Russia sends four SU27s to Syria
 

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/20/wo...role.html?_r=0

Looks like they want air superiority over the airspace that Cameron wants the RAF to use.

Also an SA-22 system up and running.

The Israelis must be very happy with these developments.

The allies lost a great opportunity to make Syria into a no fly zone and thus stop the barrel bombs.

For better or worse Syria is still under the legal control of the Assad Government. ISIS may control large portions of the country but that does not extend to any airspace. Allied aircraft may not have the outright permission of the Syrian Government to operate in Syrian airspace but Assad is turning a blind eye because they are hitting ISIS. The Allies don't have the legal ability to deny the Syrian Air Force or anyone else access to Syrian airspace let alone forces invited into the country by the legitimate government.

dat581 got that right.

flown transit over that bit of dirt a wee bit afore this latest shenanegan. Mr RWR impolitely informed me that Bashar Or his associates were using our invited passage as a little DACT practice. No Bead window but passed on what was available- hope it helps,

H

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CPVdSSCUwAA1W-X.jpg

But they are under Grad rocket attack: https://twitter.com/raging545/status/645303266612527104

Are they any worse than nuclear weapons?

No. Terrorist, or rebel depending on your PoV, propoganda.

They have nothing within range of that airbase that could hit it.

Hardly the latest technology; they're what 30 years old?

Streetwise Professor: Putin Has Made His Sandbox. Let Him Play In It.

Those look awfully like they have canards towards the front, unless my eyes deceive me, which would make them a little younger than 30...

Chevvron wrote

They appear to be Su-30SMs? These are new-build with the SM first flight taking place in 2012.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sukhoi_Su-30

Su-30SM Multirole Fighter Aircraft - Airforce Technology

Judging by the camouflage they appear to be Russian Air Force. The Russian Navy also operate the SM. Link to gallery of Russian Su-30SM.

http://www.airplane-pictures.net/type.php?p=5493

Are they any worse than nuclear weapons? - RH200

I suggest that the answer is yes, inasmuch as that they are being actively used against a defenceless civilian population.

Jack

Does anyone have a real problem with Putin reinforcing Assad? Their ROE will be less restrictive than the UN and their response no doubt more robust with less regard to collateral damage.

The Aviationist agrees: The Aviationist » Satellite image shows four Russian Su-30SM parked in the open air at airfield in Syria

Su-30SM

Plus two Mi-24 gunship helicopters and two Mi-17 Hip utility choppers.

I'd have thought a bunch of Su-25s would be more use in that fight.

Royalistflyer
I suppose it all depends who the SU 30s have been sent to fight or protect Syria from.
If they are there as a message to allied or IAF F15s then they may be the best aircraft for the job.

Su-24 Fencers and IL-78 Midas claimed to have been filmed over Homs, Syria.

PN, Russia's RoE have always been less restrictive.

Do remember the story from Beirut in the 80s when a couple of Russian's from the embassy were snatch by a local militia, it would appear that a member of the leaders family head was sent home, was sent home with the warning we would like our people back unharmed, they were.

Or, Somalian pirates who tried to attack a Russian ship intercepted by a naval spetznaz team, they we cast adrift and as the boat went across horizon it went boom.

Not people to mess around with.

America, and NATO, goofed when we sought to get rid of Assad and his Alawite elite ruling class. Evil though Assad was, he was the least evil of the possibilities. Few could foresee him lasting this long, but those who knew history knew that Assad had no other choice. Surrender was not an option.

The Alawites are considered pagans by the Sunni. They are not even afforded the dhimmi status given to Christians and Jews. They have been savagely abused over the centuries.

Ibn Taymiyyah, a renowned 13th and 14th century Islamic scholar, issued a fatwa against Alawites, declaring them “greater infidels than Christians, Jews or idolaters,” and calling for a holy war against them. Alawites faced systemic abuse and repression that continued until the end of the Ottoman empire.

The Sunnis cannot stand to be ruled over by people lower than dhimmis. The Alawites know that to surrender means genocide. The Alawites will go down like the Nazis in Berlin in 1945. They have no other choice.

Oddly, the Alawite religion has a mix of Christianity in it, making them friendly with Christians, another victimized group. The Alawites ruthlessly enforced a secularity in a part of the world that revolts against it. As bizarre as it seems, Syria had these Western values. Anyone with half a brain could have foreseen that the way to handle the situation was to offer Assad a hand in exchange for breaking relations with Iran and Hezb’allah. In 2011, that might have worked.

No longer.

The US screwed up in Syria. If Russia is foolish enough to butt in, then let them. Maybe they can do a better job of eliminating ISIS and radical Islam than we are doing.

Bob C

AFAIK, the Flankers have an air to ground capability and might be better suited than Frogfoot in Syria.