This is one of the 2-seat trainer versions. In order to give the rear seat occupant a decent view, the back seat is raised high up, which gives all of the 2-seaters a hunchbacked appearance. The -UB can carry the same weapon load as the Su25, and also keeps the cannon. Su25UBK's are exported.

Same as the -UB, but stripped down without weapon capability inside or out- side.

-UTs built with an arrestor hook for naval training use. Of 10 built, the Ukrainians own 5, while one of the remaining Russian 5 was wrecked and written off. The 4 Russian -UTGs make individual flights out to the "Adm. of the Fleet Kuznetsov."

Standard Su25 with extra underwing pylons for use as a target tug.

All of the Su25 series (Frogfoots? Frogfeet?) feature a 24mm welded titanium cockpit armor tub, an air mixing duct system to cool engine exhaust, and other survivability features like foam-filled fuel tanks and pushrod-actuated control surfaces. In addition, 256 flares or chaff packets are carried near the rear of the aircraft in the tailcone and above the engine exhausts. The laser designator and target indicating electronics are carried in the extreme nose.

3 Su25UBs had the rear seat and cockpit fittings ripped out and the opening plated over. This space now holds a fuel cell and extra avionics. Russia owns the 20 built so far. The Su-39 is the Frogfoot with post-Afghan lessons applied. It can make automatic flights to and from its' destination, and has a TV camera system added in the nose allowing for automatic tracking. Weapon selection and release can also be done automatically. Chaff Packet and flare capacity is expanded by adding launchers to the wingtip pods, which were before just for airbrake units. Further IR protection is gained by adding a jammer optimized for Stinger and Redeye missiles in a large can-like housing under the rudder. Weapon-wise, the 30mm cannon is moved under the belly and has 50 fewer rounds. Added weapons on 10 pylons include 2 8-round capacity racks of AT9 anti armor missiles, laser-guided versions of Karen and Kedge, AS17 Krypton, and the AS11 Kilter anti radar missile. Also added were the laser-guided version of the S25 rocket and the KAB500 LGB.

Trainers and latest versions of Su-25 are build at Ulan-Ude plant (Siberia). Original Su-25 line in Tbilisi, Georgia ended up being abroad after disintegration of the Soviet Union. Every Frogfoot from Ulan-Ude carries a Bear emblem.

It has two turbojet engines -- 39.23 kN Tumanskiy/Soyuz R-95 in early production aircraft, 44.13 kN Tumanskiy/Soyuz R-195 engines in later aircraft. Armament is a twin-barrel 30mm cannon with 250 rounds, and up to 4400 kg (R-95 engines) or 6400 kg (R-195) payload on 10 underwing hardpoints.

Dimensions: Length 15.53 m, wingspan 14.36 m Weights: Empty 9500 kg, max t/o 17600 kg (R-95) or 19200 kg (R-195)

Known variants: (R-95 engines) Su-25 -- Original production ground attack aircraft Su-25K -- Export version of Su-25 Su-25UB -- Two-seat combat trainer Su-25UBK -- Export version of Su-25UB Su-25UBP -- Naval trainer based on Su-25UB Su-25UT -- Unarmed primary trainer (sometimes referred to as Su-28) Su-25UTG -- Naval trainer based on Su-25UT (R-195 engines) Su-25BM -- Enhanced ground attack aircraft (this is the current production version, and the most numerous in Russian service) Su-25T -- Proposed enhanced version with more armour, improved sensors, and possibly a new gun and engines Su-25TK -- Proposed export version of Su-25T

Just a couple of comments. The Su-25T/TK version was originally supposed to go into service as the Su-34, but that was eventually given to the Su-27IB "Flanker" bomber variant, and the Su-25T's production designation is Su-39.

Despite an early report that the program had been canceled, the 1994-5 Jane's reported that about 20 are in service with the Russian VVS, and deliveries are continuing.

Second, the Su-25BM was only used as a weapons trainer and target tug, and is not a very numerous variant. The most numerous in-service variant is the original Su-25, with about 450 in VVS service and another 100-200 having been exported.

Finally, the original pre-production machines which were deployed to Afghanistan for operational trials in the early 1980s were designed T-8, the Sukhoi OKB designation. The Su-39 pre-production aircraft were called T-8M.

Here are few more stories highlighting Su-25 roughness:

-Major Rubalov's Su-25 was hit in the engine which surged and flooded an engine bay with fuel, the cockpit was shattered, buster controls are gone and major's face covered with blood. None of the dials in the cockpit worked and his wingman guided him to the final approach. After belly landing, major rushed away from the Su-25 fearing that plane going to explode. After figuring that this is not going to happen, he got back to the aircraft and cut the engine.

-Another Su-25 was on fire which burned out most of the wiring and 95% of horizontal tail controls. In few moments before the landing, fire short cut the gear release wires and Su-25 made "conventional" landing.

-Lieutenant Golubtsov's Su-25 lost half of its rudder along with breaks. After landing his a/c ended up off runaway and rolled into adjacent mine field. He was forced to wait in the cockpit till mine squad cleared his way out.

-One Su-25 brought a missile in the engine which failed to detonate. (SAM?)

-Rutskoi's Su-25 was hit by AAA (ZGU) when a missile (Blowpipe) hit right engine (head on - it "turned off" the engine though the intake). Second AAA finally managed to shot it down. This is a second Frogfoot he flew (not the preproduction T-8-15 Blue 15 which was damaged twice). Rutskoi spent some time as Pakistani POW and was shortly exchanged.

Sources

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