This volume details the technical features and operational performance of the Soviet Su-25 'Frogfoot', which proved itself as a durable and versatile attack aircraft in a variety of theatres such as Afghanistan, Georgia and Ossetia. Today it is widely accepted as the true successor to the types of specialised ground--attack aircraft that emerged during World War II. This book illuminates the service history of the 'Frogfoot' in over 30 years of combat using first-hand accounts and revealing archive photographs. The awkward-looking Su-25 has often been underrated, but the faithful 'Frogfoot' is now slated to remain in service with most of its current operators across the globe until at least 2020. This study explores the successes of the 'Frogfoot' in full, demonstrating its strengths as a formidably armed, armoured and very agile attack aircraft.

Author Biography

Alexander Mladenov is an aerospace writer, photographer and consultant based in Bulgaria. He specialises in coverage of Soviet/Russian and Eastern European military aviation, both past and present. His photographs and articles have appeared in leading military aviation magazines around the world since 1992. This is his fourth title for Osprey Publishing. A lifelong aviation enthusiast, Rolando Ugolini graduated from Edinburgh College of Art in 1982 and moved to Suffolk soon after. His work is split between designing books, freelance graphic design and aviation illustration. Clients include EADS, Airbus and most aviation/modelling magazines. Gareth Hector is a digital artist of international standing as well as an aviation history enthusiast. Gareth completed the battlescene artwork and cover artwork.