Armenian SU-25 jet shot down by Turkish F-16 fighter

Armenian Radio ^ | September 29, 2020 | Siranush Ghazanchyan

[Spktyr]

Proper as in ‘dedicated or primary purpose designed air-to-air combat fighters’. And, basically, ground attack specialized aircraft have always suffered greatly against air-to-air combat fighters.

To wit: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ilyushin_Il-2#Air-to-air_combat

Owing to a shortage of fighters, in 1941–1942, Il-2s were occasionally used as fighters. While outclassed by dedicated fighters such as the Messerschmitt Bf 109 and Focke-Wulf Fw 190, in dogfights, the Il-2 could take on other Luftwaffe aircraft with some success. German front line units equipped with the Henschel Hs 126 suffered most of all from the ravages of Il-2s. Il-2 pilots also often attacked close formations of Junkers Ju 87s, as the 7.92 mm (0.312 in) machine guns of the Ju 87 Stukas were ineffective against the heavily armoured Shturmoviks. In the winter of 1941–1942, Il-2s were used against Luftwaffe transport aircraft, and became the most dangerous opponent of the Junkers Ju 52/3m. Pilots of 33rd GvShAP were the most successful in these operations. Other successful units were those in 1942–1943 operating near Stalingrad. Their targets were not only Ju 52s but also Heinkel He 111 and Focke-Wulf Fw 200 Condor bombers, delivering supplies to the besieged German troops.

While the Il-2 was a deadly air-to-ground weapon, and even a fairly effective interceptor against slow bombers and transport aircraft, heavy losses resulted from its vulnerability to fighter attack. Losses were very high, the highest of all types of Soviet aircraft, though given the numbers in service this is only to be expected. Shturmovik losses (including Il-10 type), in 1941–1945, were of 10,762 aircraft (533 in 1941, 1,676 in 1942, 3,515 in 1943, 3,347 in 1944 and 1,691 in 1945). The main defensive tactic was to fly low and reduce power as the fighter closed in. This could make the fighter overshoot and fly into the Il-2’s firing zone.

[NorseViking]

I fully agree with you on the advantages of A-10 and don’t say it is worse, but you are selling Su-25 short.

You need to see what ‘dirt strip’ means for Su-25. Many won’t ride ATV on that. It need half the runway of A-10 also and that without a chute that might be employed also.

Regularly loaded Su-25 weights about 15 tons, A-10 about 22 tons. That is with engines of similar thrust. With R-195 engine it has about 10% more thrust.

You say that the speeds are largely similar but that if you compare the top speed of A-10 to the cruise speed of Su-25. Otherwise, Su-25 is two times as fast.

I realize that the wing profile of A-10 allows it to turn on a dime at low speed but you can’t beat physics at relugar regimes. Su-25s during Afghan war flew into narrow canyons to dig-out terrorists. Its wing is very well suited for low speed maneuvers too and heavily mechanized. It can turn in 450-500 meters and maintain energy. The landing speeds are similar. You won’t find published stall speed for Su-25 but some claims that it is half of that of A-10. And Su-25 is capable to sustain G-loads on par with regular Western fighters. What would make it lose energy at higher rate, given sturdier airframe, light weight, and same or higher horsepower?

R-95Sh turbojet is multifuel. It flies on everything that burns. That includes waste engine oil diluted by moonshine.
In fact many surplus engines are working as power generators on everything operators has.

As for protection the control surfaces of Su-25 are driven by 4 sm titanium rods.
There are exactly two recorded cases of aircraft shot down with HMG or autocannon. In one case it was due a to a bullet hitting the oxygen system rendering pilot unconscious.
Only 12 Su-25 pilots were killed during Afghan war. That’s given they were used very intensively and most aggressively. Only the strategic bombers delivered more payload at zero loss.

[Swarthy Greek Immigrant]

Because Armenians are a prosperous minority in America the USA has to pretend it supports Armenian but Azerbaijani gas and oil and location means the USA will back the Turks.