Here it comes: Syria
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: A better place.
Posts: 1,621
Yes - what's with this all singing, all dancing `feared' S-400 that can hold everything out to Cyprus, down to Israel and up to Turkey at threat?
There are reportedly at least two in the area.
Russians supposedly not given a heads up; so did they or the Syrians choose not to use it?
There are reportedly at least two in the area.
Russians supposedly not given a heads up; so did they or the Syrians choose not to use it?
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Rockytop, Tennessee, USA
Posts: 5,098
From the MOD statement:
We appreciate the UK's enormous level of support in our military actions.
The UK element of the carefully coordinated joint action was contributed by four Royal Air Force Tornado GR4s.

Join Date: May 2001
Location: UK
Posts: 730
A face saving strike where the combatants signalled their intentions well in advance. The S400 did not fire at the GR4s and a handful of missiles hit a few sites around Damascus.
In next weeks news a dozen innocent people die in London as an IS radical plows van into crowd...says its revenge for Syria.
In next weeks news a dozen innocent people die in London as an IS radical plows van into crowd...says its revenge for Syria.
Join Date: Nov 2000
Posts: 645
Below the line, what valuable target can be hit if strikes are announced days ahead? You could even see the Russian navy moving out ships out of their base for days and their air defence looks like having remained silent. So everything was agreed before? Even Israel seems to pre-coordinate things with Russia these days.
So is this more than a show? Not exactly some credible chemical weapons deterrence it seems. Two days of evening headlines news and this was it.
So is this more than a show? Not exactly some credible chemical weapons deterrence it seems. Two days of evening headlines news and this was it.
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Wherever it is this month
Posts: 1,222
Originally Posted by Bigpants
In next weeks news a dozen innocent people die in London as an IS radical plows van into crowd...says its revenge for Syria
So is this more than a show? ... Two days of evening headlines news and this was it
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Moscow region
Age: 61
Posts: 518
Do not worry, "nessun dorma" 
It was announced earlier that the Russians would only respond if the US & Co shoot at them. Nobody did, even no threat in the areas where two Russian bases are located. Thus, why to respond?
Lots of data concerning the western attack have been collected and are/will be analyzed, good.
It seems that the Syrians used everything they had in terms of AD: C-125, C-200, 1st gen of BuK and 2-3 other types of AD systems, still from the times of Soviet Union. They even do not have C-300, while they were sold to Cyprus/Greece in 90's.
I wonder what exactly the intercept ratio was (per type of missile and per type of AD complex). First announcements differ greatly and seem not trustworthy. Western leaders are just saying that the goals have been achieved, which sounds vague. Conversely, the Russian MoD gives too detailed numbers, which I doubt a lot (i.e. 71 missile intercepted of 100+ and also split is provided per attacked facility/airbase):
https://function.mil.ru/news_page/[email protected]
It's in Russian but autotranslation should work...

It was announced earlier that the Russians would only respond if the US & Co shoot at them. Nobody did, even no threat in the areas where two Russian bases are located. Thus, why to respond?
Lots of data concerning the western attack have been collected and are/will be analyzed, good.
It seems that the Syrians used everything they had in terms of AD: C-125, C-200, 1st gen of BuK and 2-3 other types of AD systems, still from the times of Soviet Union. They even do not have C-300, while they were sold to Cyprus/Greece in 90's.
I wonder what exactly the intercept ratio was (per type of missile and per type of AD complex). First announcements differ greatly and seem not trustworthy. Western leaders are just saying that the goals have been achieved, which sounds vague. Conversely, the Russian MoD gives too detailed numbers, which I doubt a lot (i.e. 71 missile intercepted of 100+ and also split is provided per attacked facility/airbase):
https://function.mil.ru/news_page/[email protected]
It's in Russian but autotranslation should work...
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Amersham
Age: 62
Posts: 32
As a very-ex-Superpower we have to deal with reality, not fantasy.
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: liverpool uk
Age: 63
Posts: 1,151
Support is not just missiles on target though is it.
Join Date: Apr 1999
Location: Manchester, UK
Posts: 1,903
“Enormous level of support..?” Come on, we know US isn’t short of airframes and could easily have deployed another four -or forty of your own. But that’s hardly the point. In terms of mandate, a coordinated strike by three of five perm Security Council members plays enormously better that a solo act.
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: England
Posts: 247
A really good point. The aircraft which has been and still is the go to attack jet for well over 35 years is being retired simply on lack of funds grounds. I struggle to understand why we are doing so when Italy will continue to operate Tornado until 2027, Germany until 2030 at least and Saudi Arabia for many years to come. The RAF must have plenty of spares from the RTP programme so as to maintain GR4 until F35 becomes fully operational.
Yes I know that Typhoon is scheduled to take over Tornado roles at the end of this year. But that will leave the RAF totally reliant on Typhoon alone and without the same recce capabilities.
This must be the stupidest decision and one I am sure we will regret...
Yes I know that Typhoon is scheduled to take over Tornado roles at the end of this year. But that will leave the RAF totally reliant on Typhoon alone and without the same recce capabilities.
This must be the stupidest decision and one I am sure we will regret...