Russian governmental portal announcing public procurement contracts, has posted a closed tender for general overhauls and modernization works on the Su-25 to Su-25SM3 standard, on behalf of Russian Defense Ministry. Works on the aircraft should be completed by November 10th, 2021. The tender winner will be announced on April 25th, 2019. The number of aircraft upgraded for an allocated amount has not been published.
In 2018, the Ministry of Defense of Russian Federation announced a similar tender worth 24.5 mil. USD to upgrade the four Su-25 aircraft to Su-25SM3 standard. In November 2018, three Su-25SM3 upgraded aircraft were handed over to the unspecified unit belonging to the 4th air and air-defense army of the Southern Military District in Krasnodar region.
The first pre-serial Su-25SM3 have been tested since 2013, serial airframes were undergoing trials since 2015. Modernized Su-25SM3 differs from the classic Su-25 by L-370K-25 "Vitebsk" self-protection system; communication and fire-control system SUO-39M and other improvements. Two outer underwing pylons carry “L-150-1M” radar warning receivers and “L-370-3C-K25” sensor. Since 2015, about 15 aircraft of upgraded Su-25SM3 version have been delivered to the Russian aerospace forces. According to the available information, upgraded Su-25SM3 were delivered to the 960th combat air regiment (Primorsk-Akhtarsk) and 368. combat air regiment (Budenovsk). Their modernization was carried out by "121. aviation-repair plant " at Stary Gorodok, near Kubinka Air Base.