14 Deadly Weapons Russia Has Sent To Syria
Russia has beefed up its attack aircraft in Syria with the Sukhoi Su-34 fighter bomber. This advanced aircraft, nicknamed “Fullback” by NATO, is similar to the F-15E Strike Eagle.
Toshiro Aoki (www.jp-spotters.com)
The Slava-class guided missile cruiser Moskva is reportedly in the Mediterranean Sea off the Syrian coast, not far from the airport at Latakia. The Moskva is the flagship of the Russian Black Sea Fleet.
Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation
Moscow has shipped another trio of T-90 tanks to Syria, bringing the total number to nine, ostensibly to protect Russian forces at the Latakia airport. The T-90 is Russia’s main battle tank, similar to the American M1 Abrams.
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Of the more than two dozen combat jets now stationed at Latakia, four of them are Sukhoi Su-30s, one of the Russian Air Force’s most advanced aircraft. The plane is similar to the American F-18 and can be used for precision bombing and close air support.
© Ilya Naymushin / Reuters
Russia has also deployed a dozen Su-25 “Frogfoot” aircraft to Syria. The jet is used mainly for close air support missions, similar in function to the U.S. A-10 Thunderbolt II.
© Eduard Korniyenko / Reuters
Rounding out the mixture of attack aircraft are a dozen Su-24 “Fencer” jets, which can also be used to provide backup to ground troops. The Su-24 is similar to the now-retired F-111 Aardvark.
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Moscow has moved at least 14 military helicopters into Syria, including Mi-24 attack helicopters. This large gunship, code-named “Hind” by NATO, has appeared in conflicts all over the globe in the last 40 years.
© Shamil Zhumatov / Reuters
The twin-turbine helicopter, called “Hip” by NATO, is mainly used for troop transport, although an armored gunship version exists.
© Kacper Pempel / Reuters
Fox News has reported that satellite imagery over Bassel al-Assad airbase, situated near Latakia, has revealed SA-22 surface-to-air missiles, NATO codename “Greyhound.”
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In addition to jets conducting sorties, Russian troops are flying drone missions in Syria. While the exact system remains unknown, U.S. officials liken its size to the Predator unmanned aerial vehicle. One Russian blogger speculates that the drones are Yakovlev Pchela-1T models.
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Russian has supplied Syrian troops with this advanced armored personnel carrier, according to Al-Jazeera. Russian troops may also be using the vehicle.
© Sergei Karpukhin / Reuters
In addition to large transport vehicles, the Kremlin is sending “Tiger” jeeps to Syria, presumably for both Syrian and Russian use.
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How has all this material arrived in Syria so quickly? Satellite images have shown as many as four Antonov An-124 Ruslan airlifters, code-named "Condor" by NATO, parked at the airstrip in Latakia. Russia has used an air corridor through Iran and Iraq to move most of its assets, much to the consternation of the Obama administration which has repeatedly asked the Moscow and Baghdad to cease the operation. The An-124 is the largest military transport plane in the world.
© Daniel Leclair / Reuters
Although it hasn’t been confirmed, Moscow may be moving equipment to Syria through the Mediterranean. A Russian analyst has found photos on social media of Russian soldiers who claim to be headed to Syria aboard this Russian landing ship, called the Caesar Kunikov, and cites a Turkish blogger who has been tracking the movements of the ship as it makes its way through the Bosporus, possibly headed for the Russian naval station at Tartus, Syria.
© Stringer . / Reuters