Syrian MiG-31 Foxhound Delivery....allegedly
 

Apparently, according to some Turkish media, six Mikoyan MiG-31 Foxhound aircraft have just been delivered to Syria. They form a part of a deal with the Russians which was signed back in 2007 for a total of eight.

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If the story is true it would appear that the delivery could be in response to the Turkish Government's call for a Syrian no-fly zone, something which Russia is obviously not agreeing with.

It would be interesting to hear views on whether or not the presence of these aircraft in Damascus would alter the idea of a Syrian no-fly zone due to MiG-31 capabilities. Would six, or even eight of this type of aircraft be a game/decision changer, or would they just be a problem that would require 'consideration'.

It would be interesting to know what Putins plan is with Syria, he could easily guarantee its sovereignty and plonk resources in there. I suspect Assads just a convenience and will leave him out to dry if it requires to much cost.

Syrian MiG-31 Foxhound Delivery....allegedly
 

Well those are capable birds... in the right hands. The question is who is going to fly them, with what infrastructure and armement.

Well, if this were true, the Foxhounds would require not only pilots, but more significantly fighter qual'd WSOs. IIRC, the Syrian AF don't have any, as they don't operate any 2 seat fighters....

atakacs,

My thoughts exactly. The question is whether the training required and the procurement of material has already taken place thus the aircraft are ready to use.

Seriously? We've been here before in Desert Storm.

If a no-fly zone was established there would be platforms watching their base electronically and visually; they'd be monitored from start-up to taxi and the information passed to AWACS and an airborne CAP and they'd be locked on their take-off roll and be lucky to reach 500ft and the airfield perimeter.

Their only hope would be, as in Desert Storm, to scramble in radio silence making a run for Iranian airspace; but seeing as, instead of a few miles, they have to cross the whole of Iraq, I doubt they'd make it......

Caveat: Assumes the US would be involved, but if they're not - the chances of a no-fly zone being established as zero anyway.

I'd imagine the Israelis would be interested as well.

As I understand it our aircraft are attacking Al Queda/ISIS both of which are Assad's enemies, so why would his aircraft be a problem for us? They would be attacking the people we are attacking.
Turkey doesn't much like Assad, it doesn't like ISIS, it however mostly doesn't like the Kurds. The Kurds don't like ISIS. So exactly what Turkey would hope to achieve by a no-fly zone escapes me.
However if the Russians supply pilots and ground crew, those Foxhounds become something very interesting.
ISIS however isn't a normal army it is very dispersed and difficult to defeat from the air. Ultimately ground troops have to be there. If they are going to be defeated, like it or not, we should work with Assad.

Keep in mind that Syria ordered these aircraft way back in 2007. A lot of things have changed since then. Syria may or may not be interested in flying these aircraft operationally, assuming even that they have the resources (including rear seat crew) to fly them operationally.

Syrian MiG-31 Foxhound Delivery....allegedly
 

I think we can all agree that if those birds are going to fly in any combat capacity it will be with Russian crews, either official or mercenaries...
Interesting time we live in.

Are the F22s still deployed in the area? If so I can't see these lasting long if they are to be used (foolishly) against the coalition aircraft, I can't see any other uses for them to be honest, as I think I'm right in saying they have no air to ground capability?

Not sure why we're to assume they'll be flown by anyone other than Syrians. I give the Syrians basic credit for knowing that if they ordered these jets a number of years ago that they would have a program up and running to staff them. War or not, they've taken delivery, meaning they're quite possibly ready to fly them in some capacity.

Why did Syria want these Foxhounds?
 

Can anyone cast any light upon the Syrian thinking in ordering these? An air defence interceptor with the ability to go high and fast and shoot long range missiles would seem to be a solution looking for a problem in Syria's case.

Israel is just next door and as was shown with the shoot down of a Turkish F4 Syria had a good air defence infrastructure.

Unless they were needed to protect the possible nuclear facilities from long range US attack.

It is not as though the Iraqi air force is a threat, at least at the moment.

It's irrational to assume Syria will use these jets against coalition forces. ISIL haven't got the personnel to operate them so that rules them out. They are enthusiastic about taking over the Middle East, but enthusiasm will only get you so far. Training, experience, equipment, personnel and capability will do the rest, and they haven't got any of those.

High flying drones and surveillance aircraft

An interesting buy if true. Certainly more Frogfoot and Hind/Hip procurement make more sense with regard to the current and real threat to Assads regime. That said their airspace is busted by just about everyone these days so perhaps they are unwisely bolstering capability. A thirsty 1980s aircraft they will struggle to operate with the RCS of a house is a weird choice. Sellers market I guess.

As has been said we currently fight the same enemy as both the Syrian and Iranian Air Force (who'd have thought it) and the RAF/coalition "holding action" is to a degree held togther based on Assad holding his ground.

Syrian MiG-31 Foxhound Delivery....allegedly
 

I wouldn't call myself a specialist but I do have some aquintance who happened to fly in those birds a decade ago. My understanding is that they need real expertise and significant supporting infrastructure to be operated in an efficient manner and that said expertise is very unlikely to be present among the Syrian Air Force, or whatever is left of it. Just my 2c

How do you arrive at this conclusion?

One IDAF strike mission to Syria and poof no MiG 31's..

Probably because the MiG-31 requires a Navigator/WSO in the back seat. As has already been said, the Syrian AF doesn't operate any twin-seat combat jets, so unless the Syrian AF has managed to retain a proper facility for training combat Navs and then getting them combat ready, and has experienced Nav's as QFI's to teach the courses, then this is a bit of a problem.

Unless Russian crews are going to operate these aircraft and Russian groundcrew will maintain and arm them while the Syrians get up to speed, then they are going to be sitting on the ground, doing the square root of :mad: all. So it's reasonable to arrive at the aforementioned conclusion that the required expertise is not likely to be present.