Since the end of September 2015, various types of Russian armed forces have been participating in operations in Syria. The bulk of the tasks of combating terrorism and ensuring the reconciliation of the parties are performed by the aerospace forces. The navy, special operations forces, military police, etc. also made a significant contribution to the course of the operation. Their effective work has become possible thanks to the mass of new and updated weapons and equipment. In this regard, Syria has become a very successful testing ground for testing and improving the material part.
According to reports from the Russian Ministry of Defense, over the three years of work in Syria, our military tested 231 samples of modern and modernized weapons and equipment. Most of the samples were used for the first time in real conflict conditions and outside the polygons. In the course of real combat use, the actual characteristics and capabilities of the products were established. If necessary, the industry received an order to improve the sample, which did not show the required characteristics.
In the course of the current operation, for the first time in domestic practice, a technique is used that simplifies the process of fine-tuning and improving the material part. At the base in Syria, there are always specialists from defense enterprises involved in ensuring the operation of equipment and weapons. Thanks to this, the development organizations in the shortest time receive all the necessary information about the operation, including complaints and wishes.
Aviation in battle
The main combat work in the framework of the Syrian operation was taken over by the aerospace forces. The first sorties with strikes against terrorist targets were carried out already on September 30, 2015 - on the very first day of the operation. To date, the Aerospace Forces, represented by front-line and long-range aviation, have completed almost 40 thousand sorties and delivered tens of thousands of different types of ammunition to their targets.
All the main samples of aviation equipment of the Russian Aerospace Forces participated and are taking part in the Syrian operation. Some types of technology have already been used in previous conflicts, but a number of aircraft and helicopters went to fight for the first time. In this case, we are talking about both the latest models and relatively old technology. For example, the main long-range aircraft first struck a real target only in the fall of 2015 - several decades after the start of their service.
For the first time, the Su-30SM and Su-35S multipurpose fighters went to a real war. The other newcomers were the Su-25SM and Su-34 attack aircraft. Aircraft of these types entered service in recent years and have not yet participated in hostilities. The only exception can be considered only the Su-34 bomber - a couple of such machines only partially participated in the operation to force Georgia to peace in 2008. However, full-scale combat work began only three years ago, in Syria. Perhaps the most interesting in the context of tactical aviation is the trial operation of the four newest Su-57 fighters.
Long-range Tu-95MS bombers have been in service for several decades, but until recently they have never made real combat missions to engage targets. The Tu-160 aircraft also cannot be called new, and they also used their weapons for the first time to attack real enemy targets only in 2015.
In the fall of 2015, a group of Russian combat helicopters began work in Syria. In addition to Mi-24 machines of various modifications, new attack helicopters Mi-28N and Ka-52 are taking part in the operation. Transport tasks are being solved by the new Mi-8AMTSh. This technique appeared relatively recently, and before the start of the Syrian operation, it did not have time to take part in a real war.
Earlier it was reported that up to 70 unmanned aerial vehicles of various types are used to control the situation in Syria. In the conditions of a local conflict, UAVs of a number of types are used for the first time: "Orlan-10", "Eleron-3", "Outpost", "Dozor-100", etc.
One of the main tasks of the Russian Aerospace Forces in Syria is to strike at ground targets of terrorist organizations. To solve it, a wide range of aviation weapons, both old and new, is used. In addition, for the first time, some ammunition was used that had not previously been used to strike outside the ranges. As part of the Syrian operation, the Aerospace Forces used unguided and guided bombs and missiles of various classes, including strategic models.
Together with well-known weapons that were already used in battle, the Aerospace Forces used completely new developments. First of all, a new line of adjustable aerial bombs - KAB-500S, KAB-1500, etc., found application. Also, the attention of specialists and the public was attracted by the first episodes of the combat use of the Kh-555 and Kh-101 strategic cruise missiles. The prospective Su-57 fighters tested the Kh-59MK2 air-to-ground missiles in battle. Attack helicopters were the first to use Vikhr-1M anti-tank missiles against real targets.
Fleet participation
Already in the fall of 2015, the ships of the navy were involved in combat work to destroy the militants. As in the case of the aerospace forces, a number of ships and weapons of the Navy were first used outside the framework of the exercises. In total, more than 180 ships and vessels took part in the operation. They completed nearly 190 military campaigns.
The participation of the fleet in the operation began with the joint launch of cruise missiles by several ships of the Caspian Flotilla. Rocket ships of projects 11661K "Gepard" and 21631 "Buyan-M" at the beginning of October 2015 carried out rocket fire. 26 Caliber-NK missiles were sent to targets in Syria. Subsequently, the ships of the Caspian Flotilla attacked the terrorists several more times.
In early December of the same year, the first combat launches of Caliber missiles from the carrier submarine took place. Submarine "Rostov-on-Don" in practice demonstrated the capabilities of diesel-electric submarines of project 636.3. Later, three more submarines of the same project used their weapons to strike at the enemy.
Since November 2016, two Project 11356 frigates, Admiral Grigorovich and Admiral Essen, have participated in the Syrian operation. These ships took part in five missile strikes. The firing was carried out both independently and together with Varshavyanka-class submarines.
Perhaps the main Russian novelty in the field of the navy is the Kalibr missile system in versions for surface ships and submarines. From October 2015 to November 2017, ships and submarines carried out 13 missile strikes using almost a hundred missiles. Thus, only one complex of weapons, which has already become quite widespread, was able to make a noticeable contribution to the fight against terrorism.
In the fall of 2016, a large ship group approached the shores of Syria. It consisted of the only Russian aircraft carrier "Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Kuznetsov", the heavy nuclear missile cruiser "Peter the Great", the frigate "Admiral Grigorovich", as well as other ships and support vessels. All of them took part in a combat operation for the first time, and some ships also had to use their weapons for the first time for a real purpose.
The aircraft carrier "Admiral Kuznetsov" delivered to the place of combat operations the carrier-based fighters Su-33 and MiG-29K, which had not previously participated in the battles. Also, the naval group provided the first combat operation of the Ka-52K deck attack helicopters and the Ka-31SV radar patrol vehicles.
The coastal troops of the Navy, participating in the Syrian operation, also got the opportunity to test their materiel in real conditions. The first combat use of the Bastion-P coastal missile system is of particular interest. This time, his Onyx-class anti-ship missiles were used against ground targets.
Land operations
In the Syrian operation, some ground units and structures are involved, designed to solve certain special tasks. Thus, the military police made a significant contribution to ensuring the security of the Russian group and establishing a peaceful life. It is armed with various types of equipment and weapons, including the newest. For example, it was the military police who were the first in the army to receive significant quantities of modern Typhoon armored vehicles.
As part of the engineering troops of the Russian armed forces, an International Mine Action Center was formed, whose task is to clear territories from explosive devices. For the first time, the center's staff used a wide range of different equipment and technology during the current conflict. This organization is armed with many new and modernized search and neutralization systems. The most famous among all special tools were the robotic complexes "Scarab", "Sphere" and "Uran-6".
In early 2017, the Russian army delivered several samples of ground armored vehicles to Syria, including the Terminator BMPT tank support combat vehicle. This sample showed itself well during battles in urban conditions and confirmed its capabilities. Based on the results of operation in Syria, it was decided to adopt such equipment into service; also there was an order for serial production.
To protect Russian bases in Syria, layered air defense systems were deployed in 2015. They include all modern samples of anti-aircraft systems of different classes. The area near airfields and bases is controlled by the Pantsir-S1 missile and cannon systems. Also used are the Buk-M2 medium-range air defense systems and the S-400 long-range systems. Some AA components have already been used in battles. For example, in the past, militants have repeatedly tried to attack the Khmeimim airbase using homemade UAVs and missiles. Shells and other systems have proven to be capable of destroying such objects.
War and verification
Thanks to the start of the military operation in Syria, the Russian armed forces received a unique opportunity to test and test their weapons and equipment not only at training ranges, but also in a real armed conflict. In addition, the operation could be used to practice and test the skills of personnel. The Russian army took full advantage of these opportunities, which led to well-known results.
For three years in a real war, more than 230 samples of modern weapons and equipment have been tested. At the same time, representatives of the defense complex collected data on the operation of the material part, which was necessary for its further development. Not all new samples showed themselves on the good side, but soon they were improved and brought in line with the customer's requirements. It is important that during the operation in Syria, systems and samples of various classes, both new and relatively old products, were tested in combat.
Not so long ago it was reported that over the past three years, more than 63 thousand people took part in the Syrian operation.military personnel in different ranks. Almost the entire flight personnel of the aerospace forces and many specialists from other branches of the armed forces managed to visit on a business trip. They have gained valuable experience of working in a modern low-intensity conflict on the territory of another state, and now they can share new knowledge with other military personnel.
Thus, the Syrian operation has become the most important event in the modern history of the domestic armed forces. It is of great importance both for the training of personnel and for the development of weapons and equipment of the troops. The army was able to test all the major innovations of recent years, find the most effective ways to use them, and in some cases improve them.
