How does the Su-25 help Russia gain control in Ukraine?

Su-25SM3 has amazing capabilities, not only enhancing survivability in Ukraine’s difficult airspace, but also assisting Russia in carrying out more successful assaults.

Russia brought the newest Su-25 variant to the Ukrainian battlefield?

The Russian Ministry of Defence highlighted the updated Su-25 assault aircraft’s capabilities in a Telegram message headlined “Upgraded Su-25SM3: Superpower on the Battlefield” on February 16. This is a significant step in light of Ukraine’s and the West’s worries about a fresh Russian air strike following the stationing of a number of aeroplanes and helicopters near the Ukrainian border. Furthermore, the deployment of these improved ground attack aircraft would most certainly back Moscow’s onslaught of strikes in the Donbass, particularly Bakhmut.

Many social media posts in recent months have referred to the deployment of this improved fighter. Some Russian news outlets, notably Tass, have speculated that the Su-25SM3 will be used on Ukrainian battlefields. However, the Russian Ministry of Defense’s article above may be the first formal acknowledgement.

Since the outbreak of the Ukrainian war, both Russia and Ukraine have increased their deployment of Soviet-era Su-25 ground attack jets. These aircraft can fly at low altitudes to avoid opposing radar and missile systems.

Indeed, on February 18, the Russian Ministry of Defence released a video on its official website depicting a Su-25 strike aircraft carrying out a missile attack against Ukrainian military structures and equipment. The statement later stated that “missiles were launched in pairs at low altitude” and that “this aerial operation eliminated the Ukrainian Air Force’s camouflaged positions as well as armoured vehicles.”

Despite without specifying the kind of fighter aircraft employed, the Russian Defence Ministry routinely broadcast videos of Ukrainian army armoured vehicles and camouflage positions being destroyed by Su-25 strike aircraft.

This Russian fighter has been updated to several versions, with the Su-25SM3 being the most recent.

“Su-25SM3: Superpower on the Battlefield”

The Su-25SM3 is an upgraded version of the Su-25 Grach (NATO reporting name Frogfoot), a subsonic attack aircraft designed to directly support ground forces on the battlefield at all hours of the day and night. Attacks on visible targets, as well as target destruction, require specific coordination in all weather conditions.

The Su-25SM3 had a combat radius of 650 kilometres, a top speed of 975 kilometres per hour, and a payload of 4.4 tonnes. The innovative SOLT-25 navigation and target acquisition system distinguishes this fighter from its predecessors. This fighter’s equipment also allows it to recognise targets autonomously. More notably, the improved version has the GLONASS technology, which allows the Su-25SM3 fighter to identify direction and fire weapons with pinpoint accuracy. The technology is reported to be capable of raising the accuracy of air-launched unguided missiles to that of guided weapons.

Furthermore, it can destroy tiny targets in the air and on the ground at any time of day or night and has three times the damage of earlier enhanced versions. The fighter is armed with a 30mm GSh-30-1 automatic cannon from the Soviet era, as well as a range of different unguided bombs and air-to-ground missiles.

Not only that, but the Su-25SM3 is also outfitted with the Ekran Research Institute’s Vitebsk air defence system, which is designed to protect fighters and helicopters against guided missiles and man-portable air defence systems (MANPADS). It also shields the aircraft from optical and electronic jamming devices.

The Su-25SM3 can exploit the Vitebsk air defence system to hit Kiev objectives as the Ukrainian military advances its deployment of air defence systems to take down low-flying ground assault aircraft. The Russian army received the first Su-25SM3s in 2015.

This system is used to unleash missiles if the aircraft is assaulted by man-portable air defence systems in addition to electronic warfare. This capability is crucial since both Russia and Ukraine have lost a number of Su-25 aircraft over the course of over a year of battle. Thus, the air defence capabilities improves the aircraft’s survivability in the difficult airspace above Ukraine.

“Besides improving capabilities, the Russian Air Force is using more effective tactics, so the loss of Su-25 has been limited,” said Mr. Vijainder K. Thakur, a veteran Indian Air Force officer. Su-25 variants contributed to the assistance of ground forces under the cover of the Su-35 and Su-30.”

The Su-25SM3 may be integrated with the Russian Air Force’s automated battlefield management system, which employs multiple reconnaissance and attack technologies in a network-centric approach.

As Russia continues to target Ukraine’s defence line and the conflict enters its second year, Moscow’s air attack capabilities will be greatly enhanced.