Su-25 Frogfoot

The Sukhoi Su-25 Grach, NATO reporting name Frogfoot, was developed as a dedicated subsonic close-support and ground-attack aircraft. The Soviet requirement was for a rugged aircraft that could operate near the front line, absorb damage, and attack mobile or fixed ground targets with rockets, bombs, cannon, and guided weapons. It entered service after development in the 1970s and became a Soviet counterpart to Western battlefield attack aircraft. Its combat debut and later service reinforced its reputation as a durable low-altitude attack platform.

Technically, Su-25 is a single-seat, twin-engine attack aircraft with armor protection around the cockpit and critical systems. It carries a fixed cannon and multiple hardpoints for rockets, bombs, gun pods, missiles, and external tanks. Airforce Technology describes Russian Su-25 aircraft with R-195 turbojet engines on later variants. The aircraft is not a fast multirole fighter; it is optimized for survivability, rough-field operation, and repeated attack sorties close to ground forces. Its design trades speed and stealth for toughness and payload practicality.

Operationally, Su-25 is one of the most combat-used Soviet/Russian aircraft. It served in Afghanistan, post-Soviet conflicts, the 2008 Georgia war, Syria, and the Russia-Ukraine war, while export users have flown it in several regional conflicts. Its low-altitude role places it in danger from MANPADS, guns, and short-range SAMs, so tactics, countermeasures, and air-defense suppression are essential. The aircraft remains relevant because many air forces still need rugged close-support platforms, even as drones and precision weapons change the battlefield.