Russian Sukhoi Su-25 aircraft safely lands after being hit by Ukrainian MANPADS
Categories: FOREIGN COUNTRIES
The official Twitter handle of the Russian defence ministry released a video of a fighter jet claiming that the pilot of the Sukhoi Su-25 (NATO reporting name: Frogfoot) attack aircraft managed to land the plane after being hit by a Ukrainian MANPADS missile.The aircraft can be seen hit on the rear right-hand side of the fuselage and the video shows the jet being towed. The aircraft can be seen hit on the rear right-hand side of the fuselage and the video shows the jet being towed. The report shows two crucial sides; one is the threat caused by MANPADS operated by the Ukrainian forces to all Russian aircraft operating at medium and low altitudes, and the second is the damage tolerance of the Su-25. "The pilot of the second aircraft visually detected the launch of the second missile and, firing off flares, managed to divert the missile to the side." "During the landing approach, the pilot of the damaged Su-25 reported an avionics and control systems failure, but managed to land thanks to the assitance provided by the pilot covering him. The landing was uneventful. Thanks to the cold-blooded and skillful actions of the pilot Denis Litvinov, he managed to save the life of his friend and the combat aircraft."