UNITED24 - Make a charitable donation in support of Ukraine!

Military


Su-25 Variants

The military already realized then that the future belonged to aircraft equipped with a wide range of high-precision weapons and capable of using them effectively. Therefore, work on the project for the “advanced” version of the Su-25 started in 1979, that is, even before the end of state tests of the base aircraft, which ended in 1981.

Su-25 single-seat variants

  1. Su-25 (Frogfoot A) -- Original production ground attack aircraft with R-95 engines, 582 built. The basic version of the Su-25 was produced at Factory 31 in Tbilisi. Between 1978 and 1989, 582 single-seat Su-25s were produced in Georgia, not including aircraft prepared under the Su-25K export program. This aircraft variant forms the basis of the Russian Air Force`s and Navy`s attack aircraft. The aircraft has experienced a number of accidents during operational duty, caused by unsuccessful weapon firings. As a result of these incidents, the use of its main armament, the 240-mm S-24 rockets, was banned. Therefore, its main armament became 500-kg general-purpose FAB-500 bombs.
  2. Su-25 -- recce aircraft (project)
  3. Su-25B -- (project)
  4. Su-25BM: Target tug, 50 built. The Su-25BM (Target Tug) is a variant for target towing, the development of which was initiated in Ukraine in 1986. The prototype, named “T-8BM1”, successfully flew for the first time on March 22, 1990 in Tbilisi, and the aircraft was put into production after completing the testing phase. Su-25BM turret was designed to provide target towing for the training of ground forces and naval personnel for “ground-air” or naval anti-aircraft missile systems. It is designed for engines from the R-195 and engines equipped with long-range navigation systems RSDN-10, an analogue of the western LORAN system.
  5. Su-25BM -- Enhanced ground attack aircraft with R-195 engines, this is the final production version, and the most numerous in Russian service
  6. Su-25K -- shipborne catapult - assisted attack aircraft (project)
  7. Su-25K -- Export version of Su-25 (commercial). The main Su-25 model was used as the basis for a commercial export variant known as the Su-25K (“Commercial”). This model was also built at Factory 31 in Tbilisi. These aircraft differ from the version for Soviet Air Forces in some minor details, mostly in their internal equipment. A total of 180 to 185 Su-25K aircraft were built between 1984 and 1989. The Su-25K was also referred to as the shipborne variant project.
  8. Su-25KM (Commercial Modernized), nicknamed "Scorpion," is an upgraded version of the Su-25. It was announced in early 2001 in Tbilisi, in partnership with Elbit (Israel). The prototype of the aircraft made its first flight on April 18, 2001, in Tbilisi with Georgian Air Force markings. These planes use the standard Su-25 airframe, with advanceded avionics, including a glass cockpit, digital map generator, helmet-mounted display, and computerized weapon systems. The improvements also include increased accuracy of the navigation system, compatible with NATO standards. Several planes were released to the Georgian Air Force under the pseudonym “Mimino” (Sparrowhawk).
  9. Su-25M1 is a Ukrainian modernization of the Su-25. Modernized Ukrainian-made equipment was installed, including satellite navigation, a new Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS), a modernized radio station, and a modern sight.
  10. Su-25SM3 modification was developed in 2013-2014. The Su-25SM3 variant differs significantly from previous modifications of the Su-25SM both in terms of armanent and on-board equipment. The cockpit is equipped with a multifunctional display. The aircraft is equipped with the “Vitebsk-25” electronic warfare system, the “Salt-25” thermal-imaging laser rangefinder, and a significantly expanded range of aviation weapons systems. Unlike previous modifications, the Su-25SM3 is capable of destroying small moving and stationary ground targets without visual visibility in complex weather conditions, as well as air targets. The Su-25SM3 and Su-25UBM2 modifications are capable of using laser-guided missiles such as the Kh-58USH, Kh-25ML, and Kh-29L, television-guided missiles such as the Kh-29T/TD/TE, as well as guided bombs such as the KAB-500S (satellite-guided) and KAB-500KR (correlation video camera guided). Air targets can be hit by the R-73 missile.
  11. Su-25R (“Reconnaissance”) is a tactical reconnaissance variant. The project was developed in 1978 but was never built.
  12. Su-25T ("Su-34"): All-weather variant. The Su-25T (“Tank”) is a specialized anti-tank version that was quite successful during the Chechen War. Su-25T was esigned on the basis of the Su-25UB combat training airframe. An additional fuel tank and Shkval system equipment were placed in place for the second crew member. The developers returned to the one-seater scheme, placing additional avionics in the place of the second pilot. The Su-25T was equipped with new R-195 engines, which are an improved version of the R-95 from the base Su-25. The engines still did not have an afterburner, which was not required for a subsonic attack aircraft.
  13. Su-25T (Su-25TM Tankovyi Modifitsirovannyi, Antitank) -- Proposed enhanced version with more armor, improved sensors, and possibly a new gun and engines [Su-25T's production designation is Su-39, up to 22 built.]
  14. Su-25TK -- Proposed export version of Su-25T tank-buster
  15. Su-25TM ("Su-39" strike shield): Improved all-weather multirole export version variant, three built.
  16. Su-25SM: Russian Air Force single-seater upgrade with improved avionics.
  17. Su-25KM Scorpion: TAM/Elbit upgrade demonstrator, one update from older single-seater.
  18. Su-25SM - A Su-25 upgrade. The Su-25SM may be the most effective means to support the Syrian government forces in the fight against the group "Islamic State", just as the US used the A-10 attack aircraft to support the Iraqi authorities.
  19. Su-25SM3 - There is also a modernization program for the Su-25SM3, according to which the aircraft receives the SOLT-25 optical system (analogous to Shkval) and an optical-electronic missile countermeasures system with an infrared seeker. Thus, the aircraft is approaching the capabilities of the Su-25T developed more than 30 years ago, but cannot use Whirlwinds.
  20. Su-39 is an anti-tank attack aircraft, further development of the Su-25T. It is equipped with the “Spis-25” (Kopyo-25) radar station in an external container.

Su-25 two-seat variants

  1. Su-25U (“Training”) is a training version of the Su-25, produced in Georgia from 1996 to 1998. Three planes were built.
  2. Su-25UB (Frogfoot B) (UB - Uchebno-Boevoi, Combat Trainer) -- Two-seat combat trainer, possibly 130 to 180 built.
  3. Su-25UBK -- Export version of Su-25UB, possibly 20 built. From 1986 to 1989, in parallel with the construction of the main Su-25UB modification for combat training, the Ulan-Ude plant produced the so-called “commercial” Su-25UBK, intended for export to countries that had purchased the Su-25K, with corresponding design changes. Su-25UB (“Training-Combat”) is a two-seater training modification created in 1977. It is designed for pilot training and practice. The maximum takeoff weight is 18,500 kg, and it can perform combat missions in full. Approximately 350 units were produced. The first prototype called the “T-8UB-1” was completed in July 1985. Its first flight was made from the Ulan-Ude airfield on August 12 of the same year. It was designed for training and evaluating the skills of regular pilots, as well as for training pilot cadets of Soviet Air Forces flight schools. The effectiveness of the Su-25UB differs insignificantly from the single-seater modification. The two-seater version's navigation equipment, weapons and sighting devices, as well as fire control systems, make it suitable for both flight training and combat training tasks. By the end of 1986, a total of 25 Su-25UBs had been prodused in Ulan-Ude, although by that time state tests had not yet been completed, and thus the aircraft had not yet been adopted by the Soviet Air Force.
  4. Su-25UBP -- Naval trainer based on Su-25UB
  5. Su-25UT (Frogfoot B) (UT - Uchebno-Trenirovochnyi, Trainer) -- Unarmed primary trainer (sometimes referred to as Su-28). Proposed DOSAAF trainer, one conversion from Su-24UB.
  6. Su-25UTG (Frogfoot B) (UTG - Uchebno-Trenirovochnyi Gakovyi, Trainer Naval) -- Naval trainer based on Su-25UT, with ruggedized landing gear and arresting hook. Ten built. The Su-25UTG (Training-Combat with Hook) is a variant of the Su-25UB designed for training pilots in takeoff and landing on land with an artificial deck, as well as on inclined ski jumps. The first one flew in September 1988, and about ten were produced. About half of them remained in Russian service after 1991, and are used by Russia from the only aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov. This small number of aircraft was insufficient to meet the needs of the professional training of the Russian air carrier, so several Su-25UBs were converted to Su-25UTG, these aircraft are also designated Su-25UBP (Training-Combat Deck-Based) the adjective “deck-based” indicating that these aircraft perform a naval function. Currently, ten of these aircraft serve in the Russian naval aviation as part of the 279th naval aviation regiment.
  7. Su-25UBP: Su-25UTG with inflight refueling probe, ten to be built as conversions of Su-25UBs, unclear if any were.
  8. Su-25UBM: Russian Air Force two-seater upgrade with improved avionics, program in progress.
  9. Su-25UZ -- Russian Troika three-seat trainer (project)
  10. Su-25U3 (“3-seat trainer”), also known as the “Ukrainian Trio,” was a project whose development was suspended in 1991 due to a lack of funding.
  11. Su-28 (also Su-25UT - training) is a light aircraft project developed in 1981 to replace the Czechoslovak Aero L-39 Albatros. The only capable prototype was built in 1987 based on the Su-25UB as a private initiative of Sukhoi Design Bureau. Unlike the basic Su-25UB, the aircraft lacks combat equipment: weapons, armor, and engines. In the early 1990s, due to financial problems, the project was frozen and then permanently closed. It was not produced in series.



NEWSLETTER
Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list