The Soviet fighter-bombers in service or under development at this time (Su-7, Su-17, MiG-21 and MiG-23) did not meet the requirements for close air support of the army. The idea of creating a ground-support aircraft came about after analysing the experience of shturmovaya (attack) aviation during World War II, and in local wars during the 1950s and 1960s. In early 1968, the Soviet Ministry of Defence decided to develop a specialised shturmovik armoured assault aircraft in order to provide close air support for the Soviet Ground Forces. Eight years later, the Macedonian Air Force employed Su-25s against Albanian insurgents in the 2001 Macedonia conflict, and in 2008, Georgia and Russia reportedly used Su-25s in the South Ossetian conflict. In 1993, Abkhazian separatists used Su-25s against Georgians during the Abkhazian War. Most of them were later destroyed or fled to Iran in the 1991 Persian Gulf War. The Iraqi Air Force employed Su-25s against Iran during the 1980–89 Iran–Iraq War. It was heavily involved in the Soviet war in Afghanistan, flying counter-insurgency missions against the Mujahideen. It is currently in service with Russia and various other CIS states as well as export customers.ĭuring its more than twenty-five years in service, the Su-25 has seen combat with several air forces. By year 2007, the Su-25 is the only armoured airplane still in production except the Su-34 whose production just started. Upgraded variants developed by Sukhoi include the Su-25T and the further improved Su-25TM (also known as Su-39). Russian air and ground forces nicknamed it "Grach" ("Rook").Įarly variants included the Su-25UB two-seat trainer, the Su-25BM for target-towing, and the Su-25K for export customers. After testing, the aircraft went into series production in 1978 at Tbilisi in the Soviet Republic of Georgia. The first prototype made its maiden flight on 22 February 1975. It was designed to provide close air support for the Soviet Ground Forces. The Sukhoi Su-25 (NATO reporting name: Frogfoot) is a single-seat, twin-engine jet aircraft developed in the Soviet Union by the Sukhoi Design Bureau.
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