiers, a US development worker and wounding 37 soldiers.

On 16 July 2014, an Sukhoi Su-25 was shot down, with Ukrainian officials stating that a Russian MiG-29 shot it down using a R-27T missile.

In September 2015, it was reported that at least a dozen Sukhoi 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.

On 3 February 2018 a Russian Sukhoi Su-25 was shot down over Idlib by rebel fighters who used a MANPADS.

On 29 September 2020, Armenian Defense Ministry claimed that an Armenian Air Force Sukhoi Su-25 was shot down by a Turkish Air Force F-16, killing the pilot.

On 4 October 2020, an Azerbaijani Air force Sukhoi Su-25 aircraft was shot down, by Armenian forces, probably by a 9K33 Osa while targeting Armenian positions in Fuzuli.

In 2021, Sukhoi Su-25 aircraft were reported deployed with the 100th Independent Shipborne Fighter Aviation Regiment of the same fleet.

The aircraft uses a standard Sukhoi Su-25 airframe, enhanced with advanced avionics including a glass cockpit, digital map generator, helmet-mounted display, computerised weapons system, complete mission pre-plan capability, and fully redundant backup modes.

Sukhoi Su-25 has been involved in the following notable aviation accidents.