EBSIS Sukhoi Su-39(R) [Su-25] Close Support Aircraft:


While the Su-27 and MiG-29 are the main advanced fighters of the EBSIS, the Su-25 is the main ground attack and close support aircraft. The first Soviet Su-25 prototype flew in 1975 with the aircraft being introduced into service in 1981. Designed to support ground forces, the Sukhoi Su-25 is considered to have filled a similar but not identical role to the American A-10 Thunderbolt. In appearance, they are quite different and the Su-25 is also quite a bit smaller than the American aircraft. The Su-25 was called the “Frogfoot” in Western circles and was nicknamed the Grach (Rook) by the Soviets.


Multiple different variety of the Su-25 were developed by the Soviet military and it was used for several different roles. These include trainer models, general ground attack, dedicated anti-tank, and even target towing roles. A twin seat carrier version was also developed for the new Soviet carriers being built. The standard trainer aircraft are also twin seats. Compared to the Su-27 and MiG-29, the Su-25 us far better suited for low level ground attack with greater armor. It is a simpler aircraft that is easier and less expensive to manufacture. In addition, the close support aircraft was designed to take off from short runways and improvised fields.


The Su-39 is a greatly upgraded version of the Su-25 which was planned just before the coming of the Global War. It was later introduced into service by the EBSIS. It has a number of important improvement including flight controls, radar system, and displays. It is also modified with reinforcement for greater survivability and ability to withstand damage. Both a single seat and twin seat of the Su-39 are produced with the twin seat fitted with a tail hook for carrier operations.


After the attack of the Zentraedi attacks, there was a huge amount of wreckage. An effort was made to study this wreckage and, as with other newer EBSIS aircraft, the design uses recycled technology from Zentraedi wreckage. Not so much electronics but the far strong armor materials used.


The Su-25 does not have the huge gun carried in the American A-10. Instead, it uses a lighter gun that uses a slightly shorter 30 mm round. The Gsh-30-2 is twin barrel vs seven barrels of the GAU-8. The ammunition is the same as is carried on the Su-27 although a total of two hundred and fifty rounds is carried. The aircraft has five hard points on each wing, four that can carry heavy ordnance with one each wing limited to medium range missiles. On the heavier hard points, missile packs with nine short range missiles each are carried. The warheads of the new missiles are adapted from Zentraedi missiles. The two inner hard points on each wing can also carry fuel tanks to extend the aircraft’s range.


Compared to the Su-37, the close support aircraft lacks vectored thrusters and is not as mauneverable. It is nowhere near as fast as well, with a maximum speed of only around Mach 0.8 at sea level. Range is around 1300 kilometers at altitude and 800 kilometers operating on low level missions. Each external drop tank, with a maximum of four instead of ordnance, extends range by 95 kilometers.


Before the Global War, the Soviet exported a number of Su-25 to their allies. The EBSIS has continued this, exporting numbers of the Su-39 to their allies. The L.V.T. Adventurer II is considered to fill a similar role although it a vertical take off aircraft.


Model Type: Su-39(R)

Vehicle Type: Twin Engine Close Support Aircraft

Crew: One (ground models) or Two (trainers and carrier based.)


M.D.C. by Location:

[1] Wings (2):

90 each

[2] Elevators (2):

45 each

[2] Rudders (1):

50

Cockpit:

80

Landing Gear (3):

5 each

[3] Engine (2):

100 each

[4] Main Body:

150

Notes:

[1] Destroying a wing will cause the plane to crash.

[2] Destruction of rudders or one elevator will still allow the fighter to be controlled by the varying of power levels of the engines but the aircraft has a penalty of -10 to dodge, and a -30% penalty to all piloting rolls. Destruction of both of the elevators will leave the plane uncontrollable and pilot(s) must eject to survive.

[3] The destruction of one engine will reduce the fighter’s top speed by half and give the pilot a -2 penalty to dodge as well as giving a 10% penalty to piloting. Destruction of both engines will cause the aircraft to crash. Pilot(s) may attempt an emergency landing or pilot(s) can choose to eject.

[4] Depleting the M.D.C. of the main body will shut the aircraft down completely, rendering it useless and causing it to crash if in flight.


Speed:

Driving on Ground (Taxiing): Only possible for take offs and landings as well as for parking and storage. Speed is 40 mph (64 kph) when traveling and not on take off or landing.Aircraft can land and take off from primitive runways.

Flying: The Su-39 can reach a top speed of 975 mph (526 knots /676 kph) at low altitude. Top speed is reduced by about 10% when fully loaded. The aircraft does not have an afterburner and the attack aircraft’s normal cruise speed is 428.7 mph (372.6 knots /690 kph) but varies on the situation. The Su-39 has a maximum altitude of 22,960 feet (7,000 meters) empty and 16,400 feet (5,000 meters) fully loaded.

Range: 497.1 miles (432 nautical miles / 800 kilometers) at low altitude and 807.8 miles (701.9 nautical miles / 1,300 kilometers) at higher cruise altitudes. The aircraft can carry four external fuel tanks (in place of ordnance) on hard points which extend range by 59 miles (51 nautical miles / 95 kilometers) each. There are no provisions of mid-air refueling.


Statistical Data:

Height: 15.75 feet (4.80 meters)

Wingspan: 47.11 feet (14.36 meters)

Length: 50.95 feet (15.53 meters)

Weight: 32,187 pounds (14,600 kilograms) empty, 35,814pounds (16,250 kilograms) loaded, 38,800 pounds (17,600 kilograms) maximum take off weight.

Power System: Conventional, Two Soyuz/Gavrilov R-195 turbojets 9,921 lb thrust each), uses aviation fuel.

Cargo: Minimal (Storage for small equipment), does not include hard points.

Market Price: 12 million credits.


Weapon Systems:

  1. One (1) GSh-30-2 30 mm Cannon: Mounted in the aircraft’s nose, this cannon is heavier than the cannon mounted in the MiG-29(E) of the EBSIS and inflicts more damage to targets. The cannon is useful against both other fighters and ground targets. The EBSIS has developed more powerful ammunition so it can damage the new Mega-Damage alloys. While the weapon does not inflict as much damage as most guns from RDF fighters, it still inflicts a good amount of damage.

    Maximum Effective Range: 4,000 feet (1,220 meters).

    Mega Damage: 4D6 per burst of 30 rounds from cannon. Each round inflicts 1 M.D.C. each

    Rate of Fire: Equal to the combined hand to hand attacks of the pilot (usually 4 or 5).

    Payload: 250 rounds (8 bursts)

  2. Ten (10) Hard Points: The EBSIS Sukhoi Su-39 has a total of ten hard points with five each wing. Below is a list of hard points and the loads that they can carry. Missiles, rocket packs, and bombs can be mixed or matched but all ordnance on a hard point must be the same type. An interesting load the launcher can carry is rear firing missiles. These missiles are modified medium range missiles. Carries short range missiles in pods instead of on hard points allows the fighter to carry more missiles at a time.

    Inner Wing Hard Points (4): Fuel Tanks (Extends range by 59 miles / 51 nautical miles / 95 kilometers each), Rocket Packs (Short Range Missiles), or Missiles/Bombs (one Long Range Missile /Heavy or two Medium Range/Medium.)

    Middle Wing Hard Points (4): Rocket Packs (Short Range Missiles) or Missiles/Bombs (one Long Range Missile /Heavy or two Medium Range/Medium.)

    Outer Wing Hard Points (2): Missiles Only (One medium range missile each)

    1. Bombs and Missiles: The only restriction is that a hard point must carry all the same type of missiles or bombs. Both unguided and guided bombs can be carried.

      Maximum Effective Range: Varies by missile type for missile and varies by altitude bombs are dropped at (See Robotech RPG book for missiles).

      Mega Damage: Varies by missile or bomb type (See Robotech RPG book for missiles).

      Rate of Fire: Missiles can be fired and bombs can be dropped one at a time per hard point. Multiple hard points can be linked as one attack but must be the same size (light, medium, or heavy) and style of ordnance (all missiles or bombs in a volley)

      Payload: Varies by hard point (see above - all ordnance on a hard point must be the same size and type of ordnance).

    2. Rocket Pod: Large capacity short range missile pod. The short range missile pods are normally carried for ground strafing, anti-troop, and anti-emplacement attacks. Normal missile used are armor piercing, plasma, or fragmentation short range missiles. In two pilot versions, short range missile pods are controlled by the pilot.

      Maximum Effective Range: Varies with missile types, short range missiles only (See Robotech RPG book).

      Mega Damage: Varies with missile types (See Robotech RPG book).

      Rate of Fire: Each pod can fire missiles one at a time or in volleys of three (3), six (6), or nine (9) and can be linked with other mini missile pods for greater number of missiles (Counts as one attack no matter how many missiles in volley)

      Payload: Each pod carries nine (9) short missiles.

Special Equipment:

Combat Bonuses:



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Writeup by Kitsune (E-Mail Kitsune).


Copyright © 2013, Kitsune. All rights reserved.


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