Sukhoi Su-25 Frogfoot: The Soviet Union's Tank-... (2025)

The , nicknamed the "Grach" (Rook) by Soviet pilots, is a specialized subsonic, armored close air support (CAS) jet designed to provide direct battlefield assistance to ground forces. Often referred to as the "Soviet Tank-Buster" or "Flying Tank," it was developed in the late 1960s to fulfill the need for a modern equivalent to the legendary WWII-era Ilyushin IL-2 Shturmovik . Design and Survivability

: The pilot is protected by an all-welded 24mm titanium alloy armored cockpit , allowing it to survive direct hits from ground-based anti-aircraft fire. Sukhoi Su-25 Frogfoot: The Soviet Union's Tank-...

The Su-25 was built with a focus on ruggedness and pilot safety rather than speed or high-tech sophistication. The , nicknamed the "Grach" (Rook) by Soviet