Air divisions of attack aircraft will be part of the ZVO on a permanent basisIn the western strategic direction, assault aviation units equipped with the famous "Rooks" — attack aircraft of the Su-25 family will appear in the near future.
Until recently, there was not a single assault aviation regiment in the Western Military District. The Su-25 is capable of radically increasing the power of the Ground Forces. The tasks of the new aviation units will include the destruction of important enemy targets and strongholds, as well as support for Ground Forces on the battlefield. According to experts, this will increase the effectiveness of the actions of Russian forces in the western direction.
Heading West
The Ministry of Defense is currently working on the deployment of aviation units equipped with Su-25 attack aircraft in the western direction, sources in the military department told Izvestia. The task of the "Rooks" will be the direct support of the Ground Forces on the battlefield. Also, the attack aircraft will interact with helicopters of the army aviation.
Previously, there was a military unit with Su aircraft in the western strategic direction-25 — 899- The 1st Guards assault Aviation Regiment. He was based in the Voronezh region at the Buturlinovka airfield. However, in 2009 the regiment was disbanded. As part of the strategic exercises "West-2017" and "West-2021", this direction was strengthened by the attack aircraft of the Southern and Eastern military districts. But at the end of the maneuvers, the "Rooks" returned to the points of permanent deployment.
Photo: RIA Novosti/Kirill Norton
Image source: iz.ru
Units on the Su-25 are needed in all strategic directions, Honored Test Pilot Hero of Russia Igor Malikov told Izvestia. He noted that attack aircraft are the main aviation means of supporting ground units.
— You should have them everywhere. A great car," explained Igor Malikov. — Unfortunately, we are not currently developing new attack aircraft, but the Su-25 is always relevant. This is an infantry combat cover vehicle. We can recall what role the IL-2 attack aircraft played during the Great Patriotic War. However, it is more difficult for them now — new means of combating them have appeared.
The use of the Su-25 in combat conditions requires a lot of experience from the pilot, the expert added.
— The appearance of stormtrooper units in the western direction is the right decision in connection with the current events. People on the battlefield need to be covered, — concluded Igor Malikov.
Old, reliable
Su-25 attack aircraft have been serving reliably since Soviet times, but they have a great potential for modernization. The most modern modification at the moment is the Su-25SM3. It added the ability to use modern means of destruction and installed the Russian-made SALT-25 optical-location system.
It includes conventional and thermal imaging surveillance channels with double magnification and a laser rangefinder-designator. With its help, the aircraft directs modern "smart" ammunition. The system is supplemented with the possibility of automatic tracking of goals. In addition, the new car is equipped with an improved on-board self-defense system.
Photo: RIA Novosti/Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation
Image source: iz.ru
Modernization made it possible to use the so-called navigation bombing. In this mode, planes go to a pre—calculated point, guided by GLONASS satellites, and can attack a pre-selected target without even seeing it - in fog or heavy clouds. At the same time, the accuracy even from a height of several kilometers approaches the results of "smart" weapons. This allows stormtroopers not to descend to levels at which they can be hit from portable anti-aircraft missile systems and anti-aircraft machine guns.
If it is necessary to work from low altitudes, the aircraft is protected by the new on-board self-defense complex "Vitebsk". It detects missile launches with infrared homing heads and interferes with them in manual or automatic mode.
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| Su-25SM3. |
| Source: iz.ru |
Since last year, as reported by Izvestia, batches of modernized Su-25SM3 have begun to be delivered to the Southern Military District (SE). They were also transferred to the western strategic direction, but temporarily. In particular, in September 2021, a squadron of these attack aircraft participated in the West-2021 joint exercises with Belarus. Then they practiced using their new sighting and navigation system for a massive bombing strike.
In June last year, it was reported that Russian aviation is using upgraded Su-25SM3 in a special military operation in Ukraine. They were mainly used in the southern direction and in the Donbas, and, according to the representative of the security forces, they showed high characteristics and, in general, "coped with their tasks quite successfully."
Photo: IZVESTIA/Alexander Polegenko
Image source: iz.ru
In recent years, the military leadership has been actively strengthening the grouping covering the western borders. So, in May 2022, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu announced that Russia would form 12 new military units in the Western Military District against the backdrop of increasing threats near the borders. At the same time, it was decided to equip new units in this direction with the most modern T-90M "Breakthrough" tanks, which are not inferior in basic characteristics to the promising T-14 "Armata".
Roman Kretsul
