What weapons did the Russian Federation use? Russian military operations in Syria

The fact that the Russian military-political leadership is preparing for military operation in Syria, we have been writing since mid-September. Even then, the necessary armored vehicles, air defense systems, electronic warfare equipment, etc. were transferred to the Syrian Basil-Al-Assad airfield, which is located in the coastal province of Latakia. Repair and construction work at the air base was in full swing: the runway was being expanded, temporary residential blocks for personnel were being erected, new helicopter pads were already ready, and the equipment necessary for flight control was being installed.

Construction work and transfers military equipment accompanied by literate advertising campaign– every replenishment of our military contingent in Syria and a new set of aircraft was invariably followed by an exemplary alignment of equipment along the runway. Exclusively for the sake of a new satellite photo shoot. These photographs were simply a phenomenal success in the West.

Meanwhile, political issues were being regulated in Moscow. In particular, Middle Eastern leaders and high-ranking officials (Turkey, Israel, Jordan, UAE, Saudi Arabia etc.) were notified that the games around the forester’s hut were over, due to the return of the forester himself. Later, coordination centers were established with Iran and Iraq; separately with Israel.

Vladimir Putin’s request and the decision of the Federation Council quite expectedly gave rise to many comments and questions. Let's try to briefly cover the main ones.

What forces have we concentrated in Syria?

At the time of publication of this material, in the Syrian province of Latakia there are: a squadron (12 pieces) of front-line bombers Su-24, attack aircraft squadron Su-25, 6 multirole fighter-bombers Su-34, 4 multi-role heavy fighters Su-30SM, 12 attack helicopters Mi-24 and 12 multi-purpose helicopters Mi-17. In addition to aviation equipment, the Basil Al Assad airfield houses about a hundred trucks(including auxiliary equipment), fifty armored personnel carriers, a dozen tanks and an unspecified number of air defense systems, including two illuminated S-300 complexes. There is every reason to boldly assume that the number of Su-34 fighter-bombers will be increased to the squadron level.

It is difficult to say anything about the number of personnel at the airfield, but it can be assumed that it can reach one thousand people. These include pilots, drone operators, aircraft repair and engineering teams, Marine units for airfield security, command personnel, special services, and so on.

What forces will oppose us?

Since in the Russian anti-terrorist tradition there is no such concept as a “gradation of Islamists” into moderate and radical, strikes will be delivered to all militant forces represented in Syria. Today there are about 180 large formations. In the blogosphere, a conventional division into “greens” and “blacks” is accepted. The first receive direct logistical, diplomatic and financial assistance from Western countries, Turkey and the Arabian monarchies, and are designated in the media as “moderate oppositionists.” The latter are represented by the “Islamic State” and “Jabhat al-Nusra”, that is, radical Islamists, whose direct support was formally refused by external forces. However, there is no fundamental difference between the “blacks” and the “greens”.

What forces do we support?

Specifically in Syria, our natural allies are:

- Syrian Arab Army(SAA, government troops) - about 180 thousand people;

- Republican Guard(elite military units) - about 25-30 thousand people;

- National Defense Forces(NSO, people's militia) - about 80 thousand people. Consist of representatives of ethno-religious minorities: Alawites, Christians, Druze;

- Ba'ath Brigade(military wing of the Syrian Baath Party) - about 7-8 thousand people. Predominantly consists of Sunni Muslims.

- "Syrian Resistance" And "Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine"(Marxist paramilitary organizations) - about 4 thousand people per couple.

- Syrian Hezbollah, "Arab National Guard» And "Syrian Social Nationalist Party"- about 3.5 thousand people for three. Composition: Shiite militia, secular Arab nationalists and Syrian nationalists, respectively.

- Lebanese Hezbollah- about 15 thousand people.

- Syrian Kurds– about 50 thousand people. In fact, they do not coordinate their actions with official Damascus.

If we talk about external allies, these are, first of all, Iran and Iraq. The rest of the countries are not particularly interested, since they are not represented by their troops in Syria.

Is it possible for our military to participate in ground operations?

There is no practical need for this. Syria has the forces necessary to conduct full-fledged military operations. That is, there is enough infantry that has been fired upon, and it has been fighting since the first days of the then civil war. As mentioned above, we're talking about about at least 300 thousand fighters, of which about 200 thousand one way or another participated in full-scale ground operations against jihadists.

Contrary to propaganda rumors about the imminent demise of the regime due to a lack of human resources, the mobilization potential of government forces is at a high level. The first visible sign of problems with filling the army with recruits is the age composition of conscripts, as Germany demonstrated to us in the last year of the war, when mustacheless youths from the Hitler Youth and gray-haired old men from the Volkssturm were sent into battle. The ranks of the Syrian army are dominated by men and young boys, that is, the age range ranges from 20 to 40 years. It is absolutely unclear what depletion of the army Western journalists are talking about.

Why did we intervene in the conflict now?

The Syrian army and its allied forces (Hezbollah, militia, volunteers and Kurds) find themselves in an extremely difficult situation, due to the activation of a number of regional players. Turkish aircraft, under the pretext of fighting the Islamic State, are striking Iraqi (partial) and Syrian Kurds, who are the most combat-ready and effective force in this war of all against all. Among other things, Turkish intelligence services and “vacationers” conducted a number of successful operations in the Idlib and Aleppo areas. The American anti-terrorist coalition managed to achieve some success, which, in cooperation with units of the Kurds and the Iraqi army, pushed IS militants out of a number of areas of Syrian and Iraqi Kurdistan, as well as the Sunni part of Iraq. The vector of application of the forces of the “Islamic State” changed - the jihadists went to Syria, as a result of which Palmyra fell and a number of strategically important objects were captured.

For the Syrian government forces, the activation of Turkey, the United States and the Arabian monarchies was a significant blow. The reasons for the defeats of the Syrians are explained by a critical depletion of resources (a thinning fleet of military equipment and a lack of ammunition) and a feeling of total powerlessness in front of an enemy that is crawling from all the cracks. A successful operation to destroy a group of 150 people, for example, is offset by the fact that a week later new jihadist recruits appear on the same section of the front. That is, the Syrian meat grinder grinds Islamist evil spirits at extremely high speeds, but newly departed militants are instantly “resurrected” due to extremely effective practice sucking out radical passionaries from all over the world - from India to Sweden.

Thus, resolving the Syrian conflict exclusively by military means simply turned out to be impossible - the Syrian army has limited human resources, but the jihadists are replenished, in particular due to the presence of channels for the continuous transit of militants through Turkey. Accordingly, the need to influence those who provide logistical, advisory and financial support to the Islamists has become acute. Iran is unable to do this and China is not interested. Russia, by its military presence alone, has made significant adjustments to the regional balance of power.

What global goals is Russia pursuing in the Syrian conflict?

Firstly, keep Syria on the political map of the world (not to be confused with the “Assad regime”). If we remember “universal human values”: to preserve the ethno-religious diversity of the country, preventing the genocide of Christians, Alawites, Druze, Armenians, etc.

Secondly, to stop the terrorist threat on the approaches to the borders of Russia - “It is better to fight in Jalalabad than in Ashgabat.” Grind if possible maximum amount militants with Russian Federation passports and former Soviet republics(especially Central Asian). There are possibilities for this - organizational structure Islamist formations are built on the principle of “compatriotism,” that is, on the basis of a common language.

Third, make fundamental adjustments to the American strategy in this region, which we have already written about. There is also a need to besiege the presumptuous Turkish Sultan. The Arabian monarchies are already following the cart, which will be discussed in one of the upcoming materials.

Fourth, seize valuable Syrian assets: military bases, oil and gas fields, seaports, transport hubs and routes for possible hydrocarbon supplies to Europe.

What will the participation of the Russian army in the anti-terrorist operation look like?

The goals and objectives declared by the Russian military-political leadership are limited to air support for official Damascus and the units under its control. Not about any ground military operations there is no need to talk. It is likely that the work of Russian military instructors (whose staff has increased significantly in September), artillery coordinators, communications specialists and complex operators is outside the scope of official statements. At least, in the latest photographs from Syria, there were extremely interesting devices that indirectly confirmed the presence of Russian communications and air defense specialists.

In particular, back in mid-September, pictures of the Russian combined radio station R-166-0.5 appeared online. It was alleged that the photo was taken in the province of Latakia, which is adjacent to the province of Idlib, which is controlled by the Green Rebels. The radio station is interesting because it ensures the security of communications over long distances, up to 2 thousand kilometers, that is, the R-166-0.5 makes it possible to establish communications that are not suppressed by electronic warfare.

It attracts attention due to the fact that during the spring and summer of this year, news was regularly received from the province of Idlib that militants were completely suppressing all communications means of the Syrian army. The professional coordination of the “greens” was also noted, who carried out swift and targeted strikes precisely on those positions where government troops experienced either a “starvation of shells” or a lack of human resources. Everything indicates that the actions of militants in the province of Idlib (as well as in Aleppo) were coordinated by Turkish intelligence services, and Turkish “vacationers” were seen in the clashes. The appearance of images of this device on the Internet, apparently, is intended to cool Erdogan’s ardor.

Returning to the work of Russian aviation. It is obvious that our eagles were transferred to Syria not only to strike the positions of the Islamic State. The first day of air raids showed that the “green rebels”, that is, representatives of the so-called “moderate opposition”, nurtured by the West, the Arabian monarchies and Turkey, also came under attack. Here is an excerpt from regular combat reports:

“Latakia. On Wednesday afternoon, the Russian Air Force began extensive operations in the west of the province against Jabhat al-Nusra and Harakat Ahrar al-Sham militants, in the vicinity of Jabal Al-Zaveed, Qassab and Deir Hanna.

Homs. The Russian Air Force worked on targets in the areas of Ar-Rastan, Telbisa, Az-Zafaran, At-Tlul Al-Homr, Aidun, Deir Ful and in the vicinity of Salamiya.”

Thus, on the first day alone, air strikes were carried out on both the “black” (“Jabhat al-Nusra”) and the “green” (“Ahrar al-Sham”). According to preliminary data, which is indirectly confirmed by the Islamists themselves, our aircraft destroyed the militants’ command post, in which at that time there were three “green” field commanders. Not the worst result for the first flights.

The Russian Aerospace Forces operation began 5 and a half months ago

The Russian Aerospace Forces began a military operation in Syria on September 30, 2015 at the request of the president of this country, Bashar al-Assad, whose army was retreating under the pressure of the armed opposition and terrorist groups, primarily the Islamic State (banned in the Russian Federation) under its control at that time two-thirds of Syrian territory was located. The main goals of the Russian military operation were declared to be assistance to the legitimate government of Syria and the fight against terrorism on distant approaches. It was especially emphasized that on the Russian side this is an exclusively air support operation; the war “on the ground” is being waged by the Syrian armed forces.

What changed during the operation

Sergei Shoigu, Russian Defense Minister: “In general, with the support of our aviation, Syrian troops liberated 400 settlements and more than 10 thousand square kilometers of territory... Plus settlements, there are more than 40 of them, which have joined the ceasefire regime.”

According to the minister, during the operation of the Aerospace Forces “it was possible to seriously stop, and in selected places and completely stop the supply of resources to terrorists by stopping the hydrocarbon trade traffic.” The militants lost supply routes, large oil and gas fields, and were driven out of strategically important points.

Sergei Shoigu: “Terrorists have been driven out of Latakia, communications with Aleppo have been restored, Palmyra has been blocked; military operations continue to liberate it from illegal armed groups. Most of the provinces of Hama and Homs have been cleared, and the Quires airbase, which had been blocked for more than three years, has been released.”

Capabilities of Russian weapons

Such impressive results were achieved with the help of 9 thousand combat sorties, during which Russian military aircraft based at the Khmeimim airbase carried out targeted strikes on command posts, bases, training camps and supply routes of terrorists, destroying their equipment and artillery. According to the military, about 2 thousand militants from Russia were eliminated, including 17 field commanders.

The VKS operation demonstrated the impressive capabilities of modern Russian weapons. Along with Su-24 bombers and Su-25 attack aircraft, the Syrian army was supported by Su-34 fighter-bombers - this is a 4+ generation aircraft. It operates in “free hunting” mode and carries on board, including the use of satellite guidance. As the pilots say, the accuracy of such ammunition is plus or minus two meters.

Involved in the operation Navy RF. On the night of October 7, a naval strike group from the Caspian Sea launched a massive attack on the positions of ISIS (an organization banned in the Russian Federation) and Jabhat al-Nusra (an organization banned in the Russian Federation) in Syria. The accuracy of hitting targets at long range was no more than three meters. In addition, it has stood the test of time the latest technology Air defense: S-400 anti-aircraft missile systems and Pantsir-S1 anti-aircraft missile and gun systems, which were on combat duty at high levels of combat readiness.

According to military expert Lieutenant General Vladimir Sazhin, the military operation in Syria brilliantly demonstrated the new capabilities of the Russian Armed Forces.

Vladimir Sazhin, military expert: “The operation made it possible for the first time to test the latest weapons in combat conditions: aircraft, aviation ammunition, cruise missiles long-range air and sea-based weapons, armored vehicles, remote-controlled weapons, and the latest electronic warfare systems.”

The military operation in Syria also demonstrated the ability of the military department to quickly and accurately convey news about the actions of the Aerospace Forces in Syria, which was especially important in the context of an information war. The Ministry of Defense reported on the airstrikes not only at numerous briefings, but also by posting dozens of videos on your YouTube channel.

A turning point in the Syrian conflict

However, the main thing Russian operation It was, perhaps, not the military successes, but their political result. The turning point in the conflict was the end of February, when, as a result of negotiations between the leaders of Russia and the United States, a ceasefire regime came into force in Syria. At the same time, weakened terrorist groups still remain outside the law, but the local opposition has the opportunity to end the armed confrontation with the Syrian army. US State Department in ceasefire negotiations. Since then, a truce has been reached, and a new round of negotiations between the Syrian authorities and the opposition began in Geneva.

The Kremlin press service issued a statement that the presidents of Russia and Syria, Vladimir Putin and Syria, Bashar al-Assad, have agreed to withdraw the main part of the Russian Aerospace Forces aviation group on the evening of March 15. At the same time, to monitor compliance with the ceasefire, the Russian side will maintain an aviation flight support point in Syria.

During the operation, three Russian soldiers were killed. In November, a Su-24 aircraft was shot down near the Syrian-Turkish border. The crew commander, Lieutenant Colonel Oleg Peshkov, was shot from the ground by militants during the ejection. On the same day, at the crash site of the fighter, a Mi-8 helicopter made an emergency landing and was destroyed by militant fire, killing Marine Alexander Pozynich. A Russian military adviser who was helping government troops develop new types of weapons became a victim of shelling at a Syrian army garrison.

An armed conflict has been ongoing in Syria since March 2011. Government troops are opposed by militant groups belonging to various armed groups. The most active militants are the extremist groups "Islamic State" (IS, Daesh, banned in the Russian Federation) and "Jabhat al-Nusra" (the Syrian division of al-Qaeda, changed its name to).

The international coalition led by the United States is striking at IS positions in Syria, and the coalition is acting without the permission of the country's authorities.

Thanks to the strikes of the Russian air group in Syria, it was possible to radically turn the situation around. More than 15 thousand combat sorties were flown. Russian aerospace forces caused significant damage to terrorist infrastructure facilities. Thousands of strongholds, buried warehouses with ammunition, weapons, military equipment, materiel, fuels and lubricants and explosives were destroyed. In addition, there was oil production, pumping and refining of fuel, as well as over two thousand means of delivering petroleum products for smuggling to Turkey.

The VKS helped destroy about . During the operation of our Armed Forces, more than people from Russia were killed, including 17 field commanders.

On March 17, 2016, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that during the operation in Syria. Between March and July 2016, nine military personnel were reported killed. On August 1, as a result of an attack on a Russian Mi-8 military transport helicopter.

The material was prepared based on information from RIA Novosti and open sources

The military campaign in Syria was not the first foreign operation of the Russian army. However, the scale of the mission is not comparable to the battles fought by Russian troops on the territory of Tajikistan in the 1990s and South Ossetia in August 2008.

In September 2015, by force transport aviation and the Navy at the Syrian air base in Khmeimim, the infrastructure necessary to accommodate combat aircraft, helicopters, air defense systems and units was created Marine Corps Black Sea Fleet. As the operation progressed, the troops were replenished with additional weapons.

The latest military equipment has received a baptism of fire. According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, a total of 162 samples of modern and modernized weapons were tested.

The flap of steel wings

The main means of defeating terrorists in Syria is aviation. Since the fall of 2015, missile and bomb attacks on militants have been carried out by Su-24M front-line bombers and Su-25SM attack aircraft. Both aircraft are modernized versions of models that have been in service for more than 30 years.

Despite their nominal venerable age, the vehicles regularly perform tasks to destroy armored vehicles, warehouses, command posts, underground tunnels and bunkers of the Islamic State*.

In 2016, the Su-35C was transferred to the Khmeimim base, which is the result of a deep modernization of the Su-27 fighter, designed in the late 1970s.

In June 2017, at the Khmeimim base, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad was presented with a Su-27SM3 with the latest RVV-SD medium-range air-to-air missiles. To date, 12 Su-27SM3 have been produced based on the export Su-27K.

Two more Sukhoi Design Bureau aircraft are taking part in the fight against IS: the Su-34 fighter-bomber and the Su-30SM multi-role fighter.

To destroy ground targets, the Russian Aerospace Forces use Shturm anti-tank guided missiles (ATGM), the Vikhr anti-tank missile system (ATGM), and Kh-25ML/Kh-29T air-to-surface missiles. The fighters are equipped with R-73/R-27R air-to-air missiles.

Also, combat aviation used various types of aircraft bombs: adjustable aircraft (KAB-500L/KAB-500KR), high-explosive (BETAB 500Sh/FAB-500 M62/FAB-500 M54/OFAB 250-270/OFAB 100-120), disposable bomb clusters (RBC 500 AO 2.5 RT/RBC 500 SHOAB-0.5) and propaganda bombs (AGITAB 500-300) (the index after the abbreviation indicates total weight bombs. — RT).

In battles with terrorists, Russian pilots developed new methods of approaching a target, allowing them to achieve high bombing accuracy when using unguided projectiles.

During the Syrian campaign, Russian long-range aviation several times used what were probably the best strategic cruise missiles in the world, the Kh-101. This ammunition is capable of providing destruction accuracy of up to 10 meters with a destruction range of up to 5500 km.

• Aircraft technicians prepare a Russian Su-30 fighter aircraft for a combat mission at the Khmeimim airbase in Syria
• RIA News

Massive strike

Army aviation in Syria is represented by Mi-8 helicopters, Mi-24, Mi-28N Night Hunter and Ka-52 Alligator attack vehicles modified for military needs.

Helicopters participate in airbase security, search and rescue operations, and destroy concentrations of manpower and armored vehicles using Ataka and Whirlwind ATGMs. Army aviation is protected from defeat from the ground by the President-S electronic countermeasures complex. During the Syrian operation, only four helicopters were lost.

The Tu-160 and Tu-95MS strategic bombers received their baptism of fire in the Syrian skies. On November 17, together with Tu-22M3 bombers, they launched a massive cruise missile attack on militant positions; as a result of the successful attack, 14 key terrorist infrastructure facilities were destroyed.

The Russian military widely used unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in Syria: light Orlan-10, Eniks-3 and heavy Forposts, which are produced in the Russian Federation under an Israeli license. Total drones in the SAR are estimated at 70 units.

"Orlans" and "Enixes" are used to patrol the garrison around the base, for search and reconnaissance missions in a limited radius. “Outposts” have a longer flight range and therefore participate in combat aircraft sorties, registering missile and bomb strikes. In addition, drones are used to correct artillery fire.

In order to ensure flight safety in the area around the seaport of the Tartus base and the Khmeimim airfield, mobile radar tracking (radar), electronic warfare (EW) and air defense (air defense) stations are used.

The Russian air defense system in Syria is represented by the S-300 and S-400 Triumph anti-aircraft missile systems, the Pantsir-S1 anti-aircraft missile and gun system and the Buk-M2 air defense system.

Protection of wireless communication channels is provided by the Svet-KU mobile radio monitoring and information protection complex. Also in Khmeimim there is an electronic warfare complex “Krasukha”, designed to counter aircraft and satellites.

Air defense forces were strengthened in 2015 after the incident with the downing of a Russian Su-24M bomber by the Turkish Air Force. Aviation flight rules were also changed - all bombers, including long-range aviation, had to be accompanied by fighter aircraft.

Attack from the sea

One of the most striking events of the Syrian operation is the launch of Caliber cruise missiles against IS targets. They were first used on October 7, 2015 by four small missile ships of the Caspian flotilla of project 21631 Buyan (Dagestan, Grad Sviyazhsk, Veliky Ustyug and Uglich).

• From the waters of the Caspian Sea, missile ships of the Caspian Flotilla of the Russian Federation launched a massive strike with 18 cruise missiles of the Caliber-NK complex against terrorist positions
• Press service of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation

The Russian Navy carried out several launches of Caliber missiles from an underwater position. On December 9, 2015, the diesel-electric submarine Rostov-on-Don, Project 636.3 Varshavyanka, struck IS. The launch took place from the Mediterranean Sea.

For the first time in national history carrier-based aircraft were involved. Combat campaign aircraft-carrying cruiser“Admiral Kuznetsov” lasted from October 2016 to January 2017. Su-33 and Mig-29K fighters carried out 1,300 strikes against militants.

40% of strikes by unguided aircraft munitions were carried out using automated target designations received from the Admiral Kuznetsov. Installed on the cruiser automated system preparation of flight data ASPPD-24, interacting with the sighting and navigation system of Su-33 aircraft - SVP-24-33.

In rotation mode, cover for aviation and the Khmeimim base from the sea is provided by the flagship of the Black Sea Fleet, the cruiser Moskva, equipped with the S-300 Fort anti-aircraft missile system. The cruiser Moskva has 64 missiles in its arsenal. "Moskva" is on duty alternately with the missile cruiser "Varyag".

• The cruiser "Moskva" during joint military exercises between Russia and China in the Mediterranean Sea
• Press service of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation

New ground equipment

Among ground vehicles, armored vehicles "Typhoon-K" (designed on the basis of KamAZ) and "Typhoon-U" (designed on the basis of Ural) have proven themselves well. In combat conditions, the vehicles confirmed their high protective characteristics. It is known that Typhoons in Syria are used by Russian military police units.

The external frame of the Typhoons consists of a monobody made of steel and includes additional systems ceramic ballistic protection in the most vulnerable places. Typhoon-K is additionally equipped with a filter for protection against chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear threats. The passenger compartment capacity is 10 people.

An important role in offensive operations in Syria was played by the TOS-1 Buratino and TOS-1A Solntsepek flamethrower systems. The vehicles fire unguided thermobaric projectiles with high accuracy firing at a distance of up to 6 km and extremely powerful lethality.

• TOS-1A "Sun"
• RIA News

According to foreign sources, the Syrian army has up to 30 Russian tanks T-90 and T-90A. Western analysts claim that Russian vehicles have shown a high level of effectiveness in battles with terrorists. There are no losses among Russian equipment.

At the beginning of September 2017, the general director of JSC Ural design department transport engineering" Andrei Terlikov said that the Terminator tank support combat vehicle (BMPT) was tested in Syria.

The vehicle is designed to cover tanks in urban combat. Its main task is to detect and destroy the grenade launcher crew, engineering structures and enemy armored vehicles, as well as low-flying air targets.

Jewelry work

Western media often call the jewelry work of the Special Operations Forces (SSO) the pinnacle of the Russian army's martial art. This structure of the Russian Armed Forces united army special forces units. The formation of the MTR was completed in 2013.

Special operations forces are highly mobile, well-equipped, professionally trained squads of fighters. Their main task in Syria is to carry out additional reconnaissance of terrorist targets for subsequent air strikes.

Forward air controllers of the MTR detect targets in Syria suitable for attack by aircraft and transmit the coordinates of IS targets. Special forces operate in the rear and, judging by information published in the media, often engage in battle with jihadists.

In Syria, a scheme of interaction between different types of armed forces has been worked out, when reconnaissance and strike contours operate in a single connection. Satellites, UAVs and special forces detect the target, correct the data and carry out additional reconnaissance, after which the aviation and navy launch a missile and bomb strike, recorded by drones.

• Military personnel during a military parade at the Russian Khmeimim airbase
• RIA News

This became possible thanks to the use the latest systems management and exchange of data coordinating the actions of troops. Available in Syria wired connection was almost completely destroyed, so the Russian military established a network satellite communications.

For this purpose, not only stationary repeaters of the Tetra system were used, but also mobile and portable satellite communication stations. They are used, among other things, to coordinate military actions with the Western coalition.

Interest in Russian weapons

Director of the Center for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies (CAST) Ruslan Pukhov told RT that the Syrian operation has spurred interest in Russian weapons. Demonstration of the combat capabilities of the Russian army objectively strengthens Moscow’s position in the global arms market.

“Of course, it cannot be said that Russia used any weapons, and there was immediately a demand for them. Buying military equipment is a slow process. Nevertheless, it is obvious that Moscow’s active position on the Syrian crisis has attracted attention to our military equipment,” Pukhov stated.

The expert also emphasized that the Syrian operation made it possible to improve military-political relations with a number of states. Pukhov recalled the agreement on a contract with Turkey for the sale of the S-400 complex and the statement by Qatar’s Minister of Defense Khaled bin Mohammed al-Atiyah about the emir’s order to purchase Russian weapons.

“It is enough to remember how Ankara and Doha criticized Russia in 2015 for supporting Assad’s “bloody regime” and how the situation has changed now. The operation in the Arab republic contributed to the growth of Russia’s political weight and its position on the world stage,” Pukhov explained.

In his opinion, Russia, unlike the United States, is ready to offer its partners unique weapons. In particular, Pukhov noted the Iskander operational-tactical complex and the Kornet anti-tank missile system, which the Special Operations Forces use in Syria. In addition, the expert believes that the T-90 tank is the “bestseller” on the world market.

Syrian exam

Analyzing the results of the Syrian campaign, experts interviewed by RT noted the high level of professionalism demonstrated by the personnel and command staff. Analysts also stated that the military equipment in service confirmed the declared combat qualities.

“In general, the Russian army successfully completed its tasks. For the first time, we deployed a group in a distant theater of military operations, created a system material support, communication and control system. As a result, we received a full-fledged military infrastructure in Syria,” Viktor Murakhovsky, editor-in-chief of Arsenal of the Fatherland magazine, told RT.

The expert drew attention to the fact that Moscow has established military communications with all foreign states that are involved in the conflict. This made it possible to coordinate efforts to combat militants and quickly resolve security issues.

• Russian Su-24 aircraft at Khmeimim airbase in Syria
• RIA News

“If we talk about the shortcomings that are always inherent in all armies in such operations, then I would explain them primarily by the lack of optical-electronic reconnaissance and long-range radar detection aircraft. Although, without a doubt, the development of the Russian Armed Forces is moving in the right direction,” Murakhovsky said.

Ruslan Pukhov also believes that the Russian army has demonstrated serious success in Syria, gaining much-needed combat experience. In his opinion, the mission to the Arab Republic helped to identify both strengths and vulnerabilities Russian troops. In this regard, Russia has outlined additional tasks to improve the army.

“Despite the obvious achievements, it would be wrong to conclude that everything is perfect. It is quite obvious that we are still missing an entire class of weapons. In particular, I mean small-sized aerial bombs. In addition, Russian pilots experience certain difficulties when destroying moving targets,” Pukhov noted.

The editor-in-chief of UAV.ru, aviation expert Denis Fedutinov, drew attention to the shortage of heavy UAVs in the Russian Armed Forces. According to him, the Russian army is armed with short-range reconnaissance drones.

“Syria confirmed the importance of the massive use of heavy weapons unmanned vehicles, which could hover in the air thousands of kilometers from the launch site and strike the enemy. In this field, we should not lag behind the United States and Israel,” Fedutinov said.

However, according to the expert, over the past five years Russia has been making serious efforts to solve problems with UAVs. In particular, work is underway on the Orion (weighing about one ton) and Altair (about 5 tons) projects. Fedutinov predicts that heavy drones will begin to enter service in about three years and will most likely be tested in Syria.

* The Islamic State (IS, ISIS) is a terrorist group banned in Russia.

Photo: Mikhail Klimentyev/RIA Novosti

American editionNewYorker, citing its sources among American and European politicians, reported that the US administration is readyagree to stay Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in power in the country until the next presidential elections scheduled for 2021 . This information appeared the day after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the end of the military operation in Syria.

The situation in Syria at the beginning of the operation

September 30, 2015 The Federation Council gave Russian President Vladimir Putin consent to the use of the Russian Armed Forces on the territory of the Syrian Arab Republic. To this moment August 26, 2015 An agreement was concluded between Russia and Syria on the deployment of an aviation group of the Russian Armed Forces on Syrian territory, according to which the air group was to be based on Khmeimim airfield indefinitely and free of charge.

By the fall of 2015, the position of the Assad regime and the forces supporting it was critical. Civil war in the country, which began with political unrest March 2011 within the framework of the "Arab Spring", to mid 2012 is in full swing. At this time, the first armed Islamist groups appeared on Syrian territory: first "Jabhat al-Nusra " , then "Islamic State"(both banned in the Russian Federation), with which Jabhat formally merged into April 2013. In September 2015 less than one third of the country's territory remained under the control of government troops and pro-government armed groups.

Progress of the operation

Initially, it was planned that the military operation would be limited to strikes by the Russian Aerospace Forces against militant targets and air support for the actions of government forces. But the logic of the development of events required the Russian Armed Forces to use representatives of almost all branches of the military in Syria. From Marines guarding military bases to special operations forces helping the Syrian army conduct ground combat operations.

In two years, according to various estimates, the Russian Aerospace Forces carried out about 30,000 combat missions and applied 90,000 beats against ground targets.

With the support of the Russian Armed Forces Syrian army in two years of fighting she was able to recapture about 1000 settlements, Vincluding keystrategic point of view Palmyra and Aleppo. On this moment the so-called Islamic State (banned in Russian Federation terrorist organization) controls only 5% of Syrian territory.

During this time, according to official data, Russia lost people killed in Syria 37 people. Western sources consider this figure to be underestimated by approximately half. But in the West, it also includes employees of private military companies (PMCs) fighting in Syria.

Official data on the cost of the operation are classified. According to various sources, it can be about 2.5 – 3 billion US dollars(according to RBC estimates, Russia spent about $2.5 million per day on the operation in 2015). The Yabloko party, which has studied this issue, demands that the cost of military equipment lost during the operation and payments to the families of dead and wounded servicemen be added to these expenses.

Some results of the operation

The country's political and military leadership has repeatedly emphasized that a military operation will help defeat the main forces of Islamic terrorists and thereby reduce the terrorist threat to the Russian Federation itself.In February 2017 President of Russia Vladimir Putin reported, citing data from the country's intelligence services, that in Syria they are fighting on the side of the militants up to 4 thousand Russian citizens and about 5 thousand citizens former USSR .

During the military operation, Russia managed to create a political alliance with the participation of Iran and Turkey, which took upon itself the task of resolving the conflict in Syria. This should increase Russia's weight in the Middle East region.

During the operation, the Russian Armed Forces tested about 600 samples military equipment. This included the first use of sea-launched Kalibr cruise missiles and air-launched Kh-101 cruise missiles. There are estimates that contracts for the supply of Russian military equipment, which has successfully proven itself in Syria, could grow by several billion dollars in the coming years.