Hobby Master 1/72 Su-25K FrogfootRed 03 flown by Lt. Col. Alexander Rutskoy4th August 1988 Diecast Aircraft

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.

In 1986 Lt. Col Rutskoy from the 378th OShAP was shot down while attacking the Mujahedeen. His style of flying was characterized as reckless by his own fellow pilots. After recovering he returned to duty and even though he had seniority he continued to fly. On August 4, 1988 Rutskoy along with another Su-25 carried out a sortie to mark a training camp 6 miles inside Pakistan territory. The Su-25s soon came under attack from a PAF F-16 that downed Rotskoy. Rotskoy ejected, was captured and held for two weeks.

Manufacturer:	Sukhoi Design Bureau
Role:	Close Air Support (CAS)
Number Built:	1024
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 Takeoff :	14,400 kg (31,835 lbs)
Maximum Takeoff:	19,300 kg (42,549 lbs)
Performance
Power Plant:	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 Tank
Maximum G-Load:	6.5 g+
Armament:
Gun:	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
Hardpoints:	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