Please can we keep the discussion of Russian aid to Syria in the correct thread? This thread is supposed to be about what the Syrians are doing.
The supply by Russia of the(se) S-300 seem to meet the description of the other Syria thread.
Garry, is it possible to move these few posts over there?
These will be Syrian air defence force missiles and systems, so I think it is relevant to the thread topic.
This could backfire.
If Syrians fuck up again (the IL-20 downing is partly a Syrian fuck up), Israel could be bragging about destroying S-300s.
The Syrians didn't fuck up.
They detected four Israeli F-16s and fired a missile. Those F-16s changed height to match the nearby Il-22 and the targeted F-16 flew behind the Il-22 so the missile locked onto the larger easier to track target. The SA-5 is for shooting down bombers, so a larger RCS target is more attractive.
The Syrians didn't fuck up... the Israelis used the Il-22 as a shield to save a fighter aircraft he could have ejected from and no one had to die...
I am sure his fellow pilots were impressed with his cunning, but probably less so now.
So what you're saying is older missiles sa-3, sa-8 etc are no longer made but shitloads were made and in storage.
I would say most of the older models are out of production for a long time now, but Russia still offers upgrades and maintenance to old models for countries that still have stocks of them.
Batteries and chemicals can break down and fail so some parts need replacement on a regular basis. Rocket propellant does not remain fresh and efficient forever, especially depending on the storage conditions.
Obviously syria isn't the only country using older soviet systems so Russia would be a supplier for these missiles to other countries as well. Countries do test/train their AD. And it also depends how they are stored. I wasn't sure if Belarus had the ability to produce Sa-3 or not.
Some missiles were made in different places within the Soviet Union... not everything came from Russia, and even missiles made in the RF will have had components made in other republics.
Of course most former Soviet states want to make money, so most will offer to service old ex Soviet gear... very much buyer beware of course...
But S-300 is obviously a better choice. Old stocks of soviet missiles can't last for ever and like u said many types had been used for targets.
Most were made in enormous numbers... including the S-300 because there was no expensive ARH in the nose so the missiles themselves were not hugely expensive.... not that cost mattered that much.
No system is perfect. And every system can be overcome. And Russia is now using S-400. The fact remains that the west don't like countries having
S-300 and they still see it as a serious threat. And any potential buyer of S-300 will know that it's better than what they currently have.
The important thing is the IADS that supports the S-300 is being supplied so IFF systems are go... which will make Russian aircraft of all types much safer from friendly fire.
Sorry i had to.
Ironic really, because the last friendly fire incident that got the Israelis in the shit killed over 50 American sailors and injured about 150 more... but that would be in bad taste so you wont see that cartoon...
I'd put very good money on this being a maximum spec system operated by Russians for the foreseeable future, surrounded by lots of Syrians pretending that it is theirs.
Why?
Do you think Syrians are too stupid to operate an IADS they have been trained to use?
Of course their might be a few Russian supervisors, and there will likely be linked communication with the Russian systems in Syria, but why would it need all Russian operators?
Are there Russian operators in Iran operating their new S-300 systems too?
How about other S-300 operators?
I wonder if we are shipping an old S-300 or the most updated version. If Israel destroys a new one it will be a bad day for our marketing department.
Russia wont be turning off their systems and there should be enough overlap and communication so if threats approach Syrian S-300s that Russian missiles could be the cavalry at the last second if needed... or at least to punish anything that does hit a Syrian S-300 battery or command post.
These systems can hit targets taking off in Israel... I really don't think they will want to be poking that hornets nest.
Most likely they will be hoping the F-35 works as claimed... it was supposed to be the tool to defeat the S-300 system.... which was the reason for the S-400... well both are present...
This bring difficulty in air defense because the mountain present direct obstruction to the Radar and transporting the system might pose challenge as apotential site might not have adequate road.
Landing in theatre with the road mobile system and drive to where it is needed... it can be operational within 5-10 minutes of stopping somewhere... Pantsirs of the current type can fire while moving to defend the column...
Remember these S-300 missiles are not on their own... the new IADS command and control equipment will tie these new systems with existing systems and link that to the Russian system... and no doubt will also include links to Russian air craft... A-50 et al.
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