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Russian Su-25 jet crashes near Ukraine border, pilot dead

Other News Materials 28 June 2006 14:06 (UTC +04:00)

(RIA Novosti) - The pilot of a Su-25 Frogfoot close support aircraft died when his plane crashed in southwest Russia near the border with Ukraine, Russian Air Force spokesman Alexander Drobyshevsky said Wednesday.

The official said an investigation had been launched into the causes of the accident, which occurred near the town of Bryansk, reports Trend.

The most recent crash involving an Su-25 plane occurred on May 21, 2005 in Tajikistan. The pilot managed to eject from the plane and an investigation later established that the accident had been caused by technical problems.

Survivability was one of the main design criteria when the aircraft was developed by the Sukhoi design bureau. The pilot is encased in an all welded titanium-enforced cockpit, while the widely separated engines are armored with stainless steel bays. The fuels tanks are also armored and filled with foam to prevent explosion.

Experts say the Su-25 is faster and more agile than its U.S. counterpart, the A-10 Thunderbolt II.

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