Syrians Shoot Down Russian Reconnaissance
 

Oh Dear. Looks like a nasty mistake.

Russian spy plane carrying 14 people 'accidentally shot down' by Syrian anti-aircraft battery - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

Were the Australians around to make such a firm statement?
Yes, it appears quite possible because the Syrian army is not well-trained, but this was during the attack by Israeli AF and a French ship to the Syrian territory. So, both had means to shot down such an easy aerial target.
More data are needed to say anything for sure.

The Russians haven't yet said who they think was responsible for shooting it down, nor indeed that it was shot down at all.

TASS: Russia’s military aircraft disappears over Mediterranean Sea

The BBC report
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-45556290

There were reports on social media last night of Russian AD batteries at Latakia engaging targets, with the usual nonsense about the S400. Could be a case of red-on-red.

Russia now reportedly blaming Israel, alleging that a lack of notice about the Israeli action, 'pushed' the aircraft into the line of fire. Some pretty simplistic Sky reporting though...

CG

There were reports on social media last night of Russian AD batteries at Latakia in action. Possible red-on-red? Could explain the silence from Moscow while they try to get their story straight and fabricate evidence that it was someone else

That's hardly a surprise, given that the Russians have acknowledged that Israeli F-16s had mounted an attack on Latakia.

Well yes, if we can't accuse them of fabricating evidence, we can at least accuse them of maybe planning to do so. :O

Who to believe, this below from a Syrian blogger

BREAKING: #Israel missiles shot down #Russia-n IL-20 Jet over #Syria, 14 Russian service members are dead!
Israel and France were firing a barrage of missiles near the Russian base in Latakia.
US government and media trying to claim it was a Syrian missile that accidentally shot it down in an attempt to shift blame, however, Syrian air defence systems are all Russian made, Russian aircraft appear as 'friendlies' on the radar system' it would never hit a Russian plane. WHAT A JOKE.

Also seems that the west is keen to get its gas pipeline regardless of the carnage. Even Merkel has hinted she may take Germany to war with Syria although given the German militaries current state it may be with catapults.
https://www.rt.com/news/438676-frenc...nean-missiles/

So the misinformation begins. Nice touch, bringing the Germans into the story

Really, https://www.dw.com/en/merkel-calls-for-european-response-to-syria-takes-flak-from-opposition/a-42696954

http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/germany-faces-new-pressure-to-take-military-role-in-syria-a-1228150.html

The truth hopefully is somewhere in the middle, but if you think I believe western Main Stream Media :-)

https://www.dw.com/en/merkel-calls-f...ion/a-42696954

RT News QUOTE?
The same RT News that broadcasts event descriptions, regular and recent interviews, that are even laughed at by its own residents as they are considered too unbelievable to be true? :oh:

From TASS.

According to Konashenkov, Israel had issued no warning to the command of the Russian military group in Syria of the forthcoming operation.


OR


"A hot-line warning was received less than one minute before the strike, which left no chance for taking the Russian plane to safety," he added.



TASS: Military & Defense - Syria downed Russia's plane because Israeli F-16s used it as cover ? Russian top brass

A lot can happen in 60 seconds.

And it did.

Or the BBC and the rest of Western MSM who seem strangely quiet on Libya, remember that place, it needed democracy, once a functioning society not perfect but now its a ****hole or Afghanistan, yes it a lot better now. Or Even Suez, yes, I believe what I am told by Western Media.

Even the Russians are saying that an S-200 shot it down, blaming Israel for creating a dangerous situation and hiding behind Russia's plane. But do keep the conspiracies coming, very entertaining.

I don't think the Germans were involved in the action last night. But hey, what's wrong with a bit of catnip to keep the Putinbots happy?

I am assuming the Russians have IFF and other similar systems, yes it may well have been being friendly fire, but who to believe, certainly not Western media. Can you say for certain that it was an accident?

Hang on comrade, I nearly spilled my Vodka, I listed two links from German news services backing up my statement that Merkel was considering military action. At no point did I suggest the Germans were involved in last nights military action, but hey let's throw in some more disinformation in an attempt to discredit the source.

He has rather embarrassed himself, hasn't he? And the thread is only c20 posts old. He's seemlessly on to a bit of whataboutery now...

You missed our ill-judged venture into the Sudan in 1882 of your list. I'm sure there are others too.

Back on topic, this is looking like a deconfliction cock-up, the Isralis only gaving the Russians minimal notice of their intent. Could well of been deliberate of course, suggesting the air defences in the area have been improved, and that the Syrian military is moving valued kit to to the area to better protect it.

It has been confirmed in the Russian media that the Syrians shot it down using an old S-200 SAM. The bodies and aircraft fragments and debris are being collected by the Russian ships.
The Israeli aircraft played a simple trick approaching the shore nearly along the line-of-sight between the S-200 and Il-20 and warning the Russians about their intended attack just 1 min in advance through a "hot line" (as Russian media say). It was reported that it was too late to remove a slow Il-20 from the dangerous area.
The Russians are angry about Israel. Anyway, the Syrians are to be blamed in the first instance, IMHO.

Politics aside.

Thoughts to the crew.

They are airmen like the rest of us.

Assume you know this from Russian media reports?

Could have been pre-planned, opportunistic or just plain old happenstance - we will, of course, never know. Either way the Syrians must have known there was a rather large, slow friendly in the area.

Well once the SAMs had been launched, it was ...

IFF can be fooled:
https://www.dlab.ninja/2012/04/mig-in-middle.html

I was told the Il-20 was doing a photographic survey of local cathederals for a forthcoming RT feature documentary, but wasn't able to get closer because of all that snow.

PDR

When you're in cahoots with the target, that's all the warning you're going to get.

Anyway, Putin was rather "mild" talking about this tragedy while addressing condolences to the families. He called it a tragic accident that cannot be compared with deliberate shooting by a Turkish plane a couple of years ago.

Perhaps the Israelies got sick of Ivan tipping off the Syrians about targets and finding the target has moved or defences have been alerted or even enhanced and chose to shorten the warning time?
i wonder if the IDF/AF hit their target in spite of an Ilyushin possibly running interference?
Be lucky
David

Using air corridors and approach paths is a well used tactic, one the Israeli have used several times before.

It was also a similar S-200 (SA-5) system that downed an Israeli F-16I not so long time ago.

Eerily, one of the early novels about a nuclear apocalypse and the aftermath, Alas, Babylon, triggers its war with an errant Sidewinder missile firing over...... Latakia, Syria. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alas,_Babylon

59 years on, and still the sore festers.

Nomad, more like a Britannia, than the Vanguard.






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Most likely the COOT was not sniffing for red systems. The SA-5 was designed to hit transport size/type targets like the COOT, and I don't think the COOT is carrying any type of counter measures. Furthermore, even with some RWR gear available and indication of an inbound missile, the COOT i to slow to defeat the missile by maneuvers alone.

F16Guy, I would be surprised if they filtered out friendlies, more likely their systems were shut down if they were on recovery. Not unusual to unload the 'take' once off task ready for a quick seaplane and into analysis and debrief.

Reasonably sure that, once detected / sufficient time, the SA-5 can be defeated by a manoeuvring large aircraft...