Can Ukrainian anti-air missiles stop Russia’s Su-25 “Flying Tank” Ground Attack Plane in Ukraine?

By Maya Carlin

Meet the Su-25 – Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has taken a significant toll on the weapons systems in both countries’ stockpiles. While Moscow’s dramatic loss of armored vehicles has been covered extensively in mainstream media, the Russian Air Force’s arsenal of airframes is also dwindling.

Russia and Ukraine have both deployed the Soviet-era Su-25 attack aircraft. In March, Russian state-affiliated media outlets revealed that Su-25 jets fly at low altitudes to carry out attack missions over Ukraine. Incidentally, it has suffered more casualties than any other airframe in the conflict. Despite this track record, the Kremlin still relies on the Soviet-era fighter platform.

Su-25 Backstory

In the late 1960s, the Soviet Ministry of Defense wanted a fighter airframe that could provide close air support for infantry.

The USSR wanted to counter America’s own A-10 Thunderbolt II tank-busting jet with an indigenous and formidable design.

The Sukhoi defense giant ultimately produced the T-8 prototype. Within a decade, the first Su-25 variants were developed, and the platform took to the skies.

Designated by NATO as “Frogfoot,” Su-25 fighters have been exported extensively. They are currently flying for Russia, Afghanistan, Bulgaria, Georgia, Iran, Iraq, North Korea, and Ukraine. Although multiple S-25 variants have emerged over the years, all the airframes possess a cantilevered wing, a high aspect ratio, and high-lift devices. Earlier versions of the Frogfoot were powered by a pair of R-95Sh non-afterburning turbojets on both sides of the rear fuselage.