Russia Is Setting Up A Forward Operating Base in Syria, Pentagon Confirms (Defense One)

Photos: Russia's forward operating base in Syria is growing at a rapid pace (Business Insider)

Satellite Imagery Shows Russian Military Buildup in Syria (DOD Buzz)

Six Russian Su-34 Fullback bomber have just arrived in Syria (The Aviationist)

 

Serious scenario fodder here, folks.

Russian air strikes underway, including on areas held by Western backed groups like the FSA.

US Defense Chief Blasts Russia's Entry Into Syria War (DefenseNews)

 

Strikes yesterday appear to have been dumb bombs (or inaccurately delivered KAB series) and OFAB-250-270 fragmentation bombs.

 

More strikes today ... again in areas not known to be occupied by Daesh/ISIL.

 

Edit: Substitute OFAB-250 frag bombs for RBK cluster bombs.

Syria's skies crowded with multiple air forces (Stars and Stripes)

 

If you're a bit of an amateur planespotter (like me), you will have noticed:

 

Su-30SM Flankers (carrying pairs of AA-10 Alamo and AA-11 Archer)

Su-24M Fencers (carrying OFAB-250-270 fragmentation bombs and Kh-25ML (AS-10 Karen) missiles)

Su-34 Fullbacks (carrying KAB-500S satellite guided bombs)

Su-25 Frogfoots, including at least a pair of Su-25UB trainers (carrying OFAB-250-270 frag bombs)

Geolocation and Analysis of Russian Ministry of Defence Syria Airstrike Videos (Bellingcat)

4 Russian warships launch 26 missiles against ISIS from Caspian Sea (RT)

 

If accurate, this is quite a development.

 

Note that the weapon in question, the 3M-14T (NATO SS-N-30A) version of Klub, is the naval version of the weapon that is alleged by the USA to be the subject matter of a Russian violation of the INF Treaty (in land based form).

one day after the SS-N-30/3M14 cruise missile attack the Russian Wikipedia keep his range as 300 Km/162 nm, as opposed to the reflected in the news reports some 2600 Km/1404 nm:

https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%9A%D0%B0%D0%BB%D0%B8%D0%B1%D1%80_(%D0%BA%D1%80%D1%8B%D0%BB%D0%B0%D1%82%D1%8B%D0%B5_%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BA%D0%B5%D1%82%D1%8B)

 

The English Wikipedia keeps the intelligence estimated range of 2500 Km/1350 nm.

4 Russian warships launch 26 missiles against ISIS from Caspian Sea (RT)

 

If accurate, this is quite a development.

 

Note that the weapon in question, the 3M-14T (NATO SS-N-30A) version of Klub, is the naval version of the weapon that is alleged by the USA to be the subject matter of a Russian violation of the INF Treaty (in land based form).

 

Of course, the INF Treaty doesn't apply to sea-based cruise missiles. I believe this is the first Russian use of those in anger.

Of course, the INF Treaty doesn't apply to sea-based cruise missiles.

Correct. It would only be the SSC-X-8 (believed to be the land based version of the same SS-N-30A missile) that is the subject matter of INF.

 

I believe this is the first Russian use of those in anger.

By the Russians, yes. Previous to this, Soviet SS-N-2 Styx SLCMs were used by India to attack Pakistani targets onshore during Operation Trident in 1971.

Why Russia Needs an Exit Strategy in Syria (The National Interest)

New Russian-Made Cluster Munition Reported (HRW)

It's obvious that the deployment of the Flankers was performed to remind NATO, that it cannot interfere with Russian operations in the region.

Why else would Russia deploy Flankers, when its only interested in attacking the revolutionary militants and IS?

 

Both of them do not have any air force at all.

 

It was a "necessary measure" to deploy the Flankers now before NATO considered imposing some kind of no-fly-zone over Syria as a reaction the Russian operations.

 

Regardless this development is quite serious and I just hope we don't run into any trouble on the way as for example some eager Turkish F16 pilot "locking on" a Russian Su-24 which passed the Turkish-Syrian bomber by mistake...