Su-25SM3
This page is about the strike aircraft Su-25SM3. For other versions, see Su-25 (Family). |
Contents
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 Since the Ka-50's Shkval targeting system (as used on the Su-25T) was too expensive and outdated, the Klen-PS targeting system of the original Su-25 was replaced with the SOLT-25 thermal tracking sight, with up to 16x zoom.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
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
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
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 | |
---|---|
|
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) |
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Su-24 | Su-24M |
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 |
USSR jet aircraft | |
---|---|
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Yakovlev | Yak-15 · Yak-15P · Yak-17 · Yak-23 · Yak-28B · Yak-30D · Yak-38 · Yak-38M · Yak-141 |
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MiG-21F-13 · MiG-21PFM · MiG-21S (R-13-300) · MiG-21SMT · MiG-21bis | |
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