Sunday, November 29, 2015

Has Russia's Deployment Of S-400 Missiles Turn Most Of Syria Into A No-Fly Zone?


Debka: Russian S-400 missiles turn most of Syria into no-fly zone, halt US air strikes

The deployment of the highly advanced Russian S-400 anti-air missiles at the Khmeimin base, Russia’s military enclave in Syria near Latakia, combined with Russia electronic jamming and other electronic warfare equipment, has effectively transformed most of Syria into a no-fly zone under Russian control.

Moscow deployed the missiles last Wednesday, Nov. 25, the day after Turkish warplanes downed a Russian Su-24. Since then, the US and Turkey have suspended their air strikes over Syria, including bombardments of Islamic State targets. The attacks on ISIS in Iraq continue without interruption. Turkey is now extra-careful to avoid flights anywhere near the Syrian border.

WNU Editor: I am not in the habit of posting stories from DEbka, but it is true that both the U.S. and Turkey have suspended air-strikes over Syria. CENTCom's last press release is from November 25 .... the day that these Russian air-defense systems became operational. CENTCOM's website is here. As for Turkey, they officially declared a cessation of flights on Friday .... Turkish Press: Turkey's Military Has Suspended Flights Over Syria Because Of The Crisis With Russia.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

The S-400s have that kind of range? What does that infographic represent?

Anonymous said...

Foot ball size objet flying on syria sky can get hit and destroyed 250 miles away from the s 400 location.

Jay Farquharson said...

Stefan,

The blue circle is the maximum detection range for the radar and sensor system, ( non networked),

The red circle is the missiles maximum target range.

As with most systems, YMMV. Aircraft like AWACS and Tankers are detected at longer ranges than say an F-16 flying nape of the earth, or a F-22.

There are a various number of different missiles with different ranges, tracking and targetting abilities.

Probably the most "dangerous" aspect of the S-400 system is that it can be "networked" to other AA missile systems like the mid range Pantasir, other radars like Russian Civillian Air Traffic Control, or for example the S-300 naval variant on the Missile Cruiser Moskova.

This means that the operators can "see" as far as their entire networked radar net, and can direct the "appropriate" missile system in the network to hit the target.

It also networks to Russian airbased and ground based ELINT and ECM systems so that "selective" blindness to non-Russian sensor systems, ( from ELINT to radars) can be introduced to the area.

RRH said...

So what you are telling us Jay, is that the Russian has deployed a fully integrated air defence system in Syria. What impact, if any, will Turkey's ASELSAN Koral system have on the network(s) connecting the system? I am curious as obviously the nodes are not communicating over a fiber backbone so most of the "talking" is being done wirelessly. Will Russian encryption, as far as we know, be able to defeat Turkey/NATO "jamming"?

Jay Farquharson said...

RRH,

Nobody knows.

In "games", "intercepts", "incursions" in peacetime, everybody "hides" their A Game.

Nobody's had to face an integrated, properly run Soviet/Russian Air Defence since the Yom Kippur War, when the U.S. had to rush in replacement aircraft, IAF suicide missions and the Egyptian over deployment, was the only reasons the IAF survived.

RRH said...

Yes, I remember Shazly's umbrella.

Perhaps the answer lies in how scarce "coalition" air strikes have become since deployment?

RRH said...

And this looks like a really cool resource

http://www.el-shazly.com