picture 172489

This is a reconstruction of the Su-25SM Bort ‘06 Blue’ (RF-95486) shot down on 3 February 2018 over southern Idlib, while flown by Major Roman Filipov. Contrary to some of the fleet, this and plenty of other Su-25s deployed to Syria were painted in the same dark grey on top surfaces and sides as some of the Su-34s. Originally drawn from the Chernigovka-based 187th Guards Attack Aviation Squadron, this aircraft arrived at Hmeimim AB sometime in December 2017, during the third (and ‘final’) withdrawal announced by President Putin. It is shown as usually configured during this period: including drop tanks on the inboard underwing pylons, and one or two B-8M pods for unguided rockets. Also deployed in combat in Syria were the less-well known B-13 pods for five 130mm rockets, one of which is shown in the lower right corner. (Artwork by Tom Cooper)