Kobymaru Posted October 21, 2015 Posted October 21, 2015 Hi, I know political discussions are prohibited, but this is not a political question, just purely technical. I just wanted to know which type of Su-25 is currently in use by the Russian military. In particular, which types were used in the Georgia 2008 conflict and which are being used in the Syria 2015 conflict atm? If I understand correctly, the Su-25T was never really introduced, because it was too expensive. However, another, similar Upgrade was introduced. About Georgia: there are "HUD-Videos" which show, well, a HUD, which the classical Su-25 does not have. However, all videos of the Su-25 takeoffs show the "humpback", which the Su-25T doesn't have. About Syria: I don't think there are "HUD-Videos", but all takeoff videos show the humpback again. So does anybody know which variant was and is being used? Is it "the old one", or is it intermediate upgrade closer to the T-variant?
NOLA Posted October 21, 2015 Posted October 21, 2015 In Georgia Su-25SM was used (unsure if vanilla ones were too) and in Syria i believe all of them are Su-25SM's + few Su-25UB's. The handful of Su-25T's that actually exist has not been operational for ages.
Lucas_From_Hell Posted October 21, 2015 Posted October 21, 2015 NOLA explained it very clearly :) Here are some additional tidbits because why not. As of now slightly less than half of the Su-25 fleet consists of Su-25SM variants, with the rest being the initial (sometimes called Su-25A) variants. FlightGlobal has the total number at 199 Su-25s of all variants, SM, UB and (presumably) T included. Most sources I can find state that there are about 60 Su-25SMs flying right now, and also that the upgrade run will be completed in 2020 with 80 planes upgraded by then. To me it is unclear if the grand total number of Su-25s flying will be 80 in 2020 or if there are another 80 in the way. The other aircraft operating in Syria are the Su-24M2, the Su-30SM (no Su-30M2s) and the vanilla Su-34.
Kobymaru Posted October 21, 2015 Author Posted October 21, 2015 In Georgia Su-25SM was used (unsure if vanilla ones were too) and in Syria i believe all of them are Su-25SM's + few Su-25UB's. The handful of Su-25T's that actually exist has not been operational for ages. NOLA explained it very clearly :) Here are some additional tidbits because why not. As of now slightly less than half of the Su-25 fleet consists of Su-25SM variants, with the rest being the initial (sometimes called Su-25A) variants. FlightGlobal has the total number at 199 Su-25s of all variants, SM, UB and (presumably) T included. Most sources I can find state that there are about 60 Su-25SMs flying right now, and also that the upgrade run will be completed in 2020 with 80 planes upgraded by then. To me it is unclear if the grand total number of Su-25s flying will be 80 in 2020 or if there are another 80 in the way. The other aircraft operating in Syria are the Su-24M2, the Su-30SM (no Su-30M2s) and the vanilla Su-34. Thanks for your answers, guys! Looking at the Su-25 Wikipedia page, Su-25SM seems to be quite a "high-tech" variant, compared to other variants. So it seems that in our Sim, Su-25T is actually closer to the capabilities. Do I assume correctly?
Lucas_From_Hell Posted October 21, 2015 Posted October 21, 2015 You are correct, the Su-25SM is technologically more Su-25T than Su-25A. I don't know the specifics of it though, but this Global Security article seems to have some info on it. Hopefully some Grach expert can clarify. The Su-25SM upgrade is aimed at expanding their combat capabilities, enhancing lethality and slashing operating and maintenance burden. The plane's navigational accuracy is improved by an order of magnitude while its ordnance's efficiency is increased two to three times. The upgrade increases combat payload on the new MBD3-U2T-1 bomb racks up to 5,000 kg and expands their ordnance list allowing R-73E air-to-air guided missiles and S-13T rockets. The Su-25SM is a Mid-life refurbishing program for the original Su-25. Many of the old components are kept. The old engines are not replaced. The double barrel 30mm Cannon is left in the nose, which says that there are few improvements in this area. The Laser targeting system is replaced with a modernized version with a limited video camera channel, no Zoom or Night Vision Video features like those in the Su-39's Kair Fire Control based system. The old style Reflector Sight(with Telescopic Bomb Sight) is replaced with an LCD screen and an Electronic Heads Up Display. Of course, these features were standard on the late production Su-25T.
pepin1234 Posted October 22, 2015 Posted October 22, 2015 (edited) The Su-25T program was abandoned in favor of the modernization program of the Su-25SM, cheaper and more maneuverable than the T version. They can rescue the Su-25T units to use in Syria, but the T frogfoot is an anti-armor version. You don't gone find enough enemy vehicles in Syria. The Su-25T is created with a Su-25UB training version. They change the program to a cheaper conversion, there are not enough Su-25UB units to create the amount of modernized frogfoot program so the idea is take the Su-25UB as a targeting unit for the Su-25SM. This will be the Su-25UBM. Edited October 22, 2015 by pepin1234 [sIGPIC][/sIGPIC]
Lucas_From_Hell Posted October 22, 2015 Posted October 22, 2015 Thanks for the info, so the Su-25UBs in Latakia are Su-25UBM versions tagging targets for the Su-25SMs then? :)
pepin1234 Posted October 22, 2015 Posted October 22, 2015 Thanks for the info, so the Su-25UBs in Latakia are Su-25UBM versions tagging targets for the Su-25SMs then? :) I don't believe the Su-25UBM is approved by the Russian to become combat ready. This version is more complex than the SM version, have more sensors. This version is still in state test. The UB you see in Syria should be for visual recon only and some bombing. [sIGPIC][/sIGPIC]
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