Some fragments of a post made few years ago by
(ALEXEI GRETCHIKHINE) about Su-25 Frogfoot survivability in Afghanistan:

Quote
.... One particular Su-25 (actually preproduction T-8-15 or Blue 15) flown by
Colonel Alexander V. Rutskoj was damaged by AAA and two (!) AIM-9L
Sidewinders launched by Pakistani F-16s. Both times the aircraft brought
pilot back to base. It was "refurbished" in Tbilisi and after receiving new
paint job and bort number Blue 301 it was displayed in Paris in 1989. It was
further modified for the weapon trials which included S-240 and S-25 330 mm
unguided rockets. This aircraft currently on display at Khodynka Museum.

Here are few more stories highlighting Su-25 roughness:

-Major Rubalov's Su-25 was hit in the engine which surged and flooded an
engine bay with fuel, the cockpit was shattered, buster controls are gone
and major's face covered with blood. None of the dials in the cockpit worked
and his wingman guided him to the final approach. After belly landing, major
rushed away from the Su-25 fearing that plane going to explode. After
figuring that this is not going to happen, he got back to the aircraft and
cut the engine.

-Another Su-25 was on fire which burned out most of the wiring and 95% of
horizontal tail controls. In few moments before the landing, fire short cut
the gear release wires and Su-25 made "conventional" landing.

-Lieutenant Golubtsov's Su-25 lost half of its rudder along with breaks.
After landing his a/c ended up off runaway and rolled into adjacent mine
field. He was forced to wait in the cockpit till mine squad cleared his way
out.

-One Su-25 brought a missile in the engine which failed to detonate. (SAM?)

-Rutskoi's Su-25 was hit by AAA (ZGU) when a missile (Blowpipe) hit right
engine (head on - it "turned off" the engine though the intake). Second AAA
finally managed to shot it down. This is a second Frogfoot he flew (not the
preproduction T-8-15 Blue 15 which was damaged twice). Rutskoi spent some
time as Pakistani POW and was shortly exchanged.
....
End quote
--

Nele

NULLA ROSA SINE SPINA