I remember reading when Erich Hartmann tried to shoot down his first Stormovik. He was surprised to see the bullets bounce off and the rear gunner almost got him.
Some of the experienced pilots told him you had to approach them from the rear and below. The Stormoviks typically flew really low just to guard against that.
I think it was the original flying tank.
What’s interesting was that the Soviet design requirement for what became the Su-25 came out within one year of the same USAF requirement for a low-flying, highly-maneuverable, and heavily armed ground attack plane. The USAF got the A-10, and the Soviets got the Su-25. Both were designed for one mission: low altitude interdiction of armored vehicles, including tanks.
I just read "The Revolt of the Admirals" speaking to this topic. I am glad our ground pounders got cover in the form of the A10 and Naval aviation.
CAS planes have had a bigger impact on the battlefield than any other plane in history. It’s shame the US air force hates them. We should have a ground controlled cheap CAS drone for every unit out there but the air force hates the idea.
US supported the wrong side.
How long until the Russian Air Force tries to kill it in order to fund an aircraft they don’t really need?
It is missing a ton of the A10 features for close air support
They wish.
The gun isn’t nearly as accurate or powerful as the A-10.
IN addition, engine performance was crap and unreliable.