At a recent parade dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the DPRK Air Force, experts' attention was drawn to Su-25 attack aircraft equipped with new high-precision air-to-surface missiles.
Each aircraft's suspension unit carries three compact guided missiles. By their external features and layout, the munitions resemble Iranian Ghaem-114s — a clone of American AGM-114 Hellfire missiles, developed by Tehran based on captured or smuggled samples. If the assumption is confirmed, this will be further evidence of the deepening military-technical cooperation between North Korea and Iran.
The integration of such missiles on the Su-25 significantly expands the tactical capabilities of the attack aircraft: it gains the ability to deliver pinpoint strikes against armored vehicles, fortified positions, and other high-value targets with minimal risk to the crew.
Previously, North Korean Su-25s were mainly equipped with unguided rockets and bombs, which limited their effectiveness in modern combat conditions.
Su-25 "Grach" — a Soviet single-seat attack aircraft developed by the Sukhoi Design Bureau in the 1970s for direct support of ground forces.
Some characteristics:
- length — 15.36 m;
- height — 4.8 m;
- weight without ammunition — 9315 kg;
- wingspan — 14.36 m, area — 30.1 sq. m;
- maximum speed — 950 km/h;
- practical range — up to 1250 km;
- crew — 1 pilot.