The Su-25 Frogfoot and the A-10 Warthog (also known as the Thunderbolt II) are both ground-attack aircraft designed to provide close air support for ground troops. Both aircraft have been used in various conflicts throughout the world and have proven to be effective in their respective roles.
Design and Capabilities:
The Su-25 is a Soviet-made aircraft that first entered service in 1981. It has a maximum speed of 600km/h, a range of 800km, and it is equipped with a range of weapons, including bombs and missiles. The aircraft is designed to operate in adverse weather conditions and under heavy enemy fire, and it has a rugged construction that allows it to withstand significant battle damage.
The A-10 Warthog is an American-made aircraft that first entered service in 1977. It has a top speed of around 660km/h and a maximum range of around 1,800km. Its most distinctive feature is its 30mm Gatling gun, which is considered to be more powerful and accurate than the weapons of the Su-25. The A-10 also has better protection for the pilot and aircraft, with its titanium bathtub structure that surrounds the cockpit, providing protection against armor-piercing rounds.
In terms of avionics and electronics, the Su-25 is considered to be less advanced than the A-10, which has more advanced navigation, targeting, and communication systems. The A-10 also has a more advanced radar system and better sensors, which allows it to detect and engage targets at greater ranges.
Engine:
The Su-25 is powered by two Tumanski R-195 turbojet engines, each producing a dry thrust of 6,500 kgf (64 kN) and an afterburning thrust of 8,500 kgf (83 kN). The R-195 is a non-afterburning engine, which means it does not have an afterburner system that would increase thrust output. The engines are mounted on the sides of the fuselage and provide the aircraft with high performance and maneuverability.
The A-10 Warthog is powered by a single General Electric TF34-GE-100 turbofan engine, which produces a thrust of 9,065 lbf (40.4 kN). The engine is mounted in the rear of the aircraft, and its design provides the A-10 with a high thrust-to-weight ratio, which gives it the ability to climb quickly and maneuver effectively.
Comparing the engines, the A-10 Warthog’s engine is more powerful than the Su-25 engine, and also, it has a higher thrust to weight ratio. This allows the A-10 to be more agile, and have a better performance in terms of speed and altitude. On the other hand, the Su-25’s twin-engine configuration provides it with a high level of performance and maneuverability as well, but it is less powerful.
The A-10’s engine also has an unique feature, it has an “unstart” protection system, which prevents the engine from stalling in case of sudden power loss, this helps the aircraft to keep flying even if one of its engines fail.
Overall, both aircraft have engines that are well-suited to their respective roles, but the A-10’s engine is generally considered to be more powerful and advanced than the Su-25’s engine.
Payloads:
The Su-25 has 10 hardpoints for carrying weapons, with four underwing pylons and two wingtip pylons. It can carry a variety of weapons such as:
- Air-to-ground missiles: Kh-23, Kh-25, Kh-29, and Kh-58
- Rockets: S-8, S-13, and S-24
- Bombs: FAB-250, FAB-500, and FAB-1000
- Guns: GSh-30-2 30 mm cannon
The A-10 Warthog has 11 hardpoints for carrying weapons, with seven underwing pylons and four wingtip pylons. It can carry a variety of weapons such as:
- Air-to-ground missiles: AGM-65 Maverick and AGM-118A/B/C/D/E/F/G/H/J/K/L/M/N/O/P/Q/R/S/T/U/V/W/X/Y/Z
- Rockets: 2.75 inch (70mm) and 5 inch (127mm)
- Bombs: Mk-82, Mk-84, GBU-8, GBU-10, GBU-12, GBU-16, GBU-24, GBU-27, GBU-31, GBU-38, and GBU-39
- Guns: GAU-8 Avenger 30mm seven-barrel Gatling gun.
As you can see, both aircraft can carry a wide range of weapons, but the A-10 Warthog has a larger payload capacity, and it is primarily armed with its 30mm GAU-8 Avenger Gatling gun, which is considered to be more powerful and accurate than the weapons of the Su-25. This gives the A-10 a significant firepower advantage over the Su-25.
Combat Performance:
Both aircraft have been used in various conflicts throughout the world, and both have proven to be effective in their respective roles. The Su-25 has seen extensive use in conflicts such as the Soviet-Afghan War, the Russo-Georgian War, and conflicts in Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America. The A-10 has been used in conflicts such as the Gulf War, the War in Afghanistan, and the Iraq War.
In terms of overall capabilities, the A-10 Warthog is considered to be a more advanced aircraft than the Su-25, but the Su-25 is still considered to be a reliable and robust aircraft that can operate in extreme environments.
In conclusion, both the Su-25 and A-10 Warthog are highly effective ground-attack aircraft that have proven themselves in combat. The A-10 Warthog is considered to be more advanced and capable than the Su-25, but the Su-25 is still a formidable aircraft that can hold its own in combat.