Russia's Su‑25 losses mount as Ukraine downs another in conflict

Russians recently lost another Su-25 aircraft. Military analyst and major of the National Guard of Ukraine reserves, Oleksij Hetman, has disclosed the remaining number of these aircraft in Russia's arsenal.

The Su-25 referred to by Hetman was confirmed to have been shot down on Saturday, May 4, in the Donetsk region by the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky. This incident resulted in the loss of another aircraft described as not very fast primary attack aircraft for the aggressor's army. However, The question remains about the significance of this loss compared to what still exists in Russia's arsenal.

Hetman has noted that Russia still has approximately 200 aircraft, specifically around 190, according to various estimates. He further mentioned that the Su-25 often becomes a target for Ukrainian forces, probably because it frequently operates on the front line, which exposes it to many attacks.

It's important to clarify that the nearly 200 aircraft mentioned apply solely to the Su-25, indicating that Russia's total aircraft count exceeds this number. The Russian Federation's army also maintains a variety of fighters and bombers. Nevertheless, it's noteworthy that the Russian forces have suffered losses of 349 aircraft to date, all destroyed by the Ukrainians since the onset of the conflict, which has now spanned over two years.

The Su-25 took to the skies for the first time in 1975, with mass production beginning three years later, 1978. Since the conflict in Ukraine began, the Su-25 has been a key target for the defending forces due to its role. This aircraft supports ground troops from the air, contributing to the superiority of infantry and mechanized units during combat engagements.

The Su-25's operational ceiling is about 4.3 miles high, significantly less than that of fighters or bombers, which can go beyond 8.7 miles. Its maximum speed is 590 mph, also lower than that of fighters, which can reach speeds up to 1242.74 mph.

This aircraft is over 49.2 feet in length and weighs 11 tons. It can carry weapons weighing more than 4.3 tons on 10 underwing stations. The primary weapon for attacks is a 30 mm caliber GSh-30-2 cannon. In its basic version, the Su-25's maximum range is approximately 316 miles, which can be extended to about 1149.5 miles with additional fuel tanks.