The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation has published footage of the combat work of the Su-25 Grach attack aircraft during a special military operation (SVO) in Ukraine.
The video is posted on the Telegram channel and on the page of the military department on RUTUBE.
The footage shows the loading of ammunition into warheads, the flight of two aircraft at low altitude, several rocket launches, the shooting of heat traps and the return to the airfield.
“Attack aviation crews carried out rocket air strikes on military facilities and equipment of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Missile launches were carried out in pairs from low altitudes, ”the Telegram channel of the Russian Defense Ministry says.
As specified in the military department, the Su-25 link destroyed the camouflaged fortified field positions and armored vehicles of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Application Specifics
Su-25 attack aircraft of the Aerospace Forces of the Russian Federation are used in a special operation to destroy the positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine located near the allied forces.
According to experts, in Ukraine, the Su-25 operates mainly near the front line and in the near rear of the enemy’s defense.
“This aircraft is a means of fire support for ground units.
The combat work of the Rooks allows you to destroy almost any equipment, artillery, manpower, engineering structures, ”Major General, Honored Pilot of the Russian Federation Vladimir Popov explained in a commentary on RT.
During the SVO, the Rooks mainly strike at previously reconnoitered targets and operate in a classic link of two vehicles: while one aircraft fires at the enemy’s position, the second one observes the surrounding situation in order to cover, the expert added.
"Grach" can also go on the so-called free hunt, but there are many MANPADS in the Ukrainian theater of operations, in addition, other enemy air defense systems have not yet been completely destroyed.
To avoid the risk of losses, airstrikes are needed on those targets that our intelligence has already revealed, ”Popov explained.
As follows from the information of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, Su-25 pilots fly at extremely low altitudes, which reduces the likelihood of their detection and destruction by air defense systems.
The exit to the combat launch line is carried out at maximum speeds.
As a rule, attack aircraft fire unguided aircraft missiles (NAR) and instantly perform an anti-aircraft maneuver with shooting off heat traps.
The approaches to the target are repeated several times, and then the Su-25s return to the airfield.
According to the Ministry of Defense, "Rooks" widely use NAR S-13 "Tulumbas" of 122 mm caliber.
This ammunition is capable of hitting fortified and concreted objects, command posts, clusters of armored vehicles, and destroying runways.
Missile launches from Su-25 aircraft
RIA News
© Vitaliy Timkiv
The S-13 can be equipped with three types of warhead: high-explosive fragmentation, dual-module high-explosive fragmentation concrete-piercing and volumetric detonating mixture.
Depending on the modification, the missiles are launched at carrier speeds ranging from 600 to 1200 km/h.
There is not much information in open sources about the characteristics of the C-13 family.
It is known that the Russian industry produces NAR S-13T.
In the materials of Rosoboronexport, this munition is characterized as a "penetrating unguided high-explosive fragmentation missile."
The S-13T has two separable autonomous warheads: the first is penetrating, the second is high-explosive fragmentation.
The mass of the equipped rocket is 75 kg, the launch range is 1.6-3.5 km, the thickness of the penetrated barrier can reach 6 m.
In addition to the S-13, the Su-25 is capable of using cannons, a variety of bombs and guided missiles, including against air targets.
“The Su-25 has a fairly wide range of weapons.
I think that in a special operation, our attack aircraft use almost all types of ammunition that are in its arsenal: NARs, cannons, bombs, guided missiles, and with high accuracy, ”says Popov.
Ammunition on the attack aircraft is placed on ten suspension points.
The combat load of the aircraft is 4.4 tons, the range with a full load is 1250 km, the maximum speed is 970 km/h.
Recall, "Rook" was adopted in 1987.
Serial production of the Su-25 was launched at aircraft factories in Tbilisi and Ulan-Ude.
The creation of the aircraft was carried out on the basis of an analysis of the experience of the Vietnam War (1965-1973), during which the US Air Force experienced difficulties in defeating small targets.
The new attack aircraft received its baptism of fire in the Afghan campaign (1979-1989), where it successfully destroyed the positions of the Mujahideen.
As a result of this conflict, the car was improved.
Soviet designers equipped the Su-25 with a heat trap shooting system, protected the most important components and assemblies with steel plates, and installed a fire extinguishing system in the rear fuselage.
Takeoff of the Su-25 aircraft from the base airfield in the area of the special operation
RIA News
After the collapse of the USSR, Russia used Rooks in both Chechen campaigns, in the South Ossetian conflict and in the Syrian operation.
According to Popov, in all combat operations, the Su-25 proved to be a reliable and unpretentious aircraft in operation.
“The Su-25 is a flying tank, a real hard worker in our aviation fleet.
The success of the ground forces largely depends on the effectiveness of his combat work.
The use of this aircraft in the Northern Military District, along with other means of destruction, allows our units to systematically move forward, despite the numerical superiority of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, ”Popov noted.
In addition to wide combat capabilities, an important advantage of the Su-25 is a high level of security.
In a conversation with RT, military expert Sergei Ishchenko said that the creators of the Su-25 did a very good job of ensuring the survivability of the aircraft.
“The specifics of the use of the“ Rook ”is such that the aircraft has to work while under the fire of the enemy, and very intense.
It can be fired from conventional small arms, cannons, anti-aircraft systems.
There are also threats from enemy aircraft.
In this regard, the Su-25 has an armored cabin, all the main components and gas tanks are also armored, ”Ishchenko explained.
According to the expert, Grach is able to return to the departure airfield with one of the two working engines and with fairly serious damage to other elements.
“It's really a very tenacious car.
And it's not just armor and engines.
As practice shows, the degree of controllability of onboard equipment after non-critical lesions allows an experienced pilot to reach the airfield, ”Ishchenko emphasized.
"Great Fighting Machine"
"Grach" has been repeatedly improved, and at present the Russian Aerospace Forces operate the machine in the CM3 modification.
The updated aircraft is equipped with the GLONASS satellite navigation system and one of the options for the SVP-24 Gefest sighting and navigation system, which tripled the accuracy of hitting targets and received high marks from the military department.
“The pilots evaluated the performance of the SVP-24 at training grounds in various climatic zones, in difficult weather conditions and with limited visibility.
During the year, "Hephaestus" made it possible to work out and bring to perfection bombing from a free maneuver, without entering the zone of destruction of the target air defense systems of a mock enemy.
The accuracy of hitting targets is actually on par with the indicators of controlled means, ”the materials of the Ministry of Defense say.
Pilot of the Su-25 attack aircraft of the Russian Aerospace Forces
RIA News
© Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation
To improve security on the Su-25SM3, the Vitebsk airborne defense system (BKO) was installed, which is one of the varieties of aviation electronic warfare equipment (EW).
With this system, the survivability of combat vehicles is increased by a quarter.
"Vitebsk" is made in the form of blocks that can be placed both inside the aircraft fuselage and on external attachment points.
BKO consists of reconnaissance equipment, threat alert and jamming.
The complex is able to protect the carrier with the help of fired and towed traps, false targets with aerodynamic qualities, universal multi-spectral squibs with controlled combustion programs.
The latter are designed to protect against guided weapons at close range.
According to Popov, "Vitebsk" is constantly being improved, as foreign countries are striving to create weapons capable of overcoming the airborne defense systems of Russian aircraft.
Vitebsk and other Su-25SM3 defenses can largely protect the aircraft and the pilot, but, of course, it is worth recognizing that there is no 100% safety guarantee.
If the enemy has air defense, then it is necessary to cover the Rooks from the ground and air, ”Popov said.
The expert suggests that the Su-25SM3 will be slightly modified, taking into account the experience gained in the special operation.
Most likely, as Popov argues, the attack aircraft can be equipped with some new electronics and ammunition.
“Of course, the Su-25SM3 is not without flaws, but in terms of price and quality, it is still an excellent combat vehicle.
And it will be able to fulfill its tasks for another 15-20 years.
I think that in the near future "Rook" is expected to be modernized, but insignificant.
The main thing in this process is not to overburden the machine with new equipment, to maintain the principles of ease of control and operation,” says the expert.
Sergey Ishchenko is also of the opinion that the Grach remains an extremely effective and at the same time inexpensive air platform to operate.
“I can assume that the experience of using it in a special operation will lead to a new stage of modernization and we will get an attack aircraft slightly better than the SM3 level.
In any case, we see that Grach is coping with the tasks and so far there is no alternative to it, ”concluded Ishchenko.