Wednesday, September 23, 2015

Will Russia's Air Defenses In Syria Be Enough To Deter U.S. F-22s and B-2s?

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National Interest: American F-22s and B-2 Bombers vs. Russia's S-300 in Syria: Who Wins?

Russia is deploying advanced air defense systems to Syria as part of its military build up inside the war-torn country. While it is currently deploying point defense missiles, it’s possible Russian forces could deploy more capable area air defense systems like the much-feared Almaz-Antey S-300 to the region. If Russia does deploy their latest surface-to-air missiles (SAM) to Syria, the areas protected by these systems would become no-go zones for most allied aircraft save for the F-22 Raptor and B-2 Spirit—and the F-35, if that warplane was genuinely operational.

Russian forces have already deployed two to three SA-22 Greyhound—more properly called the Pantsir-S1—point defense systems around their base in Latakia, Syria, along with as many as 28 fighters and strike aircraft. The highly mobile Pantsir-S1 is primarily designed to protect a small area against a threat with a pair of 2A38M 30mm cannons and a dozen 57E6 surface-to-air missiles. According to its manufacturer, it has a 12-mile range and can engage targets as high a 60,000ft.

WNU Editor: The answer is no .... the F-22s and B-2s are designed and built to destroy these air defences. But these air defence systems are formidable, and it explains why Israeli PM Netanyahu and his military chiefs went to Moscow this week to make an agreement/arrangement with Russia to coordinate their military operations in Syria. The Israelis are clearly worried about these air defense systems.

2 comments:

James said...

They don't have to drive the US planes from the sky, just make them alter their behavior and down one, just one and they'll have done their job.

phill said...

It's enough to deter Obama.