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Sukhoi Su-25

Sukhoi · Fighter / Attack · Russia · Cold War (1970–1991)

Sukhoi Su-25 — Fighter / Attack
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The Sukhoi Su-25 (NATO reporting name Frogfoot) is a Soviet and Russian twin-engine close-air-support and ground-attack aircraft developed by the Sukhoi Design Bureau, available in single-seat and two-seat trainer configurations. Production began in 1981 and continues to this day. Soviet Air Force units fielded the type from 1981, and the Su-25 has since served as the dedicated CAS platform for Soviet, Russian, and export operators — filling the same role and embracing the same design philosophy as the U.S. A-10 Thunderbolt II. Around 1,024 Su-25 family aircraft have rolled off the line, and the type remains in active service with Russia, Ukraine, and 25+ foreign air arms worldwide.

Configuration is conventional for its mission: twin engines, mid-mounted wings, and either a single-seat (Su-25T) or two-seat (Su-25UB / Su-25KM) cockpit. Length runs roughly 50 ft (15.5 m) with a 47-ft (14.4 m) wingspan. Empty weight is around 21,500 lb against a maximum take-off weight of 38,800 lb. Two Soyuz/Tumansky R-95Sh non-afterburning turbojets each produce roughly 9,920 lbf — modest thrust, deliberately chosen for fuel economy and reliability rather than raw speed. Top speed is about 590 mph (Mach 0.81, subsonic), combat radius about 250 nmi with a full weapons load, and service ceiling 23,000 ft. A titanium 'bathtub' wraps the cockpit (the same concept as the A-10's depleted-uranium tub, but in titanium), engineered to defeat 12.7 mm armour-piercing rounds. Under-fuselage armament centres on a 30 mm GSh-30-2 twin-barrel cannon, with 11 external hardpoints carrying up to 4,400 kg (~9,700 lb) of stores: AT-2 / AT-6 anti-tank guided missiles, R-60 / R-73 air-to-air missiles, S-25L / S-13 / S-8 rocket pods, conventional bombs, and other low-altitude ordnance.

The aircraft's central mission is direct fires for ground forces in permissive air-defence environments. Heavy armour, twin-engine survivability, simple ground handling, and low cost reflect a Soviet doctrine that, like A-10 doctrine, favoured sustained CAS over high-end performance. Few Soviet, Russian, or export combat types have seen as much fighting: the Su-25 has been continuously used in conflicts since 1981. It still serves counter-insurgency, counter-narcotics, conventional CAS in moderately permissive airspace, and other battlefield-strike roles.

Combat history is long. Soviet Su-25s flew thousands of CAS sorties during the Soviet-Afghan War (1979–1989), taking losses to ground fire and U.S.-supplied Stinger missiles. Iraqi Su-25s flew during the Iran-Iraq War. African operators including Ethiopia, Sudan, and Angola have employed the type in their own conflicts. Russian Su-25s flew in the Chechen wars and the 2008 Russia-Georgia War. Both Russian and Ukrainian Su-25s have fought — and been lost — in the Russia-Ukraine war (2014–present). Of the roughly 1,024 Su-25 / Su-25T / Su-25UB / Su-25KM built, Russia continues to upgrade existing airframes through the Su-25SM and Su-25SM3 programmes. Original production at the Tbilisi Aviation Plant in Georgia (1981–1991) ended with the Soviet collapse; upgrade work has since shifted to Russian facilities. Foreign operators, past and present, total around 25 nations.

For Kids — a shorter, friendlier version

The Sukhoi Su-25 Frogfoot is a tough Russian attack jet built to help soldiers on the ground. It flies low and slow, hunting tanks and trucks. Its job is the same as the American A-10 Warthog, and the two planes are often compared.

The Su-25 has thick armor wrapped around the pilot and engines. It can keep flying even after taking heavy damage. One Frogfoot landed safely after taking dozens of hits, a tribute to how strong it is built.

Under each wing the Su-25 carries bombs, rockets, and a long 30 mm cannon in the nose. It flies at about 590 mph, slower than most fighter jets. Slow speed is actually helpful here, because the pilot needs time to find small targets on the ground.

About 1,024 Su-25s were built starting in 1978. The plane has flown in Afghanistan, Chechnya, Georgia, and Ukraine. Russia, Ukraine, and many other countries still fly it today.

Fun Facts

  • The Frogfoot's titanium cockpit tub can stop bullets from a heavy machine gun.
  • The plane got its name 'Frogfoot' from NATO; Russian pilots call it Grach, which means 'rook' (a bird).
  • Soviet Su-25s flew over 60,000 sorties during the Afghan war in the 1980s.
  • The Su-25's two engines are placed far apart so a hit on one won't damage the other.
  • Late versions can carry laser-guided bombs that hit targets the size of a car door.
  • The Russian air force still flew Su-25s in combat in Ukraine in 2022 and 2024.
  • An export version called the Su-25K was sold to Iraq, Bulgaria, and North Korea.

Kids’ Questions

Why does the Frogfoot have so much armor?

Attack jets fly very low over enemy soldiers, so people on the ground often shoot at them. The Su-25 was built to soak up hits and still fly home. Its cockpit is wrapped in a thick titanium tub that bullets can't pass through.

Is it like the American A-10 Warthog?

Yes, the Su-25 and A-10 do the same job and look similar in size and shape. Both fly low, attack tanks, and carry a big cannon. The A-10's gun is bigger, but the Su-25 is a little faster.

How heavy is its gun?

The Su-25's GSh-30-2 cannon fires 30 mm shells, each as long as a small soda bottle. It can punch through the armor on the top of a tank, which is thinner than the front.

Variants

Su-25 (initial 'Frogfoot-A', 1981)
The original 1981 production model with R-95Sh engines. Over 600 were built for the Soviet Air Force and export customers, forming the backbone of Soviet CAS through the 1980s and 1990s.
Su-25T (anti-tank variant)
Anti-tank specialist introduced in 1986 with upgraded mission systems, a new cockpit, and compatibility for the AT-9 anti-tank missile. Built in limited numbers.
Su-25UB / Su-25UBK (two-seat trainer)
Two-seat conversion trainer, with roughly 190 built. Used by Soviet, Russian, and export operators for Su-25 type conversion.
Su-25KM 'Scorpion' (upgraded)
Upgrade fitted with Israeli IAI / Elbit avionics. Roughly 10 were brought to this standard for Georgia. Limited production.
Su-25SM / Su-25SM3 (Russian upgrade, 2007+)
Russia's domestic upgrade family, with reworked cockpit, refreshed mission systems, and broader weapons compatibility. Over 50 Russian airframes have been brought to SM or SM3 standard, and these are the principal Su-25 variants in Russian Aerospace Forces service today.

Notable Operators

Russian Aerospace Forces
Largest operator, with 150+ Su-25 / Su-25SM / Su-25SM3 in active service across multiple regiments. Heavily committed to combat in the Russia-Ukraine war from 2022, with losses.
Ukrainian Air Force
Operates 30–50 Su-25, committed to combat throughout the Russia-Ukraine war from 2014. Losses have been offset by reinforcement under international military assistance.
Foreign / international operators (~25+ nations)
Angola, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bulgaria, Chad, Côte d'Ivoire, Czech Republic (former), Democratic Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Georgia, Iraq (former), Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, North Korea, Peru, Russia, Slovakia (former), Sudan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan have all flown the Su-25, alongside other historical operators.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Su-25 compare to A-10 Thunderbolt II?

Both are dedicated CAS aircraft of the same era and design philosophy. The A-10 Thunderbolt II pairs twin TF34 turbofans with the GAU-8 Avenger 30 mm seven-barrel cannon, AGM-65 Maverick missiles, and a depleted-uranium 'bathtub'. The Su-25 'Frogfoot' uses twin R-95Sh turbojets, a GSh-30-2 30 mm twin-barrel cannon, Vikhr / Ataka anti-tank missiles, and a titanium 'bathtub'. The A-10 carries heavier armour, more ammunition, better weapons, and superior avionics and sensors. The Su-25 counters with lower operating cost, simpler maintenance, and broad availability to non-NATO customers. Both have seen extensive combat from Cold War proxy fights to the current Russia-Ukraine war.

What was Su-25's role in Soviet-Afghan War?

Soviet Su-25s flew thousands of ground-attack sorties against the Afghan Mujahideen between 1981 and 1989, succeeding early on against poorly-equipped opposition before facing mounting losses to U.S.-supplied Stinger surface-to-air missiles after 1986. Total Soviet Su-25 losses in Afghanistan came to around 23 — fewer than Mi-24 losses, thanks to the type's robust airframe and heavy armour, which absorbed hits that would have downed lighter aircraft. Alongside the Mi-24, Tu-22M3, and other types, the Su-25 gave Soviet forces sustained CAS and interdiction coverage, even though the war's outcome went the other way. Afghanistan cemented the aircraft's reputation for ruggedness and utility.

Has Su-25 been combat-deployed in Russia-Ukraine war?

Yes, heavily, and on both sides. Since 2014, Russian Aerospace Forces and Ukrainian Air Force units have flown Su-25, Su-25SM, and Su-25M1 (the Ukrainian upgrade) in combat. Both sides have lost airframes to MANPADS such as Stinger and Igla, and to other ground-based threats. Russian Su-25SM3s have been used against Ukrainian armoured forces, while Ukrainian Su-25M1s have been progressively integrated with Western weapons including the AGM-88 HARM anti-radiation missile and JDAM — weapons the original Soviet-built airframes never had. The war has produced a body of frontline experience with the Su-25 in a modern peer-conflict environment.

Why do Russia + Ukraine both operate Su-25?

Soviet legacy. When the Soviet Union dissolved in 1991, the Su-25 fleet was divided among successor states according to basing. Russia inherited the airframes operated by the Soviet Air Force; Ukraine inherited those stationed at Ukrainian airfields. Both have flown the type ever since — Russia through the Su-25SM and SM3 upgrades, Ukraine through its Su-25M1 programme. Since 2014, Russian and Ukrainian Su-25 family aircraft have fought on opposite sides, sometimes over the same airspace, with reported air-to-air engagements between Frogfoots.

How long can Su-25 stay airborne?

Typical mission endurance is about 2–3 hours flying a ground-attack profile with a weapons load, and combat radius runs to roughly 250 nmi. That relatively short reach reflects the Su-25's design priorities — payload, ruggedness, and low cost over outright range. For sorties launched from forward bases near the front, it is enough. In practice, the aircraft depends on forward basing close to the fight, which limits long-range deployment flexibility against longer-legged platforms. Combat radius has not been extended across the upgrade variants.

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