A video recently released by the Russian Ministry of Defense shows an Su-25 pilot conducting combat operations over the Donetsk region of Ukraine. According to the release, the flight was a close air support operation, but the pilot appears to simply be flying a suppression mission.

By definition, close air support implies that the pilot is providing air support to troops that are in close contact with enemy forces. Generally speaking, close integration with ground forces is required with CAS missions so that the pilot can effectively engage enemy forces without committing fratricide.

The above, of course, is written from an American viewpoint on close air support operations which are dominantly based in USAF doctrine. The Russians may have a different definition of close air support. Russian air combat doctrine is not something that I have ever personally bothered to research in depth.

About the Author

Josh Brooks

Josh is an American writer and former USMC machine gunner with eight years of experience in ground combat arms throughout the GWOT. He is currently based in Texas and specializes in combat footage analysis and digital marketing.Follow Josh at OfficialJoshBrooks.com