The Ukrainian Air Force has hinted at another upgrade for its Su-25s, which will likely involve integrating new air-launched weapons.
This is hinted at by Ukrainian Air Force Commander Colonel Oleksandr Dyakiv, who said: "This aircraft, which is standing right behind me now—my own aircraft—will prove its worth. We have plans, we have developments, and we are working on them. We have surprises for our neighbors."
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Specific details regarding a possible upgrade of the Su-25 have not yet been disclosed. From Defense Express we would like to note that this could potentially involve integrating the Ukrainian Vyrivnyuvach glide bomb into the Su-25s' arsenal.
This is especially noteworthy since, unlike the MiG-29, Su-24, and Su-27, the Su-25 has not yet been identified as a potential carrier for the Ukrainian Vyrivnyuvach glide bomb.
For comparison, Azerbaijan's Su-25ML modernization project is also worth considering, as it includes the integration of Turkish-made SOM-B1 cruise missiles into the aircraft's armament. These missiles have a fuselage length of four meters, a launch weight of 600 kilograms, including a 230-kilogram warhead, and a range of 250 kilometers.
This illustrates that the Su-25 has significant potential for modernization. The issue here is more about the range of air-launched weapons that could be integrated with such aircraft.
The Ukrainian Su-25s could now be undergoing "yet another modernization," following the previous upgrade in 2024, when AASM Hammer guided bombs were integrated into the aircraft’s armament.
Earlier, we reported that the F-16 has already become the backbone of Ukraine's air force, while the MiG-29 and Su-27 remain important components of its combat aviation fleet.
Ivan Kyrychevskiy, serviceman of the Raid 413th Unmanned Systems Regiment, Defense Express expert.
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