The Su25TM has many improvements on the basic Su25. The first development aircraft first flew in 1984 and deliveries to the Russian Air Force began in 1989. Many of the lessons learn't in Afghanistan were employed in the redesign of the Su25TM. The origional Su25UB airframe was used. The second seat was removed, the glass covered over and the rear cockpit was used for an additional metric ton of fuel and extra avionics. In the new avionis were two digital flight computers, and a new navigation system. These allow the pilot to fly to and from the combat area under automatic control reducing pilot workload. The widened nose now contains a TV, laser rangefinder and an improved target designator. The TV can track from a distance of 10km from the target after which the tracking, weapon selection and release is automatic.
Additional chaff/flare dispensers were installed on top of the fuselarge tailcone, adding to the 256 flares already contained in the aircraft. An infra red jammer optomised for Stinger and Redeye frequencies was also added (after losses in Afghanistan from CIA supplied weapons). A radar warning/emmiter and electro optical systems were also added. A center line pod can allow targeting of tanks from over 3.2km at night time. The gun has also been moved to the center line position and the nose wheel had been moved considerably to allow for this.
| Specifications for the R-195 | Data |
|---|---|
| Thrust, (sea level, static, dry), (lb) | 9 921 |
| Reduced IR signature | Air expelled at lower temp due to small pipe in tail cone. |
| In flight refueling provision | Absent |
| Specification | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Wing Span | 47 ft 7.75 in |
| Length | 50 ft 4.25 in |
| Height | 17 ft 0.75 in |
| Aircraft State | Weight |
|---|---|
| Empty | 20 950 lb |
| Normal take-off | 32 187 lb |
| Maximum take-off | 42 990 lb |
| Action | Data |
|---|---|
| Max attack speed, airbrakes open | 428 mph |
| Max speed at sea level | Mach 0.78 |
| Ceiling | 32 800 ft |
| Take off and landing run on unpaved runway | 2 300 ft |
| Range with 4 410 lb weapons | 248 miles at sea level |
| 435 miles at height |
| Number and Category | Type |
|---|---|
| One twin barrel 30 mm cannon | 200 rounds |
| 2 Air to Air missiles, either: | R-3S (AA-2D "Atoll") |
| R-60 (AA-8 "Aphid") | |
| 9 612 lb of air to surface weapons on 10 hardpoints including | 2 8 rd launchers for the Vikir anti-tank missile |
| air to surface missiles | |
| unguided rockets | |
| guided bombs | |
| conventional (dumb) bombs | |
| gun pods | |
| cluster bombs |
Copyright © 1996 Andrew Juniper
