Ukrainian air forces down fifth Russian Su‑25 in two weeks
Ukrainian air forces have destroyed another Russian Su-25 assault aircraft in the Donetsk region, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on Saturday. This indicates a severe streak for Russian aviation, which has lost at least its fifth such aircraft in the past two weeks and its eighth in the past month.
According to military analyst Oleksiy Hetman, the Russian Federation has just under 200 Su-25 aircraft in its arsenal. However, this number is shrinking each month and has been shrinking rapidly in recent weeks.
The Ukrainians are adding another destroyed aircraft to the list of roughly 350 Russian planes, which will no longer pose a threat to the defenders' forces. The Ukrainian armed forces destroyed another Su-25 on Saturday, 25 May. This time, it was downed by the 110th Separate Mechanized Brigade in the Donetsk region.
The loss is significant for the Russians, as it is at least the fifth destroyed aircraft of this type in the past two weeks and the eighth in the past month. As a result, suspicions are circulating online that the increased frequency of these incidents may indicate the imminent arrival of F-16s into the Ukrainian army. It is important to emphasize, however, that the F-16 and Su-25 are not direct competitors, and this doesn't necessarily mean that Ukrainians are "clearing" the skies for the arrival of U.S. aircraft.
Russian assault aircraft. Another Su-25 destroyed
Due to their design and intended use, Su-25s are generally exposed to frequent enemy fire. These aircraft are different from larger air superiority fighters. Smaller Su-25s serve the army as machines to support ground troops from the air and engage in frontline combat.
This means that these aircraft usually operate at lower altitudes, as confirmed by their ability to reach a maximum altitude of 21,120 feet (about 4 miles). Additionally, they can accelerate to speeds of 950 km/h (about 590 mph), making them easier targets for many air defence systems compared to larger, supersonic aircraft.
However, the Su-25 is not a poor performer in combat—quite the opposite. Measuring just over 15 metres (about 49 feet) in length and weighing 11 tonnes, it is relatively lightweight and generally has small dimensions, making it highly manoeuvrable. Moreover, it can carry weapons (on underwing pylons) with a total weight exceeding 4 tonnes (about 4.4 tons). It can also engage enemies with a standard 30mm GSz-30-2 aircraft cannon.
It is also worth noting that another parameter that determines the use of this aircraft is its range. Its basic version (without additional fuel tanks) ranges around 500 kilometres (about 310 miles). Therefore, the Su-25 cannot operate deep into Ukraine if it is far from allied air bases.
