After the gradual decline of the post-Soviet economy in Russia, the Su-25T and its subsequent TM modernizations were cancelled due to high costs. Instead, a more "affordable" modernization was ordered to be developed. Sukhoi OKB faced multiple delays in this project, mainly due to the merging of Sukhoi with multiple other manufacturers such as Mikoyan and Illyushin into the nationalized "UAC" (United Aircraft Corporation) in 2006 to save costs even further. Eventually, the first Su-25SMs started entering service gradually, with initial batches being older Su-25 airframes upgraded to the SM standard rather than newly built airframes. However, the SM upgrade package mainly focused on making the Su-25 "cheap" rather than modern, with most of the upgrades being tailored to extend the service life and increase reliability while dropping operational costs. It would not be until 2018 that the new Su-25SM3 variant would enter service, being the first real "upgrade" to the modern Su-25 fleet. The SM3 featured the new SPO-150L "Pastel" radar warning receiver, along with an expanded countermeasures suite involving a new set of dispensers and the options for multiple ECM pods to be mounted. Since the Ka-50's Shkval targeting system (as used on the Su-25T) was too expensive and outdated, the Klen-PS targeting system of the original Su-25 was replaced with the SOLT-25 thermal tracking sight, with up to 16x zoom. The Su-25SM3 would see trial by fire almost instantly after entering service, being deployed by the Russian VVS for ground strike missions during the intervention in the Syrian Civil War. Experience gained from combat in Syria resulted in the final set of upgrades to the SM3 standard; the addition of a PrNK-25SM-1 "Bars" targeting and navigation system, and an SVP-24 ballistic bombing computer.

The Su-25SM3 is a modern Soviet strike aircraft introduced in Update "Alpha Strike". While it seems to be a downgrade from the previous Su-25T at first due to the lower air-to-air missile count and lack of 9K127 Vikhr ATGMs, the Su-25SM3 is far more than meets the eye. For starters, the Shkval laser sight was upgraded to the SOLT-25 thermal imaging and laser designator system, not only making this the only Su-25 with thermals but also the one with the largest zoom to its optics. Alongside that the Su-25SM3 gets an upgraded amount of countermeasures, a full 360-degree Missile Approach Warning (MAW) System, which warns you against any incoming threats (including IR missiles and SAMs) with the ability to auto-deploy flares. The real upgrade to the Su-25SM3 in the game, however, will be the venerable Kh-38ML and MT, which come in laser-guided and TV-guided modes respectively. The Kh-38MT is a true force to be reckoned with, being able to accurately target ground units from up to 40 Km (25 miles) away. All in all, the Su-25SM3 is a very deadly ground attacker and a worthy addition to the Frogfoot family, with the required potency and weapons to make short work from any enemy ground units from outside the SPAA range.