Russia backs Assad with airpower amid HTS surge in Syria
Surprised by the jihadist offensive from HTS, Syria, along with its Russian ally, is trying to stop or slow it down using airpower. Here's what they are using.
9:17 AM EST, December 3, 2024
The ground forces of Assad's regime have suffered significant losses in equipment, and the only thing that seems to have slowed down the HTS fighters' offensive until other units were brought to the Aleppo region is the use of airpower. In addition to the Syrian air force, Russian planes stationed at the Hmeimim airbase in Syria are also involved in the operations.
This base was home to virtually all types of Russian aircraft in the past, but during the war in Ukraine, it was desolate. For example, the latest available satellite images from June 21, 2023, taken by an Airbus satellite, show that apart from a few transport aircraft, including one Russian A-50 AWACS and several helicopters, there were three strike aircraft stationed there. One of them is a Su-24, and the other two appear to be Su-30 or Su-35.
One might assume that a similar situation occurred in 2024 since Ukraine is most important for Russia. However, it is possible that reinforcements only now have arrived at the base, with a stopover in Iran, as was the case in 2015.
Air support for Assad
The Syrian air force can utilize strike aircraft such as the L-39, MiG-23, Su-22, Su-24, and MiG-29, typically employing pods with 23 mm caliber guns, unguided S-8 or S-25 rockets, and unguided bombs from the FAB series.
For example, S-8 rockets have a range of about 2.5 miles and come in many variations, starting from the most common high-explosive fragmentation variant, through the thermobaric S-8DF, and ending with the anti-tank S-8T with a tandem warhead, capable of penetrating up to 16 inches of steel behind reactive armor.
This kind of armament provides only the capability for direct air support actions solely against opponents, lacking even handheld anti-aircraft systems like the FIM-92 Stinger or similar devices.
Meanwhile, more advanced tasks such as striking command points must be carried out by the Russians for Assad, utilizing munitions like the FAB with UMPK modules that enable precise targeting of buildings or field fortifications. None can withstand a direct hit from a 1,100-pound or 3,300-pound bomb.
