The Sukhoi Su-25, often known as the Frogfoot in NATO, was the Russian answer to the A-10 Warthog. The Su-25 was the first mass-produced jet developed by the Soviet Air Force exclusively for close air support (CAS) duty. It was a straightforward, dependable, and tough assault aircraft that, by 2021, had taken part in at least 40 battles.
The Frogfoot is thought to be the most affordable ground assault aircraft available to the Russian Air and Space Force (RuASF). From the early 1980s, the Soviet/Russian Air Force and the air forces of various other nations have deployed the Sukhoi Su-25 (NATO codename “Frogfoot”) for close-support air strikes (primarily Soviet-allied countries or ex-Soviet states). The type has demonstrated excellent performance in a variety of combat drills throughout her extended operational history. The Su-25 and the similarly prestigious Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II ground-attack platform used by the US Air Force are comparable in terms of design.
Despite its decades-old roots, the Su-25 has been constantly – and properly – modernized for the rigors and dangers of modern warfare. The T-8-0 testbed was a part of the first design studies that resulted in the development of the “Su-25” in 1968. On February 22nd, 1975, the “T-8-1” pilot vehicle was launched into the air for the first time, making it the first time a working prototype had flown. The aircraft was equipped with two Tumansky RD-9B turbojet engines, and subsequent study inexorably led to various product modifications. The T-8-2D bore a striking resemblance to the finalized Su-25 pre-production design, but it was the T-8-2 that was used as the second actual prototype.
T-8-3 served as the developmental model. The first Soviet Air Force group put the new Su-25 into service in 1981, and NATO gave it the nickname “Frogfoot.” The Su-25’s conventional fixed armament consisted of a single 30mm GSh-30-2 internal gun and 250 rounds of ammo. Between the underwing and under-fuselage stations, 11 hardpoints could accommodate up to 9,700 pounds of external ordnance. The arsenal of weapons included short-range air-to-air missiles, laser-guided bombs, rocket and gun pods, guided air-to-surface missiles, cluster bombs, and ordinary drop bombs.
At least two hard spots are served by external fuel supplies. The Air Force’s flying tank is known as the Warthog, Hawgs, or Thunderbolt II, depending on your preference. It is commonly despised by senior Air Force officials while being adored by the ground forces.
During the Cold War, the A-10 was an essential element of the AirLand Battle strategy and was created to stop Soviet tanks from crossing the Fulda Gap between East and West Germany. Technology was employed to counterbalance the numerical superiority of the Warsaw Pact to deter aggression and maintain the balance of forces. Even before the A-10 Thunderbolt II’s actual design was started, planners built the aircraft around the GAU-8 Avenger, which serves as its primary armament. The Avenger is a powerful seven-barreled, hydraulic-driven Gatling gun that can fire either PGU-14/B armor-piercing incendiary rounds or PGU-13/B high explosive incendiary rounds. It fires bullets between 2,100 and 4,200 times per minute.
Since the weaponry makes up about 16% of the A-10’s body weight, the aircraft must be counterbalanced when the armament is removed. The weapon’s main component, the ammo drum, includes a chute system that keeps both the ammunition and the used shells from needing to shoot out. What is the Su-25’s relationship to the A-10? Are the A-10 and Su-25 comparable? Close Air Support describes both a “small distance of engagement” and a “short reaction time.” When you are heavily engaged in battle, you require close air support as quickly as feasible. In this case, the Su-25 has a few advantages over other aircraft, such as a 34% faster cruise speed, the ability to run on any fuel, even diesel, and the ability to take off from almost any surface.
As a result, it is possible that the Su-25 will be positioned closer to the front lines and will get there much more quickly. The range and flight times of the A-10 are significantly greater. It can also refuel while in flight. Patrolling the front line makes you visible and easy to intercept (especially at 560 km/h cruise speed), which is suicide for tanks in real combat.
Also, due to its advantage in speed and proximity to the frontline, the Su-25 can complete more missions in the same period. The GAU-8 developer’s marketing division is it’s most successful one. The GAU-8 is an overly complex, expensive, and heavy gun that failed to accomplish what it was designed to do. In Iraq, the Mavericks assisted the A-10s in destroying most of their targets. The A-10 carried an incredible 1200+ shells, while the GAU-8 employed on average 124 munitions every flight. It also carries used empty shells as dead weight.
The GAU-8 served as the cornerstone for the A-10, however, it now appears that it is not a particularly effective weapon. The GSh-30-2 cannon on the Su-25, in contrast, is three times lighter, has a 3000 RPM rating that is more than enough and does not have burst duration restrictions. Although having a nearly equal arsenal, the A-10 can carry twice as much payload as the Su-25. Even though it has a significant advantage, the hard points and equipment on board barely make a difference. The Su-25 can carry up to 1100kg of titanium armor, compared to the A-10’s “only” about 540kg. The Su-25 also maneuvers much more rapidly and nimbly. It is far more challenging to hit.
