October 10, 20178 yr Well the article does state that due to the geography of Syria probably more than one batteries are necessary to cover Russian assets, if I understood correctly. Yes and this is true of any place, not just Syria. Intervening terrain or the horizon will affect any radar detection and engagement, something that HCE unfortunately tends to gloss over. Although ANW and Command don't, I believe?
October 11, 20178 yr I initially thought that the S-400 deployment by the Russians as well as the basing of sophisticated air-superiority fighters in Syria was triggered by the shooting down of the Su-24 by the Turkish Air Force. The Russians wanted to make clear that they would not allow this to happen again. I have read that the shoot-down of the Su-24 was ordered by Erdogan-opposing generals within the Turkish armed forces and actually caught Erdogan off-guard. After the coup rumors also emerged that it was the Russians that tipped off Erdogan about the commando raid coming to capture/kill him and apparently the people who were responsible for the Su-24 shoot-down were purged (the coup fraction was particulary strong with the TAF and it seems that many TAF officers were purged after the coup). It is interesting that Erdogan apologized for the shoot-down only weeks before the coup took place and apparently investigations/arrests were going on at that time concerning the shoot-down in Turkey https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jun/27/kremlin-says-erdogan-apologises-russian-jet-turkish http://foreignpolicy.com/2017/07/13/turkeys-post-coup-purge-and-erdogans-private-army-sadat-perincek-gulen/ http://theduran.com/reports-russian-tip-off-erdogan-may-true/ Since the coup Erdogan and Putin have been best buddies. Thus it is interesting that the Russians are reinforcing their SAM capabilities in Syria. Either they want to send a clear message to the US or they want to test it against US aircraft? Or are they afraid of something else, perhaps Israel intervening? The Syrian Army has received reinforcements/material by the Russians and one could speculate that the Israelis are worried about the Syrian Army (if the Assad regime survives) may get their hands on sophisticared Russian hardware when the whole mess is over? Perhaps advanced short range ballistic missiles, like the ones the Russians have also deployed to Syria?
October 11, 20178 yr Don't think, once the F-35s are in play, that the Israelis will be overly worried about Syrian SAMs.
October 11, 20178 yr Good point, although the JSFs are probably not completely stealthy. It depends a lot on what kind of radar coverage the Russians are going to use. The S-400 is quite a formidable weapon.
October 12, 20178 yr Nothing is completely stealthy. However, I strongly suspect, knowing the Israelis have mad skillz in that department, that the S-400 infrastructure would be hacked as part of any operation.
October 12, 20178 yr Author Although ANW and Command don't, I believe? I didn't spend any appreciable amount of time with ANW. Early on with CMANO,I was being engaged by SAMs on the other side of intervening terrain, but I haven't played it in a while and I don't know if the issue was addressed. It is interesting that Turkey is actually looking to acquire S-400 in the aftermath of the events in Syria.
October 13, 20178 yr Wouldn't the ability to engage on the other side of terrain partly be based on the position of the radar tracking you?
October 14, 20178 yr Author Wouldn't the ability to engage on the other side of terrain partly be based on the position of the radar tracking you? Certainly could, depending on the system in question. In this case, both the radar and the SAM were on the other side of intervening terrain (a mountain), but I was still engaged.
November 28, 20178 yr Author Russia Scooped Up Wrecks Of Its Crashed Naval Fighters Off The Seafloor Near Syria (The War Zone)
January 11, 20188 yr Author Its been an interesting start to the New Year in Syria. Who is attacking Russia’s bases in Syria? A new mystery emerges in the war (Washington Post)
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