The comparison to the USAF A-10A is incorrect. A better comparison — ie if one is to be made — would be the Northrop YA-9A that lost out to the Fairchild YA-10A. But in reality the SU-25 is not a close air support aircraft like the A-10A but a ground attack aircraft. A better comparison would be a detuned version of the British/French Jaguar.

Finally, the SU-25 can take a lot of punishment. But no where near the ability of the the A-10A (the location of the SU-25 engines prevents that ability). When the SU-25 first saw combat in Afghanistan it lost a few to heat seeking missiles like the SA-7 and Stinger but this problem was solved when a sheet of armor plating was put between the two engines — ie when one engine was hit it self destructed and took out the other engine. After this modification was made there were no further losses to manportable SAMs in Afghanistan.

Jack E. Hammond

PS> The Mi-24 is the Russian Air Forces answer to the CAS role.

Waiting eagerly for the translation!

Keep up the good work!