Page 44 - Military Technology 12/2018
P. 44
42 · MT 12/2018 Features
Dr Nikolai Novichkov
Russia Details Counter-Terror Operation
in Syria
A detailed overview Combat sorties of Altogether, some 215
of Russian Aerospace the VKS in Syria items of Russian military
Forces conducting com- hardware were tested
bat sorties over Syria. in September 2015 - during the counter-terror
September 2017 operation in Syria; 702
drawbacks were revealed,
The Russian MoD re- 99% of which have now
cently published informa- been fixed. The MoD ex-
tion, according to which pressed its gratitude to in-
the Aerospace Forces dustry for this work.
(VKS) made 39,000 com- “The operation has re-
bat sorties (including sulted in the destruction of
20,000 at night) during M September-December 2015 8,000 armoured vehicles
counter-terror operations M January-December 2016 and technicians armed
in Syria by the end of M January-September 2017 with heavy machineguns
August. VKS employed and 718 plants and work-
87% of frontline aviation shops that produced am-
crews, 91% of army avi- munition and explosives. It
ation crews and 60% of Number of targets engaged is noteworthy that 60,318
strategic/long-range avia- terrorists, including 819
tion crews in these oper- by the VKS in Syria heads of gang formations
ations and also conducted in September 2015 - and 2,840 immigrants from
some 66 tactical air strikes the Russian Federation,
against insurgents, using September 2017 have been eliminated.
the Kh-555 and Kh-101 air- Aviation has solved the
launched cruise missiles. It pivotal task to cut the ter-
also noted that the Tupolev rorists` incomes from oil
Tu-22M3 BACKFIRE-C sales, which amounted to
long-range bomber fleet no less than U$3 million
conducted 369 combat per day; 396 facilities of
missions and launched 47 M September-December 2015 illegal oil extraction have
group air strikes, hitting M January-December 2016 been destroyed, as well as
215 targets. 4,100 fuel tankers. Syrian
In late October, Defence M January-September 2017 governmental troops and
Minister Gen. Sergei militias supported by the
Shoigu updated the sta- Russian VKS have liberat-
tistics. According to him, Types of targets engaged ed 1,024 populated local-
the VKS conducted more ities,” Gen. Shoigu told a
than 40,000 combat by the VKS in Syria governmental meeting in
sorties (including some in September 2015 - early 2018.
21,000 sorties by night)
and destroyed more than September 2017
122,000 terrorist assets. High Intensity
Approximately, 87,500 in- Air Operations
surgents were killed, while
Syrian governmental forc- with Approx. 35
es liberated 1,411 popu- Aircraft
lated locations and estab-
lished control over 95% of M Command and control posts At the beginning of
the country`s territory. M Strongholds the operation, the VKS
The S-400 SA-21 contingent consisted of
GROWLER and S-300V M Training camps several dozen platforms,
SA-12 GLADIATOR air M Manpower concentration areas including the Sukhoi Su-
defence systems (ADS) M Other targets 24M FENCER-D upgrad-
and the PANTSIR-S SA-22 ed frontline bombers,
GREYHOUND self-pro- Su-34 FULLBACK front-
pelled anti-aircraft gun-missile (SPAAGM) systems, in conjunction with line bombers, Su-25SM FROGFOOT close air support aircraft, Su-30SM
fighter jets, ensured VKS superiority in Syrian airspace. Any violations of FLANKER-H multirole combat aircraft, Mil Mi-24P HIND and Mi-35M
security areas around the Russian bases in Tartus and Humaymim, includ- HIND-E helicopter gunships, Mi-8AMTSh HIP-H transport-assault helicop-
ing those made by unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UCAVs), were pre- ters, Mi-17 HIP transport helicopters, and reconnaissance aircraft. These
vented. The capabilities of the PANTSIR SPAAGM were enhanced in order aircraft were stationed at the Humaymim airbase near Bassel Al-Assad
to intercept rockets and other small-sized targets, resulting in the destruc- International Airport in Latakia Province. The airbase was protected by a
tion of 16 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and 53 rockets launched by special forces reinforced battalion tactical group and the Black Sea Fleet`s
multiple rocket launch systems (MRLS). naval infantry. The Mi-24 gunships patrolled close approaches at low and