Hobby Master HA6106 | Sukhoi SU-25K, Frogfoot 9013, Czechoslovak AF, 30th Combat Air Regiment, Zatec Air base, summer 1992

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:

Su-25K Frogfoot 9013 c/n 25508109013 was delivered to the Czechoslovak People’s Army in 1987. In 1992 while with the 30 BLP (30th Combat Air Regiment) at Zatec Airbase it received a very colorful paint scheme. Since the Su-25 is referred to as a tank buster this aircraft’s tail had a very vivid image of a frog destroying a tank. This art work made this particular aircraft the most popular for photographers. The aircraft is on display in the Vyskov Museum.

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