Technicians at Syria's Hmeimim airport where Russian aircraft are deployed. © Dmitriy Vinogradov / RIA Novosti
The Independent: Russia cements military position in Syria with upgrades to naval and air bases
Shelling continues in rebel-controlled areas near Damascus, despite a fragile ceasefire.
Russia plans to improve and expand its naval and air bases in Syria, the Interfax news agency reported on Sunday, citing an unnamed source, as Moscow cements its presence in the Middle Eastern country, its only overseas military deployment.
The source told Interfax that Russia will start repairing a second runway at Hmeimin air base near Latakia, while the Tartus naval base will be upgraded in order to handle bigger ships such as cruisers.
President Vladimir Putin has announced a partial withdrawal of Russian forces from Syria, where they have been helping forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad. But Moscow wants to retain a permanent presence both in Hmeimin and Tartus.
The source also told Interfax that Russia will still deploy S-300 surface-to-air defence systems and Bastion coastal missile launchers in Tartus.
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WNU Editor: Russia is signalling to everyone that they are going to stay in Syria for a long time.
3 comments:
Russia Is Upgrading Its Naval And Air Bases In Syria
Russia Is Upgrading Its Naval Base And Repairing its Air Base In Syria.
I wonder which eastern block country built the runway in Syria?
Upgrading their one militarily base outside Russia in a middle eastern country with very little oil. Very impressive.
For a country in such a drastic economic conditions, I think Forest Gump put it best, "stupid is as stupid does."
There is the obvious tradeoff between not fixing a runway and fixing it in aircraft costs and perhaps ability to sortie packages.
In Russia's defense a poor runway can chew up a lot of landing gear, engines, and aircraft.
A repaired runway can be leverage diplomatically 10 years from now assuming the same group is in power in Syria.
Not sure about Tarsus.
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