Overview

The Sukhoi Su-25 Frogfoot is one of the world's most effective close support aircraft and is the only true armoured attack aircraft still in production in 2003. The Russian definition of this category of aircraft is shturmovik. The state trials of the aircraft were completed in December 1980 and it became operational in the following year. During the production run a number of improvements were incorporated, derived from experience gained during operations in the Russian campaign against Afghanistan. The wing, undercarriage and rear fuselage were reinforced and more armour plating was also added. The Gavrilov R-95Sh engines were replaced by the more powerful and ""cooler"" running R-195, with a longer overhaul life and better serviceability. The new engines still retained the capability of burning gasoline, diesel or kerosene as fuel. The last 50 production examples of the Su-25 were equipped with this variant of engine. Throughout the entire Afghan campaign, Su-25s launched a total of 139 guided missiles of all types against Mujahideen positions. On average each aircraft performed 360 sorties per year, which was considerably higher than any other combat type in Afghanistan. By the end of the war, the number of Su-25s deployed to Afghanistan had reached around 50 and they had carried out a total of 60,000 sorties.

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9781840373530

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Yefim Gordon is THE acknowledged expert on Russian military aviation. He has studied Russian (and Soviet) aviation history for the last thirty years. His previous books for Airlife include MiG-29 FULCRUM (1840370289), Su-27 FLANKER (1840370297), and Mil Mi HIND ATTACK HELICOPTER (1840372389). He lives in Moscow. Alan Dawes is a professionally qualified translator of Russian who has studied Russian military aviation since the 1960s. He currently writes for two UK aviation magazines and lives in Cambridgeshire.

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