The engineering solutions incorporated in the Soviet Su-25 ("Rook") attack aircraft still give it an advantage. It is a "tank with wings" capable of withstanding any load. This was written by military expert Boyko Nikolov in an article for Bulgarian Military.
The Su-25 was created for one task - to support ground troops by destroying enemy targets. Want to shoot it down? Good luck! The legendary Il-2 set high standards for the attack aircraft.
In the 1970s, the two-seat Fairchild-Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II attack aircraft appeared in the United States. Its direct competitor was the Soviet Su-25.
The aerodynamics of the Su-25 are amazing. The attack aircraft is maneuverable, but stable at subsonic speeds. The pilot's cabin is covered with welded ABVТ-20 aviation titanium armor. Its thickness varies from 10 to 24 millimeters.
Afghanistan became a testing ground for the "Rooks". Soviet pilots in Su-25s flew almost 60 thousand sorties. In addition, the attack aircraft was actively used in conflicts in Chechnya and Georgia.
Nikolov emphasized that Russia is not going to withdraw the Su-25 from service. On the contrary, the aircraft are being modified to the Su-25SM version.
Su-25 characteristics:
- Engines — 2 х ТРД Р-195
- Maximum speed — up to 1000 km/h
- Combat load — up to 4500 kg
- 10 suspension points
- Armament — 30-mm twin-barreled GSh-30-2 cannon, aerial bombs, unguided S-5, S-8 missiles, guided Kh-25ML, R-3, R-60 missiles
- Practical ceiling — up to 7000 m
- Maximum combat altitude — up to 5000 m
Read more on the topic:
- The National Interest: Russia has begun production of Su-34 fighters for Algeria
- Decoy tanks with a thermal signature and decoy drones: The National Interest praised Russia for its ability to use false targets
- The National Interest: Russia has proven that Yasen and Yasen-M project submarines are capable of sinking American Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carriers
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