Su-25 attack aircraft

Whatever happened to the talk of new production Su-25UBMs?

I have been trying to get information on new production Su-25 but no details. Production should take place in Ulan-Ude, as the other capable factory is in Georgia. Alexander Mladenov states in his book (Su-25 - Osprey publishing) that the new aircraft will be received in 2015.

Su-25s were mostly hit by MANPADS in Georgia. Modernizing the bird without the full DIRCM suit like on the Ka-52 is pointless IMO. At low alt MANPADs are still the most common threat.

Ukraine is a good example. Ukrainian upgrade focuses on targeting system (30% improvement) but does not include a defence suit. A 1/3 of the active fleet has been shot down by MANPADS. Ukraine is definitely going to struggle activating Su-25 because facility that performed overhauled/modernizations is in Crimea.

Su-25 landing on highway. Primorsky Krai

16 x Su-25SM3 entered service with a regiment of the Southern Military District

http://military-industry.ru/aviation/3413

does anyone have info for the total number of su-25 serving in Russian air force?

Probably approaching 100 by now...but it's just my rough estimate. Haven't kept up with reports lately.

Cyberspec wrote:Probably approaching 100 by now...but it's just my rough estimate. Haven't kept up with reports lately.

so low? i thought it would be around 200

Inside the Su-25SM3

5 Su-25SM given to Russian air base in Kyrgyzstan

Five "Rooks" Su-25SM expanded membership base "Kant" in Kyrgyzstan

Krasnodar military base received 16 Su-25SM3 during 2014

Half old aircraft airbase near Krasnodar replaced by a new modification of the Su-25

It is getting more difficult to keep tracking numbers but they seems to be bigger than ever

Russia Tests GLONASS on Su-25SM Bombers

Su-25SM3 at Finish Line

Upgraded Su-25SM3 fighter bomber is preparing to undergo flight testing.

“At the present time we are preparing routine tests of attack aircraft, which are expected to start in the first half of this year,” the Military-Industrial Courier reports, citing a source in the military-industrial complex. According to him, “the control tests will finally pave the way for the beginning of the serial modernization of Su-25 fighter bombers into a modification Su-25SM3.”

“Modification of the Su-25SM3 was the result of a complex flight tests in 2013 and 2014. Option Su-25SM3 seriously differs even from the previously modernized Su-25SM because of armament and on-board equipment,” the source said. He reported that the Su-25SM complex receives a set of electronic warfare “Vitebsk-25″, the nomenclature of aircraft weapons is greatly expanded.

George1 wrote:Su-25SM3 at Finish Line

Upgraded Su-25SM3 fighter bomber is preparing to undergo flight testing.

“At the present time we are preparing routine tests of attack aircraft, which are expected to start in the first half of this year,” the Military-Industrial Courier reports, citing a source in the military-industrial complex. According to him, “the control tests will finally pave the way for the beginning of the serial modernization of Su-25 fighter bombers into a modification Su-25SM3.”

“Modification of the Su-25SM3 was the result of a complex flight tests in 2013 and 2014. Option Su-25SM3 seriously differs even from the previously modernized Su-25SM because of armament and on-board equipment,” the source said. He reported that the Su-25SM complex receives a set of electronic warfare “Vitebsk-25″, the nomenclature of aircraft weapons is greatly expanded.

Sound really nice.

Why would a CAS aircraft need a EW complex?

For jamming/disabling MANPADs or short-range AA?

EDIT: I looked up the Vitebsk-25 and it seems that my guess is correct. Actually it's for both; it basically consists of a Radar jammer and also an IR-dazzler for use against MANPADs

New Su-25SM3 will start to roll out from the factory starting Q4 2015


Production of modernized Su-25SM3 begin in the fourth quarter of this year

First glimpse of the SM3 upgrade? Apart from the unidentified item under the tail (DIRCM?), there is what appears to be an ECM pod under the wing in place of the AAM launchers.
http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=32254&page=79

On the tail you see new L-150 Pastel RWR sensors and this must be a towed decoy mechanism, it is just to huge to be anything else and DIRCM's are always balls so they can rotate towards the threat, DIRCM's will probably be on the wingtip pods you see on 2nd picture would make the most sense since they could face forward or backwards to dazzle missiles.

Might just be the optical launch warning sensors.

TR1 wrote:Might just be the optical launch warning sensors.

Guess you are right, same cover K3-2 on L-136 on Ka-52.



But an ugly housing i must say.

Yeah pretty hideous, but as long as the jet-wash does not harm/interfere with them, should be ok.

Good question how much the exhaust gasses would interfere with MAWS, but i guess they have tested it.

L-150 Patel RWR was present in all Su-25SM planes. New is this MAWS sensor we see under the tail. Optical MAWS sensor could be either IR either UV. I don't know, how much jet exhaust could interfere to UV sensor.

Thanks for input all, indeed they've probably chosen that installation to avoid jet exhaust interference. Wonder if the SM3 will also have forward facing MAWS sensors, and where the DIRCM would fit.

Su-25SM3 strike-fighter is being prepared for flight testing

Flight testing of the upgraded Su-25SM3 strike-fighter will be started in a few months, Voenno-promishlenniy Courier reports with reference to a source close to the military-industrial sector.

«At present we are preparing for flight testing of the strike-fighter, which should be started in the first half of 2015,» the source said. According to him, “the flight testing will “pave the way” for mass upgrade of Su-25 strike-fighters operated by the air forces to Su-25SM3 version».

«Su-25SM3 version was developed following the results of flight tests carried out in 2013 and 2014. Su-25SM3 version differs significantly even from upgraded Su-25SM strike-fighters in terms of weapons and avionics suite,» the source added. He said that Su-25SM is fitted Vitebsk-25 EW suite and it is able to use more weapons.

Su-25 strike-fighters were manufactured by two aviation plants located in Ulan-Ude (Su-25UB operational trainers) and Tbilisi (combat Su-25 jets with an output of 140-150 aircraft per year). A total of 1320 Su-25 jets have been manufactured.

What do you guys makes of this rumour: Gefest will have it's upgrade package installed this year in Su-24M, Tu-22M3 and Su-25! The guy says it's not for the Su-25SM version but another upgrade "branch" of the Su-25. Is it for VVS or export? And who (or what) is Babak?
http://forums.airforce.ru/foto-video/6316-aviadarts-2015-a/#post118683

Also, it seems the Su-24M Gefest upgrade continues, makes one wonder how many have been upgraded and are planned to be.