Sukhoi Su-39 "Frogfoot"

Sukhoi · Soviet Union · first flew 1991 · fighter

The Sukhoi Su-39 (also designated Su-25TM) is a significantly upgraded single-seat close air support and anti-tank aircraft derived from the combat-proven Su-25 Frogfoot. It features advanced avionics including the Kopyo radar and improved weapons system.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	Mid-mounted, swept
E — Engines	2 × turbofan, fuselage-mounted
F — Fuselage	15.33 m fuselage
T — Tail	Twin fin

WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.

Spot it by:

Twin-boom tail with twin vertical fins
Heavily armoured cockpit tub
Under-nose gun and extensive hardpoints

Essentially identical externally to the Su-25 Frogfoot — twin-engine subsonic jet with pronounced wing anhedral, armoured fuselage, and a distinctive flat underside; the Su-39 may carry a Kopyo radar pod under the nose.

Specifications

The Sukhoi Su-39 has a length of 15.33 m (50 ft).
It has a wingspan of 14.52 m (48 ft).
Its maximum speed is 950 km/h (590 mph).
Typical crew: 1.

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

Development of the Su-25TM/Su-39 began in the late 1980s as a modernisation of the Su-25, with the prototype flying in 1991. The aircraft incorporated a nose-mounted radar pod and compatibility with the Vikhr anti-tank missile. Production remained very limited due to the Soviet collapse.

Variants

The Su-39 designation was applied to the series-production version of the Su-25TM; it shares its airframe with the Su-25 but carries substantially upgraded systems.

Where you'll see it

Only a small number of Su-39 aircraft were completed; they were evaluated by the Russian Air Force but never entered large-scale service, with the standard Su-25 remaining the primary variant.

Related aircraft

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