Honestly I could see 12.0 being an easy BR. It would still be worse than a 29 with a worse weapons loadout.
I’m still woundering when, if ever, they will show us what the later Su-25 is going to be that they plan to add some day.
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Should get thermals and MWS, will be worthwhile for sure. Probably also cancer in GRB
So on the Su-25SM3, here’s what we know about it’s capabilities:
360° MAW system
More countermeasures
2nd Gen thermals on a front facing nose mounted optic
No IRCM system most likely
No Vihkers
The only way I see this vehicle being worth it, is if it’s given advanced Kh-25MTP missiles
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Was it compatible with R-77?
As far as I know, nope.
It cannot carry Kopyo/Kopye radar pod or LLLTV pod ( since thermals in nose).
It does however have a much better target acquisition range which could potentially make it semi decent for slinging Kh-25s.
I suppose we’ll see what they do with it, even tho I’d much prefer a tech tree TM model
It’s rear only
Yep, whilst it would have some advantages over the Su-25T with a thermal t-pod, it doesnt make much sense to add another Su-25 at the 11.3 region. So might have made sense as an a AV-8B+ Sub-sonic ARH thrower at 12.3. But if it cant do that, then I wonder what or how they’ll do it. Though the defensive systems on it make me think it would be at least 11.7+
Its RWR is sorta can be used for targeting for R-77 but I highly doubt it was ever actually implemented
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Most likely they drawed just some random missile, because in text it’s written that L-150-16M can be used for seekers:
D7USh (Kh-58USh), 77PM (should be some Kh-31 version (Kh-31PM?) and 470P (R-27P) and no mention of R-77.
http://old.aviationunion.ru/Files/Nom_8_CKBA_Omsk.pdf
Sure, maybe, as soon as you figure out a way to strap a radar onto this plane. Keep in mind the SM3 has nothing to do with the Su-25T/39 upgrades, and is kinda it own branch based off the normal Su-25.
I don’t even know if it has the ability to mount R-73/74’s.
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Unless this will replace the Su-25T and the Su-25T will move up to 12.3 with R-77. That is always possible
Su-25T can’t use Kopyo and R-77, TM(39) only
Maybe. Although I’m pretty sure they intend this to be the end of the line Su-25, and I’m curious how they plan to convince us that it will be worth it. Like I said, the Kh-25MTP is the only thaing I can see that might help it be competitive…for CAS that is
Yep, though im guessing like a lot of aircraft yet to be added, they’ll milk the Su-25 for every single variant possible, even if they arent really different
Idk at this point. If they Add the Su-25SM3, maybe it will give them the excuse they need to move the T up and also upgrade the 39 while we’re at it. The Khod thermal pod and R-27’s atleast would be cool to see. We know they had worked on giving it R-27 pylons in the files, but I just don’t know anymore if they plan to add the SM3 just so they can change the T/39
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39 is tricky because its premium.
I mean, with 12.7 now a thaing, and 11.3 premiums in ground, they have all the wiggle room they need, but obviously they don’t wanna move it past the max BR for ground, since they wanna sell it as a CAS premium. I still think they could get away with giving it 2XR-27’s and definitely could give it the Khod thermal pod right now regardless. But we have no clue
Its more that they’ve sold the vehicle for a specific BR. If they radically change the aircraft to be a completely different BR, then people may get upset, they might not have bought it if it had always been that BR.
They wont even give the Challenger DS L26 shells (which was what it used), even with us volunteering a BR increase to 10.3. Im just doubting they’ll do anything that would risk even the Su-39 moving up to 11.7 currently. Moving the BRs of any Premium takes a while. Harrier Gr1 took about a year of fighting to get it to move from 10.0 to 9.7.
Technically, it’s intended role is to be a top tier CAS premium for the USSR, and so long as it stays around the top fro ground, they arnt really changing the deal so to speak, the way I see it atleast. If they moved it to 12.3 then yeah that wouldn’t really work, but they could still give it some buffs without having to radically re- balance the plane. It didn’t take long for it to get the R-73’s and that didn’t change much