Before the start of the civil war in the Syrian Arab Republic (SAR), this country had a fairly strong air defense system, built according to Soviet patterns. It relied on a network of surveillance radar stations (radars) with a continuous radar field over the entire territory of the country. The tasks of hitting air targets and protecting strategically important objects were assigned to fighter aircraft and anti-aircraft missile forces. The air defense of the Syrian ground forces was provided with numerous mobile anti-aircraft missile systems (SAM), self-propelled anti-aircraft guns (ZSU), as well as towed anti-aircraft guns batteries. The units of the Syrian army were characterized by a high saturation with portable anti-aircraft missile systems (MANPADS), which increased the combat stability of the troops and made low-altitude flights of Israeli aviation a very risky undertaking.
In the 21st century, the Syrian Air Force had mainly an outdated aircraft fleet, most of the Syrian fighters were built in the USSR in the 70s and 80s. As of 2012, air defense missions could be performed by approximately 180 combat aircraft. At the same time, the combat value of the heavily worn, not modernized fighters MiG-21bis, MiG-23MF / MLD and MiG-25P was low. These old machines could no longer conduct an air battle on an equal footing with the Israeli Air Force. The MiG-29 fighters, the deliveries of which began in 1987, have the greatest potential when performing missions to destroy air targets. In total, the Syrian Air Force has about 40 capable MiG-29s. Unlike other types of combat aircraft, the "twenty-ninth" suffered the smallest losses in the course of hostilities. The command of the Syrian Air Force took care of them, since only these relatively modern fighters have the greatest potential for conducting air combat. Previously, the media published information about the modernization of part of the Syrian MiG-29s, but there is reason to believe that the modernization disguised the supply of the MiG-29M ordered by Damascus back in the 2000s.
Syrian MiG-23 over Aleppo
After the outbreak of civil war, which quickly engulfed almost the entire territory of the country, since 2012, Syrian Air Force combat aircraft have been actively involved in striking the positions of the rebels. In four years, about 50% of the Syrian military aviation was lost. However, the number of shot down in the course of hostilities does not exceed 10-15% of the total number of lost fighters. A number of formally in service, but fully exhausted, MiG-21 and MiG-23 were captured and destroyed by the rebels at the airfields. The main reduction in the Syrian Air Force fleet was due to the lack of spare parts, repairs and extreme wear and tear. Many planes were "cannibalized" - that is, they went to spare parts for other winged aircraft. Due to poor quality maintenance, many fighters died in flight accidents.
Google earth snapshot: Syrian MiG-29 fighters at an airfield near Damascus
Nevertheless, the Syrian Air Force continues to fight in very difficult conditions. Almost all fighters capable of performing combat missions were concentrated in the central and western part of the country, at airfields in the Damascus, Homs, near Palmyra, Aleppo, Deir ez-Zor and Latakia.
In the early 2000s, the Syrian leadership planned to update its air force with the help of Russia - in particular, the Syrian military showed interest in relation to heavy fighters of the Su-27 / Su-30 family. But, unfortunately, in view of the difficult financial situation and the internal armed conflict that began in the SAR, these plans were not destined to come true. In the near future, the fleet of the Syrian Air Force will be further reduced due to the decommissioning of most of the extremely worn out fighters. Deliveries of Yak-130 trainer aircraft and MiG-29M fighters are expected. But this will not significantly increase the ability to intercept air targets, and Syria will not be able to defend its air borders with the help of the Air Force in the near future.
Until 2011, no one could compare with the Syrian air defense forces in the Middle East in terms of the number of medium and long-range air defense systems on alert. But mostly these were complexes produced in the Soviet Union, whose age has passed the 25-year mark. Realizing the importance of means of defense against an air attack, the Syrian leadership, despite its modest financial capabilities, allocated resources to improve and maintain the combat readiness of the air defense forces at the proper level. Thanks to the presence of a maintenance and repair base created with the help of the USSR and well-trained personnel, the Syrian anti-aircraft systems, despite their considerable age, were maintained in good technical condition and in a sufficiently high degree of combat readiness. In Syria, repair and restoration enterprises and checkpoints were established and operated without interruption until 2011. On this infrastructure, technical measures for "minor modernization" and refurbishment of the hardware of the complexes were regularly carried out, anti-aircraft missiles were maintained in specially created arsenals.
Placement and affected areas of the Syrian air defense systems "Kvadrat", S-125M / S-125M1A, S-75M / M3 and S-200VE as of 2010
According to data provided by the Military Balance, Syria had 25 brigades and two separate air defense regiments. Both anti-aircraft missile regiments are armed with long-range S-200VE air defense systems. Of the 25 anti-aircraft missile brigades, 11 are mixed, they are armed with stationary air defense systems S-75M / M3 and S-125M / M1A / 2M. Another 11 brigades are armed with self-propelled anti-aircraft complexes "Kvadrat" and "Buk-M2E". Three more brigades are armed with self-propelled short-range air defense systems "Osa-AKM" and "Pantsir-S1" air defense missile systems.
From 1974 to 1987, 52 S-75M and S-75M3 air defense systems and 1918 B-755 / B-759 air defense systems were delivered to the SAR. Despite its advanced age, before the start of the civil war, "seventy-five" was operated in approximately 30 anti-aircraft missile divisions (srn).
Google earth snapshot: the position of the C-75 air defense system in the vicinity of Tartus
In the first half of the 80s, to compensate for the losses incurred during the next conflict with Israel, and to give the Syrian air defense more capabilities, the S-200V long-range air defense systems were supplied from the USSR. Initially, long-range complexes were serviced and operated by Soviet crews. After the target illumination radars (ROC) began to escort the approaching Israeli aircraft, the activity of the Israeli Air Force in the area dropped sharply.
Google earth snapshot: the position of the C-200V air defense missile system in the vicinity of Tartus
From 1984 to 1988, Syria received 8 S-200VE complexes and 144 V-880E missiles. These air defense systems were deployed to positions in the vicinity of Damascus, Homs and Tartus. Until 2011, all Syrian S-200VEs were in a technically sound condition and were involved in combat duty.
SPU of the Syrian SAM S-125-2M "Pechora-2M"
Before the collapse of the USSR, within the framework of military-technical cooperation, the Syrian air defense forces received 47 S-125M / S-125M1A air defense systems and 1,820 V-601PD missiles. Several years ago, some of the most recent low-altitude systems underwent modernization in Russia to the level of C-125-2M "Pechora-2M", which made it possible to extend the service life and significantly increase the combat potential. On March 17, 2015, an American MQ-1 UAV was shot down in Syrian airspace by an S-125 air defense missile system.
As of 2010, about 160 mobile launchers of the Kvadrat air defense system were in operation in the armed forces of the SAR. This complex, which is an export version of the Soviet military air defense system "Kub", showed itself very well during the Arab-Israeli Yom Kippur War in 1973 and in the fighting in the Bekaa Valley in 1982. In the late 80s, the Syrian "Squares" underwent modernization, in particular, in addition to improvements aimed at increasing reliability, it was possible to increase noise immunity. But for all its past merits and merits, the Kvadrat air defense system is certainly outdated at the moment.
Taking into account the fact that the complex included one self-propelled reconnaissance and guidance system (SURN) and four self-propelled launchers (SPU), in total in Syria, until recently, there were 40 batteries of the Kvadrat air defense missile system. The presence of such a number of capable and serviceable complexes, taking into account the fact that the production of this type of air defense system was completed in 1983, raises serious doubts. At the same time, according to information provided by SIPRI, there were 27 Kvadrat anti-aircraft missile batteries in Syria as of 2012. Perhaps the remaining 13 batteries are air defense systems that have exhausted their resource and transferred "for storage".
At the beginning of 2016, information appeared in the media about the capture by IS militants in the vicinity of the city of Deir ez-Zor SURN 1S91 and SPU 2P25 with 3M9 missiles. In this regard, fears were expressed that an air defense system that fell into the hands of terrorists could pose a danger to combat aircraft of the Russian Aerospace Forces operating in the SAR. However, to work on any air defense system, trained specialists are needed, of whom there are not many among the Islamists. Subsequently, Russian military aviation was actively working in this area and, most likely, elements of the captured air defense system were destroyed or disabled. In any case, more photos of the captured anti-aircraft complex were not published on the network.
In the early 80s, Syria received self-propelled amphibious short-range air defense systems "Osa-AKM" with radio command missiles. Anti-aircraft guns "Osa-AKM" first took part in hostilities in 1982 during the confrontation with Israel in the Bekaa Valley.
It was not possible to find exact data on the number of Syrian Osa air defense systems, in different sources their number ranges from 60 to 80. Perhaps this number includes the Strela-10 air defense system on the chassis of a lightly armored MT-LB tractor with missiles equipped with thermal homing heads … The Osa-AKM and Strela-10 short-range air defense systems, in contrast to the Kvadrat air defense missile systems, are capable of independently searching for and firing at air targets, although the range and height of the targets hit by them are much less compared to the Kvadrat.
To replace the outdated Kvadrat air defense missile systems, according to the Military Balance, Syria purchased 18 Buk-M2E self-propelled medium-range air defense systems and 160 9M317 missiles from Russia. The complexes and missiles were transferred to the Syrians between 2010 and 2013.
Compared to the Kvadrat air defense system, the export upgraded version of the Buk has significantly increased the affected area, the speed and the number of targets fired at the same time, as well as the ability to combat operational-tactical missiles. Unlike the SPU 2P25 of the Kvadrat complex, the 9A317E self-propelled fire launcher (SOU) of the Buk-M2E complex, due to the presence of a radar with a phased array, is capable of independently searching for and destroying air targets.
Another Russian novelty in the air defense units of Syria is the Pantsir-S1E air defense missile system. Deliveries of this complex to the Syrian army began in 2008 under a 2006 contract. Total Syria in the period from 2008 to 2011. 36 complexes and 700 9M311 missiles were transferred. It is believed that the fire of the Syrian air defense missile system "Pantsir-S1E" on June 22, 2012 destroyed the Turkish reconnaissance aircraft RF-4E.
To create an echeloned multilevel air defense system, the Syrian leadership ordered in Russia the S-300PMU-2 Favorit long-range air defense system. It was supposed to work in conjunction with modern complexes "Pantsir-S1E" and "Buk-M2E" and provide effective defense at long-range lines. The modernized "three hundred" was intended to replace the outdated long-range air defense systems S-200VE with liquid single-channel missiles. However, in 2012, for reasons not entirely clear, the contract already concluded and being executed by Russian enterprises was canceled.
In addition to stationary and mobile complexes, according to reference data, there are about 4,000 Strela-2M, Strela-3 and Igla MANPADS in Syria. Although MANPADS "Strela-2/3" no longer meet modern requirements for noise immunity due to their large number, they still pose a threat to low-altitude air targets. The number of heat traps on a combat aircraft or helicopter is limited and at the necessary moment they can simply be used up, and by and large it does not matter how old the missile that hit a modern aircraft is. As you know, Soviet weapons have a very large margin of safety and enviable longevity. The weak point of all MANPADS are special disposable power elements, the shelf life of which is limited. But even this is a completely solvable problem. For example, Iranian specialists were able to revive the American Stinger MANPADS, which they bought from the Afghan mujahideen. In any case, maintaining Soviet portable systems in working order requires much less effort and expense.
In addition to air defense systems, MANPADS and air defense systems, by the beginning of the armed confrontation with the Islamists in Syria, there were very significant reserves of anti-aircraft guns and shells for them. Before the start of the internal armed conflict, more than 4,000 anti-aircraft guns of 23, 37, 57 and 100-mm caliber were located in the units of the Syrian army and in warehouses.
Perhaps the biggest threat from the Syrian anti-aircraft artillery systems for air attack is the ZSU-23-4 Shilka anti-aircraft self-propelled gun. The Shilka uses four rapid-firing 23-mm assault rifles with forced liquid cooling, the ZSU is protected by bulletproof armor with a thickness of 9-15 mm.
The Shilki have shown themselves very well in a number of Arab-Israeli conflicts. Due to the effective fire of the 23-mm ZSU, Israeli combat aircraft were forced to go to a great height, where they came under fire from anti-aircraft missiles. The Shilka also proved to be a very effective means of dealing with the Israeli AN-1 Cobra combat helicopters. As practice has shown, helicopters caught at a distance of up to 2000 m under the fire of ZSU helicopters had little chance of salvation.
Currently, there are about 50 such anti-aircraft installations "on the move" in Syria. Most of them actively participate in hostilities, supporting infantry units with dense fire, destroying manpower and firing points of the rebels. To increase the security on the "Shilki" in Syria, they hang additional armor or simply surround them with bags and boxes filled with sand, this is due to the great vulnerability of the lightly armored anti-aircraft self-propelled gun.
ZSU-23-4 "Shilka" in Aleppo
The Syrian army is also armed with twin towed 23-mm anti-aircraft guns ZU-23. Very often, the opposing sides install them on various vehicles and use them as modern carts. In the same role, albeit in smaller quantities, the 37-mm 61-K and 57-mm S-60 anti-aircraft guns are used. In battles for firing at ground targets, the 100-mm anti-aircraft guns KS-19, which are quite rare at the moment, were noted, in total there were 25 units in the Syrian army in 2010.
The civil war in Syria had the most negative impact on the state of the air defense system of this country. A significant part of the Syrian air defense systems was destroyed as a result of artillery and mortar attacks or captured by the rebels. First of all, this applies to stationary, and, therefore, the most vulnerable: S-75M / M3, S-200VE and not upgraded S-125M / S-125M1A.
SAM B-759, destroyed at a launcher in the Aleppo area
As well as combat aircraft, the Syrian anti-aircraft missile forces suffered heavy losses. More than half of the anti-aircraft complexes previously deployed in stationary positions are currently non-combatant. The operation of air defense systems with liquid propellant missiles, even in peacetime, is quite difficult. Refueling and servicing missiles requires a special technical position and well-prepared calculations. Those Syrian complexes that were not captured and destroyed by the militants, for the most part, were evacuated and stored at military bases and airfields controlled by government forces.
Google earth snapshot: the position of the C-125-2M air defense system in Latakia
The exception is air defense systems deployed in areas firmly controlled by the Syrian government forces. As of the end of 2015, there were active anti-aircraft systems near Damascus, in Latakia and in Tartus. In general, the Syrian air defense forces do not control their own airspace. Besides, directly, the losses of anti-aircraft missile systems, during the civil war, radio-technical units suffered great damage, which are, in fact, the “eyes” of anti-aircraft missile forces and fighter aircraft. Before the start of hostilities in Syria, about 50 radars and radio altimeters were used to illuminate the air situation and issue target designation to interceptors and air defense systems: 5N84A, P-18, P-19, P-37, PRV-13 and PRV-16. In November 2015, no more than 20% of them were active. Those radars that were not destroyed and did not receive damage, as well as the air defense system, were evacuated to safe places. In a country torn apart by an internal conflict, the centralized control system was quite predictably destroyed, many control points, communication centers, radio relay and cable lines were put out of action. At the moment, the Syrian air defense system, devoid of centralized control, has a pronounced limited focal character and has numerous gaps. These gaps have been used by the Israeli Air Force since 2007. The Syrian air borders in the northwest of the country are especially vulnerable. It is known about 5 Israeli air attacks, including on the capital Damascus. Israeli F-15I fighter-bombers used Popeye cruise missiles in attacks on targets located in the suburbs of Damascus.
Regular Israeli air strikes continued until the arrival of the Russian Aerospace Forces aviation group at the Syrian airbase "Khmeimim". In November 2015, after the destruction of our Su-24M by the Turkish Air Force, Russian S-400 air defense systems and Pantsir-S1 air defense missile systems were deployed in this area. The Russian military aviation, operating in the SAR at the invitation of the legitimate leadership of the country, not only facilitated the transfer of the initiative on the ground to the government forces, but also strengthened the inviolability of the Syrian airspace.
