Syria's MiG-29s Are Showing A Lot Of Wear And Tear

A screengrap showing much of the wear and tear in question. Syrian MoD

Warzone/The Drive: We've Got A Close Up Look At Syria's MiG-29s And It Isn't Pretty

After nearly a decade of fighting and international sanctions, the jets are looking very rough.

Syria has released a number of video clips showing some of its MiG-29 Fulcrum jets. The unusually high-resolution footage offers a close look at how these jets are faring after years of conflict and sanctions and its safe to say that they look pretty beat up.

The Syrian Ministry of Defense posted these videos on its official YouTube page between May 5 and 6. The clips, along with a series of others where MiG-29s do not appear, feature various members of the Syrian armed forces making statements on the occasion of the country's Martyrs' Day, which falls on May 6 and honors the memory of Arab nationalists who the Ottoman Empire executed in 1916.

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WNU Editor:I am surprised that they are still flying.

U.S. Defense Officials: Syria Has Relocated Its Warplanes Near Major Russian Air Base For Protection

A Russian ground staff member signals to the pilot of a Sukhoi Su-25 fighter jet at the Khmeimim airbase near Latakia, Syria, October 2015. Reuters

Haaretz: Syria Reportedly Relocates Warplanes Near Russian Air Base for Fear of U.S. Attack

Syrian authorities began moving their planes near Russia's Khmeimim air base shortly after the U.S. struck its aircraft following chemical attack, defense officials say

Syria has relocated most of its war planes near a Russian air base to protect them from a possible American strike, CNN quoted two American defense officials as saying.

According to CNN's report, Syrian authorities began moving the planes to an air base at Bassel Al-Assad International Airport, situated in Latakia near the Russian Khmeimim air base, shortly after the U.S. struck the site from which Washington suspects a chemical attack on Idlib originated.

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Update #1: US officials: Syria moves planes to Russian base for protection (CNN)
Update #2: Syria moves warplanes to safety of Russian base (The Times)

WNU Editor: I guess the Syrians have made the calculation that there will be more U.S. air strikes.

Hat tip James for this news story.

More News On reports That Syria Has Relocated Its Warplanes Near A Major Russian Air Base For Protection

Syria moved aircraft out of US-bombed airstrip to Russian base -- ABC News
Syrian government moves aircraft to Russian base for protection -- FOX News
Syria moves aircraft to Russian airbase, say US officials -- Middle East Eye
Syria moves planes to Russian base, fearing US attack -- Ynetnews
Assad Moves The Bulk Of His Air Power To Russia's Air Base In Syria -- The Drive
With relocation of Syria combat aircraft, window for ‘easy’ US intervention has likely passed -- Josh Wood, The National

What Is Left Of The Syrian Air Force?

© SPUTNIK/ MIKHAIL VOSKRESENSKIY

Dave Majumdar, National Interest: The Syrian Air Force: What Is Left?

Just how much remains of the Syrian Arab Air Force? The Pentagon is claiming that the U.S. Navy’s Tomahawk cruise missile strike on April 7 destroyed some 20 percent of the Assad regime’s remaining operational aircraft.

The U.S. Navy launched some 61 Tomahawk cruise missiles at the Syrian airbase at al-Shayrat in response to an Assad regime Sukhoi Su-22 Fitter strike aircraft dropping chemical weapons—thought to be Sarin—on civilians on April 4. One of the cruise missiles failed to launch while another crashed into the sea—which means a total of 59 Tomahawks hit their targets according to the Pentagon.

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WNU Editor: Bottom line .... only a few dozen Syrian war planes are operational (maybe). On a side note, Sputnik has a photo gallery of the Syrian airbase at al-Shayrat after the US strikes here .... Syrian Air Force Base Back in Operation One Day After US Missile Attack (Sputnik).

Is The Syrian Air Force A "Paper-Tiger"?

MiG-31E (Photo from Alter Info)

'Syria MiGs Lack Offensive Capabilities' -- Jerusalem Post

The four MiG-31E fighter jets that Russia will deliver to Syria will be without offensive capabilities and used for intelligence gathering alone, according to reports that reached Jerusalem from Moscow this week.

According to these reports, Russia did not sell more planes to the Syrians for the simple reason that Damascus does not have the ability to pay for any more. The reports said that two of the planes would be operational, and the other two would be purchased for "cannibalization" purposes, amid a Syrian realization that Russia would not provide effective "after-sale service," and that these planes would be used for "spare parts."

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My Comment: The key sentence in this report is the following one ....

.... Russia did not sell more planes to the Syrians for the simple reason that Damascus does not have the ability to pay for any more ....

Translated .... the Syrians are broke.