The Sukhoi Su-25 ‘Frogfoot’ was developed as a rugged close air support aircraft. It too has been upgraded with modest projects to help keep it relevant for more modern campaigns.
THE SU_25 ‘FROGFOOT’ is a single-seat, heavily armored, subsonic close air support (CAS) aircraft. Early in the Syrian campaign, the Su-25 was, along with the Su-24, the most numerous aircraft in the Russian contingent in the country — 12 Su-25SM/ UB attack aircraft from the 960th Attack Aviation Regiment at Primorsko-Akhtarsk were initially stationed in Syria. Under the ‘first withdrawal’ of the Russian forces from Syria in March 2016, all the Su- 25s returned to Russia. Later, a handful returned to Syria, but never more than four jets. One may speculate that the Su-25s turned out to be much less useful there than the Su-24s and Su-34s. For example, the weapon loads carried by the Su-25s were surprising small. They usually flew with just four 250kg (551lb) bombs, although they are capable of carrying up to four tonnes of weapons.
