In 2014 16 new Su-25SM3 strike-fighters joined the fleet of the attack aviation regiment of the 1^st guards composite aviation division of the Southern Military District. The regiment is based in Krasnodar Krai, Russian Ministry of Defense reports.

«Su-25SM3 strike-fighter (“Grach”) replaced its predecessor – Su-25 jet. It is fitted with state-of-the-art avionics and equipment, which make the aircraft more efficient and make its operation easier,» the Ministry noted.

Thanks to the upgrade, the strike-fighter is able to destroy targets under any weather conditions without visual contact with them. For example, earlier in order to launch a missile or drop a bomb the pilot must have established visual contact with the target and he had to fly at extremely low altitudes in the mountainous regions.

Now the upgraded “Grach” is able to hit targets from behind the clouds staying far away from them, the Ministry added.