Su-25SM3

This page is about the strike aircraft Su-25SM3. For other versions, see Su-25 (Family).

Su-25SM3

Su-25T

Su-25SM3

Su-25T

USSR

VIII Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
12.3	12.3	12.3

Class:

Strike aircraft

Research:400 000

Purchase:1 080 000

Show in game

Description

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 Since the Ka-50's Shkval targeting system (as used on the Su-25T) was too expensive and outdated, the Klen-PS targeting system of the original Su-25 was replaced with the SOLT-25 thermal tracking sight, with up to 16x zoom.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.

General info

Flight performance

Air brakes

Allows you to dramatically reduce the flight speed by releasing special flaps

Drogue parachute

Reduces braking distance when landing on any runway

Max speed

at 1 000 m979 km/h

Turn time27 s

Max altitude11 000 m

Engine2 х UMPO R-195

TypeJet

Cooling systemAir

Take-off weight20 t

Describe how the aircraft behaves in the air. Speed, manoeuvrability, acceleration and allowable loads - these are the most important characteristics of the vehicle.

Characteristics	Max speed (km/h at _,___ m)		Max altitude (metres)	Turn time (seconds)		Rate of climb (metres/second)		Take-off run (metres)
	AB	RB		AB	RB	AB	RB
Stock	___	___	11000	__._	__._	__._	__._	___
Upgraded	___	___		__._	__._	__._	__._

Details

Features
Combat flaps	Take-off flaps	Landing flaps	Air brakes	Arrestor gear	Drogue chute
✓	X	✓	✓	X	✓

Limits
Wings (km/h)	Gear (km/h)	Flaps (km/h)			Max Static G
		Combat	Take-off	Landing	+	-
0	420	___	___	___	~__	~__

Optimal velocities (km/h)
Ailerons	Rudder	Elevators	Radiator
< ___	< ___	< ___	-

Engine performance

Engine			Aircraft mass
Engine name		Number	Basic mass		Wing loading (full fuel)
_____		_	_,___ kg		___ kg/m2
Engine characteristics			Mass with fuel (no weapons load)			Max Gross Weight
Weight (each)	Type		_m fuel	__m fuel	__m fuel
___ kg	___		_,___ kg	_,___ kg	_,___ kg	_,___ kg
Maximum engine thrust @ 0 m (RB/SB)			Thrust to weight ratio @ 0 m (___%/WEP)
Condition	100%	___%/WEP	_m fuel	__m fuel	__m fuel	MGW
Stationary	___ kgf	___ kgf	_.__	_.__	_.__	_.__
Optimal	___ kgf (_ km/h)	___ kgf (_ km/h)	_.__	_.__	_.__	_.__

Survivability and armour

Flares/Chaff

Aircraft countermeasures to distract IR and radar-guided missiles and also AA radar

Crew1 person

Speed of destruction

Structural0 km/h

Gear420 km/h

Examine the survivability of the aircraft. Note how vulnerable the structure is and how secure the pilot is, whether the fuel tanks are armoured, etc. Describe the armour, if there is any, and also mention the vulnerability of other critical aircraft systems.

Modifications and economy

Repair costBasic → Reference

AB2 662 → 4 429

RB6 956 → 11 574

SB10 193 → 16 961

Total cost of modifications322 600

500 000

Talisman cost3 100

Crew training310 000

Experts1 080 000

Aces3 400

Research Aces1 280 000

Reward for battleAB / RB / SB

90 / 310 / 600 %

250 / 250 / 250 %

Modifications

Flight performance	Survivability	Weaponry
Compressor Research: 8 800 Cost: 14 000 380 New boosters Research: 12 000 Cost: 18 000 520 Engine Research: 14 000 Cost: 22 000 610	Fuselage repair Research: 8 800 Cost: 14 000 380 Airframe Research: 12 000 Cost: 18 000 520 Wings repair Research: 13 000 Cost: 20 000 560 Cover Research: 14 000 Cost: 22 000 610	MAW Research: 8 800 Cost: 14 000 380 GSh-30-2_belt_pack Research: 8 800 Cost: 14 000 380 ZB-500 Research: 8 800 Cost: 14 000 380 Kh-25 Research: 8 800 Cost: 14 000 380 S-24 Research: 8 800 Cost: 14 000 380 GSh-30-2_new_gun Research: 12 000 Cost: 18 000 520 FAB-250 Research: 12 000 Cost: 18 000 520 Kh-29L Research: 12 000 Cost: 18 000 520 S-25 Research: 12 000 Cost: 18 000 520 G-suit Research: 13 000 Cost: 20 000 560 Gun pod SPPU-22-01 Research: 13 000 Cost: 20 000 560 FAB-500 Research: 13 000 Cost: 20 000 560 Kh-29TE Research: 13 000 Cost: 20 000 560 B-13L Research: 13 000 Cost: 20 000 560 B-13L Research: 13 000 Cost: 20 000 560 EFS Research: 14 000 Cost: 22 000 610 ns23_belt_pack Research: 14 000 Cost: 22 000 610 KAB-500Kr Research: 14 000 Cost: 22 000 610 Kh-38ML Research: 14 000 Cost: 22 000 610 Kh-38MT Research: 14 000 Cost: 22 000 610

Armaments

Ballistic Computer
CCIP (Guns)	CCIP (Rockets)	CCIP (Bombs)	CCRP (Bombs)	EEGS
✓	✓	✓	✓	✓

Offensive armament

The Su-25SM3 is armed with:

• A choice between two presets:
  • 1 x 30 mm GSh-30-2 cannon (250 rpg) + 256 x countermeasures
  • 1 x 30 mm GSh-30-2 cannon + 28 x large calibre countermeasures + 256 x countermeasures

Suspended armament

Describe the aircraft's suspended armament: additional cannons under the wings, bombs, rockets and torpedoes. This section is especially important for bombers and attackers. If there is no suspended weaponry remove this subsection.

Default weapon presets

4 x 800 l drop tanks 2 x R-73 missiles 32 x 100 kg OFAB-100 bombs (3,200 kg total) 8 x 250 kg OFAB-250sv bombs (2,000 kg total) 8 x 500 kg FAB-500M-62 bombs (4,000 kg total) 8 x 250 kg OFAB-250Sh bombs (2,000 kg total) 8 x 500 kg FAB-500Sh bombs (4,000 kg total) 8 x ZB-500 incendiary bombs 4 x 500 kg KAB-500Kr-E bombs (2,000 kg total) 160 x S-8KO rockets 8 x S-24B rockets 40 x S-13OF rockets 8 x S-25O rockets 4 x S-25L missiles 4 x Kh-25ML missiles 2 x Kh-29L missiles 2 x Kh-29TE missiles 4 x 23 mm GSh-23L cannons (250 rpg = 1,000 total) 4 x Kh-38ML missiles 4 x Kh-38MT missiles

Usage in battles

This may seem like a step down from the Su-25T or Su-39 at first, given that you lose the venerable 9K127 Vikhr air-to-ground missile pods, but between the SOLT-25 thermal tracking system and the Kh-39MT missiles, it's at worst a lateral move. The Kh-38MT missiles allow you to snipe ground targets from well over 20km away, while the SOLT-25 allows for active tracking of targets, which makes taking out moving targets infinitely easier. It can also be used in a pinch to try to shoot down planes, but don't hold your breath there. While it loses a hardpoint compared to many other Su-25 variants, it helps to keep your loadout light anyway. Rolling with nothing but Kh-38s and R-73s is very viable in both RB and SB, as their incredible range turns you into a tank sniper and allows you to return to base for reloads extremely quickly.

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Missile Approach Warning (MAW) System does a decent job throwing off many missile types.
• SOLT-25 thermal tracking sight has the highest zoom of any Su-25, and actively tracks most targets.
• The Kh-38 is an incredible air-to-ground missile.
• Durable airframe
• Accelerates and climbs well

Cons:

• Loses a hardpoint, and forces you to choose between an air-to-ground weapon or a missile.
• No 9K127 Vikhr missiles.
• Slow, manoeuvres like a pig at low speeds.

History

Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the aircraft in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the vehicle and adding a block "/History" (example: https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Vehicle-name)/History) and add a link to it here using the main template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <ref></ref>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <references />. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under === In-game description ===, also if applicable).

Media

Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.

See also

Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:

• reference to the series of the aircraft;
• links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.

External links

Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:

• topic on the official game forum;
• other literature.

Sukhoi Design Bureau (Сухого Опытное конструкторское бюро)
Jet fighters	Su-9 · Su-11
Su-27	Su-27 · Su-27SM
Strike aircraft
Su-2	BB-1 · Su-2 (M-82) · Su-2 MV-5 · Su-2 TSS-1
Su-6	Su-6 · Su-6 (AM-42) · Su-6 (M-71F)
Su-7	Su-7B · Su-7BKL · Su-7BMK
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Su-25	Su-25 · Su-25BM · Su-25K · Su-25T · Su-25SM3 · Su-39
Export	◊Su-22UM3K · ◔Su-22M3 · ◊Su-22M4
	J-11*
	*CKD and SKD kits assembled by Shenyang Aircraft Corporation