On September 26, 2024, Turkish Aerospace Industries unveiled the LAÇIN modernization program for the Russian-made Su-25 attack aircraft of the Azerbaijani Air Force at ADEX 2024 in Azerbaijan. This ambitious project marks a significant milestone in the strategic cooperation between Azerbaijan and Türkiye, aiming to strengthen regional military capabilities through the integration of advanced technologies and cutting-edge munitions.
The LAÇIN modernization program is divided into two distinct phases: Merhale-1 and Merhale-2, each offering different levels of system integration to optimize the performance of the Su-25 attack aircraft.
The first phase, Merhale-1, serves as the foundation of the project by adding the UBAS (Aircraft-Independent Firing System) as a plug-and-play solution. This system allows for the integration of guided bombs KGK-82/83, TEBER-82, and cruise missiles SOM-B1 without altering the existing systems and capabilities of the Su-25. As of July 30, 2024, seven aircraft have been delivered under this phase. In 2023, a KGK-83 was successfully deployed from a Su-25 LAÇIN modernized to the Merhale-1 standard, demonstrating enhanced precision and efficiency thanks to the KGK’s wings, which provide an extended gliding range of over 100 km.
The second phase, Merhale-2, is more extensive and aims for a complete overhaul of the Su-25’s avionics. This phase includes modernizing the cockpit with digital displays, installing a central mission computer, new radios, an advanced communication link, an inertial navigation system (INS), and many other modern equipment. The Pre-Design Review (PDR) for Merhale-2 was conducted on May 23, 2024, paving the way for the integration of GPS-guided bombs HGK and cruise missiles SOM ŞAHİN, although no official information regarding the SOM ŞAHİN has been released yet.