Military pilot Shurygin explained the "survivability" of the Russian Su-25
The Russian army is actively using Su-25 attack aircraft during a special military operation in Ukraine. The Ministry of Defense has published a video of targeted missile strikes by these aircraft on the positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. One of the Russian attack aircraft came under fire from Ukrainian MANPADS, was shot down, but on one engine was able to fly to the home airfield and land. "Newspaper.Ru" figured out what is the secret of the survivability of the Su-25, known as the "Rook".
The Su-25 attack aircraft is designed to directly support ground forces over the battlefield, as well as to destroy stationary objects with specified target coordinates. It is all-weather, can operate both day and night. The aircraft carries a large complex of weapons, including unguided and guided air-to-ground missiles and a VPU-17A artillery installation with a double-barreled 30-mm air cannon.
One of the features of the "Rooks" is their high survivability. As the experience of combat operations in which Su-25 attack aircraft took part has shown, this aircraft can withstand 4-6 times more hits than similar models.
"It is not by chance that the Su-25 is called a "flying tank" because of its armored protection. The pilot of the attack aircraft himself is in an armored box with a thickness of 24 mm along the front and sides, the back and bottom are covered with 10 mm steel plates, there is a frontal armored glass, " he told the newspaper.En" military expert, pilot, colonel of the Air Force Reserve Alexander Drobyshevsky. - The fuel and oil tanks, as well as the engine compartment are protected by armor. It is quite difficult to shoot down the "Rook", MANPADS are a certain danger, against which other protection systems are used, including fireable heat traps that take missiles away from the aircraft."
The expert noted that two Su-25 engines are placed on both sides of the fuselage in special engine nacelles.
Drobyshevsky added.
The unique qualities of the "Rooks" in survivability were noted back in Afghanistan, where the attack aircraft were tested in combat conditions since the spring of 1980, and then their number was increased to a full aviation regiment. The Rooks began to enter service with the Soviet Air Force since 1981, and in Afghanistan they were the most famous and popular aircraft.
"Sometimes they returned to the home airfield with more than a hundred holes. In that war, the Su-25 carried out more than 6,000 sorties, 33 attack aircraft were lost in 8 years - ten of them were destroyed by the Mujahideen on the ground. There have been no cases of fuel tanks exploding during the entire period of hostilities," Drobyshevsky added.
Military expert Vladislav Shurygin also notes the high degree of protection of this aircraft.
"Of course - our "Rooks" are reliable and well-protected aircraft. This is an almost immortal plane. He withstands several hits," he told the newspaper.Ru" Shurygin. - But what else I would like to pay attention to is the skill of the Russian pilots who control them. Getting under fire from MANPADS is quite an unpleasant situation - launches from the ground were made after the attack aircraft. The Su-25 withstood the hit, did not lose vitality, and the pilots did not lose their heads, analyzed the situation in the air and made the most competent decision. The damaged car began to leave, and the pilot of the second organized its cover, in fact, covered himself. At the same time, I managed to prevent a repeat attack."
The first modernization of the Su-25 in order to increase the survivability of the aircraft began during the Afghan war, when the Mujahideen had American MANPADS "Stinger".
"The improvement of the attack aircraft continued constantly, and now this "non-killable" aircraft has been upgraded to the level of the Su-25SM, and then brought to the Su-25SM3, which was called "Supergrach". This attack aircraft is not externally distinguishable from its predecessor, however, it has a number of internal differences. A digital display is installed in the CM3 cabin, which displays the ground and air situation, a new fire control system and GLONASS satellite navigation are installed," Shurygin said.
All updated aircraft are equipped with R-195 engines, which were previously considered secret and are the most reliable in their class. The armor protection of stormtroopers and their increased survivability remained unchanged.
Victor Sokirko
