As the war in Ukraine rages on, a familiar silhouette lingers in the skies, harking back to the days of the Soviet Union. The Sukhoi Su-25, known as the ‘Frogfoot’ to NATO and the ‘Grach’ or ‘Rook’ in Russian service, persists in its role as a close air support aircraft, despite suffering significant losses to enemy air defenses and shoulder-launched missiles, known as MANPADS (Man-Portable Air Defense Systems).

Designed for low-altitude support missions, the Su-25 was conceptualized to withstand considerable damage while supporting ground troops with its robust arsenal, including rockets, cluster bombs, and a formidable twin-barrel cannon.

In an environment saturated with these portable air defense systems, the Su-25’s operating tactics require it to fly at lower altitudes, a risky endeavor that has led to a substantial loss of Frogfoot aircraft. By November 2022, the military tracking blog Oryx had visually verified the destruction of 38 Su-25s, with 23 belonging to Russia and 15 to Ukraine.

Vladimir Artyakov, the first deputy general director of the State Corporation, stated, “It is worth noting that the effectiveness of the latest modification of the Su-25SM3 has been increased significantly. The aircraft can use high-precision weapons, among other things. We will continue to improve this machine, taking into account the experience of using it in the NVO zone, including its refinement for new weapons.”

Despite the losses, the Su-25 remains widely operated in the war. In February 2023, the Russian Ministry of Defense showcased the capabilities of an upgraded variant, the Su-25SM3, which boasts improved lethality and a sophisticated SOLT-25 target acquisition and navigation system. The system reportedly enhances the accuracy of unguided weapons to the level of guided munitions, and Su-25SM3 aircraft could use their Vitebsk air defense to attack targets inside Ukraine without being detected because Ukrainian troops have widely dispersed portable air defense systems to shoot down low-flying ground assault aircraft.

International support for Ukraine has seen countries like North Macedonia transferring their Su-25s, presumably to be used as a spare resource given their prolonged outdoor storage before the transfer, which Google Earth imagery suggests took place sometime between spring and late summer 2022.

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