Hobby Master HA6108 | Sukhoi SU-25M1 Frogfoot Blue 08, Ukrainian Air Force

General Background:

In 1999 Russia decided to upgrade their aging Su-25 aircraft with actual work beginning in 2001. The first of the upgraded aircraft designated Su-25SM (Stroyevoy Modernizirovannyi) Grach (Rook) flew on March 3, 2002 with the first six modernized aircraft entering service with the Russian Air Force in December 2006. The idea behind the modernization was to expand the life of the Su-25, make it All-Weather capable, more lethal and reduce operating and maintenance cost. Increased ordnance loads and a wider selection were also added.

The Aircraft:

The 299th Tactical Aviation Regiment (299 BrTA) is based at Mykolaiv/Kulbakino AB. In March 2010 the unit received its first modernized Su-25s, two single-seat Su-25M1s and one Su-25UBM1. The upgrade consists of new GPS, radios, modern calculator sight and pixelated paint scheme. All Su-25s returning to service after March 2013 will have the new pixelated scheme so aircraft numbers blue 07, 08, 38 and 40 returned that year. On August 29, 2014 Su-25M1 Blue 08 c/n 25508110284 was shot down near Starobeshevo by a Russian missile, the pilot ejected safely.

General Sukhoi Su-25 Specifications
Manufacturer – Sukhoi Design Bureau
Role – Close Air Support (CAS)
Number Built – 1,024
User Countries – Approximately 28
Crew – 1 (Pilot)
Dimensions
Length – 15.53 m (51 ft) including nose probe
Wingspan – 14.3 m (47 ft 2 in)
Height – 4.8 m (15 ft 9 in)
Weight
Empty – 9,800 kg (21,605 lbs)
Normal Take-Off – 14,400 kg (31,835 lbs)
Maximum Take-Off – 19,300 kg (42,549 lbs)
Performance
Power Plants – 2 X Soyuz/Tumansky R-195 Turbojets Producing 44.18 kN (9,921 lbf) Per Engine
Maximum Speed – Mach .079 (975 km/h) (606 mph) @ Sea Level Rate Of Climb – 58 m/s (11,400 ft/min)
Service Ceiling
Clean - 7,000 m (23,000 ft)
With Ordnance – 5,000 m (16,000 ft)
Range
Cruise Clean @ Altitude – 1,000 km (621 nmi)
Combat Range 750 km (405 nmi) @ Sea Level With 4,400 kg (9,700 lbs) Of Ordnance and 2 External Fuel Tanks Maximum G’s – 6.5 g+
Armament
Guns 1 X 30 mm Gryazev-Shipunov GSh-30-2 Auto-Cannon With 250 Rounds
SPPU-22 Gun Pods To House 2 X 23 mm Gryazev-Shipunov GSh-23 Auto-Cannons With 260 Rounds
Hard-Points
11 For Maximum Load of 4,400 kg (9,700 lbs) Of Various Combinations
Rockets
UB-32A Rocket Pods For S-5 Rockets
B-8M1 Rocket Pods For S-8 Rockets S-13 S-24 S-25
Missiles
Air-To-Air K-13A R-60 R-73E
Air-To-Surface
Kh-23 Kh-25ML Kh-29L
Anti-Radiation
Kh-28
Bombs
FAB-250 GPB FAB-500 GPB KAB-500K TV-Guided ZB-500 Incendiary
Other
ASO-2V Chaff and Flare Dispensers
Some Su-25 Deployed in Syria Carried 4 Rows of ASO-2V Dispensers Along Upper Tail Cone Surface Behind Vertical Stabilizer
Radar – Phazoton Kopyo