Combat use of fire support helicopters in Syria. Syria. Small missile ships of the Buyan-M project with Caliber missiles

“Military Acceptance” continues the series of programs about the work of our military in Syria. This time the heroes of the program are helicopter pilots. They are used in the event of search and rescue operations, they cover from the air the closest approaches to our military base Khmeimim, they perform a lot of other tasks, risking their lives, testing the strength of themselves and their military equipment. About who and how the sky is conquered today of this distant eastern country, which helicopter blades cut the hot Syrian air in layers and how Russian helicopter officers live and serve in these difficult conditions, he will tell Help is coming from heaven The best pilots, navigators, and flight technicians in Russia, many of whom have more than once participated in the aerial part of the parade on Red Square in Moscow, today here in Syria are performing real combat missions. Thus, a group of the search and rescue parachute service of the Khmeimim airbase is ready to fly out at any moment to help our pilots who are in trouble in the region. It's not minutes that count - it's seconds: the first to rush aboard the helicopter is the crew of the search and rescue service, followed by rescuers, a doctor, and the personnel of the fire covering group. A helicopter that is about to fly into a dangerous area is protected like a flying fortress: the pilot-navigator and the crew commander have armor on their blisters, and armor plates are on their backs. In addition, the crew carries out the flight wearing body armor, and everyone in the vehicle, including doctors, is armed.
In the case of the rescue of the crew of Lieutenant Colonel Oleg Peshkov, exactly the same helicopter flew to the area from which the alarm signal came. At that moment, no one knew that in the area where they were to look for our pilots, terrorists would set up an ambush... Now it is clear why the group would fly out to search, fully equipped and armed.
In Syria, all rotorcraft flights take place at a minimum altitude. This is necessary in order not to come under fire from enemy MANPADS. By the way, our helicopters have a function that, if turned on below the entered level, the aircraft will not descend. Our helicopter pilots also fight in Syria at extremely low altitudes. In one of the settlements, Syrian government troops could not knock out the terrorists, after which they requested air support. Attack Mi-24s from the Russian group came close to the ground and fired missiles. The assault on the village was a done deal.
Combat "carousel"- It can fly up almost vertically, then turn around, hover and fall down like lightning. The work of the pilots is exquisite: at the lowest point of this “carousel” the helicopter flies at an altitude of five meters at a speed of 200 km/h. The masterly work of pilots is manifested not only in the mastery of aerobatics. For example, in Syria, without any training, you need to fly in the night for more than an hour through unknown territory and arrive at the target with an accuracy of five seconds. As the aviators themselves note, such precision is needed to coordinate actions with the ground part of the operation: being late can result in casualties.
Another one important task helicopter pilots in Syria - escort. It is attack helicopters that provide protection for Russian military transport aircraft using the Khmeimim airfield. Defense is layered: at low altitudes, helicopters are responsible for it, at high altitudes - Su-30SM and Su-35 fighters. According to the navigator of the Mi-28N helicopter, in the air they are at a distance of approximately 50-200 m from the escorted aircraft, covering it on the glide path during landing or takeoff. The task is to identify the source of fire in order to localize and destroy it.
On earth, in heaven, on sea Another thing is rescue at sea. The pilots' equipment, in addition to the small arms required in combat conditions, includes a fast-inflatable boat. It provides a pilot in trouble with the ability to remain on the surface of the water. Having spotted a rescue helicopter, the pilot lights a smoke bomb of orange smoke. For the crew of a rescue helicopter, the main thing is to notice this signal, but the most difficult thing is to keep the car in place while lifting the victim. According to Alexander, the commander of the helicopter squadron of the combined air regiment of the Khmeimim airbase, the sea surface does not allow one to “catch the gaze”; there are no “reference” landmarks here. The direction is maintained according to the heading system, the altitude is maintained according to the radio altimeter. The navigator and flight engineer at this moment act as gunners.
It is worth noting that air rescue exercises are carried out systematically in Syria. In addition, all helicopter pilots, before entering the combat area, undergo a special training course at the 344th Center for Combat Training and Retraining of Army Aviation Flight Personnel in Torzhok. As the head of the center, Colonel Andrei Popov, notes, the results of work in Syria revealed new techniques, new tactical moves. All this is communicated to the flight crew during training events. Among these new tactics, the officer notes, - the use of weapons against ground targets, reaching the targets on the move.
After all, the Mi-28 helicopter can both independently find a target and be aimed at it by an aircraft gunner. The “Night Hunter” (also called the Mi-28N) is often used at night in Syria. The takeoff is carried out in blackout mode, the pilot works with a night vision device. Rescue operations can also be carried out at night. True, only on earth. At sea - only during the day. The reason is still the same - it is difficult for the pilot to navigate over the sea surface. As for the rescue technology, it has been worked out to the smallest detail. A rescuer descends from the helicopter and grabs the person in trouble by the harness. After all, a pilot who crashes may be injured or even unconscious. After a couple of seconds, both - the rescuer and the pilot he saved - find themselves in the air, and then on board the helicopter.

Now the Russians will test the Ka-52 in the Middle East. Photo by RIA Novosti

Whatever they say about the departure of the Russian military from Syria, they continue to be active there fighting. As Lieutenant General Sergei Rudskoy, head of the main operational directorate of the Russian General Staff, said, “on average, Russian aircraft carry out 20-25 combat sorties every day.” Basically, our aviation bombs the positions of gangs in the mountainous desert area in the Palmyra region, from where a direct road opens to the city of Raqqa, the secret capital of the “Islamic State” (IS - banned in the Russian Federation terrorist organization). And it is likely that Damascus’s military steps to liberate the main territory of Syria from ISIS militants could end very soon if some factors do not prevent this.

In the near future, due to the beginning of the rainy season and dust storms in the region, the main attacks of our aviation will fall not on airplanes, but on combat helicopters. They are easier to hit with small arms and anti-aircraft weapons. But they, if air defense rules are followed, are a very effective means of supporting advancing infantry.

“FLYING TANKS” ENTER THE BATTLE

The media have already reported that Ka-52 Alligator and Mi-28N Night Hunter attack helicopters have recently been deployed to Syria. This is a good addition to that squadron (12 attack helicopters Mi-24, Mi-35 and Mi-8), which has already been operating in Syria since the beginning of the operation. Our the latest helicopters can act effectively both day and night. And here, of course, not only their performance characteristics, but also the flying skill of the crews who operate them. Unlike the Americans, our helicopter pilots are trained to operate in conditions of limited night visibility. And there is no one in the world equal to them in terms of flying skill. Apparently, it is no coincidence that peacekeeping missions The UN most often invites the Russian helicopter air group.

Now in Syria, to support combat operations, our helicopters will be designed to destroy tanks, armored personnel carriers, infantry fighting vehicles and other armored vehicles and enemy personnel day and night. By the way, the latest rotorcraft also have their own excellent protection from enemy fire, for which they are sometimes called “flying tanks” (see information on page 3). They will not act high altitudes oh, how they will increase the effectiveness of the actions of the ground group.

“Helicopters of the Russian Aerospace Forces can become a real nightmare for militants, since it is impossible to evade their well-aimed attacks. Take Chechnya, for example, the use of helicopters at night made an important contribution to the defeat of the bandit underground there,” says military expert Lieutenant General Yuri Netkachev. However, in his opinion, “there is one “but” here, connected with the possibility of IS militants appearing effective means Air defense." Netkachev is confident that there is still hope that “our videoconferencing assets are reliably protected from possible anti-aircraft attacks. Moreover, their use is planned in conditions of limited visibility.”

Meanwhile, the panacea for Russian aviation Of course, there is no need to do this. It is quite clear that the main success of the offensive against IS positions depends on the actions of the Syrian ground group. And in its composition, it seems, important changes have occurred. According to official Damascus, the Syrian special forces "Tigers" together with fighters are participating in the attack on Palmyra Marine Corps Syria, as well as Lebanese Hezbollah units, the Iraqi paramilitary militia Liwa Imam Al and the Desert Falcons brigade. As it became known, militias from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) were deployed to help them, along with the Afghan Shiite militia Liwa Al-Fatemiyoun. “Reinforcements from the IRGC and Afghan militias should help government forces in the decisive assault on the ancient city located in the desert,” the Almasdar Arabic agency reports. This is a complete Shiite international. And apparently, he can play a decisive role in the defeat of the still strong and treacherous IS units.

Almasdar also reports that VKS aircraft are bombing IS positions not only on the outskirts of Palmyra, but also other areas located east of this ancient city, where “several important oil fields are located that provided IS with a lot of money.” It is already becoming obvious that Assad’s troops, in cooperation with militia units and Lebanese volunteers from the Lebanese Hezbollah, are seeking to liberate areas where terrorists extract hydrocarbons. And it is in these areas that, with the support of Russian aviation, they are demonstrating success.

Official Damascus reports that “as a result of the offensive in the province of Deir ez-Zor, army units established full control over the key route connecting the Tim and Mayadin oil fields.” The British IHS campaign believes that "it has become much more difficult for jihadists to profit from oil sales on the black market." According to the company, they have decreased by 40% due to the fact that significant control over the Syrian-Turkish border, through which smuggled oil enters Turkey, has been lost.

S-400 air defense systems, T-90 TANKS, “SOLNTSEPEK” HEAVY FLAMETHROWS

It should be noted that the success of Assad’s troops is ensured not only by the planes and helicopters of our Aerospace Forces, but also by Russian ground weapons. And also military advisers. As a military-diplomatic source told Interfax, there are now “about a thousand Russian military personnel” left in Syria. More than half of them are military advisers. Approximately the same data was voiced by the head of the Federation Council Committee on Defense and Security, Viktor Ozerov. And the head of the Russian Presidential Administration, Sergei Ivanov, answering the question whether Russians will remain in the region anti-aircraft missile systems S-400, repeated the words of Vladimir Putin, who emphasized that Russian military facilities in Tartus and at the Khmeimim airfield will function as before and “must be reliably protected from land, sea and air.” In addition, our military personnel will have to perform “the very important function of monitoring the ceasefire and creating conditions for the peace process.”

Front-line reports reported the success of the application in the area of ​​the southern outskirts of Palmyra missile strikes reactive systems volley fire(MLRS) "Smerch". Previously, Arab media and social networks cited photographs and videos of the effective use of TOS-1A Solntsepek heavy flamethrower systems firing thermobaric ammunition against terrorists entrenched in fortified areas. They completely burn out almost all the tunnels, communication passages, trenches and dugouts erected on the path of advance of the Syrian troops.

Noting the military activity of the Russian Federation in the Palmyra area, the representative of the US-led coalition, Colonel Steve Warren, at a briefing at the Pentagon recently asserted that allegedly Russian artillery helps Syrian troops in attacks against IS militants. But this, of course, is not true. According to military expert Lieutenant General Yuri Netkachev, “most likely MLRS, new heavy flamethrowers, T-90 tanks and other equipment have been delivered Syrian army after the start of our operation in the Syrian Arab Republic, and Russian military specialists are only training Syrian soldiers to use it competently.”

Vladimir Putin said the same thing when speaking last week in the Kremlin. “Of course, we will continue to support the legitimate government of Syria. It is complex in nature. This includes financial assistance, supplies of equipment and weapons, assistance in training, organizing and coordinating the Syrian armed forces, intelligence support, and staff assistance in planning operations. And finally, this is immediate, direct support. I mean the use of a space group, strike and fighter aircraft,” Putin said. At the same time, he noted that “those Russian forces, which remain in Syria, are sufficient to solve the assigned tasks.” Although, in his words, “if necessary, Russia can literally in a few hours increase its grouping in the region to a size adequate to the current situation and use the entire arsenal of our available capabilities.”

As you know, Russian military personnel in Syria are already carrying out humanitarian missions to transport food and other goods to the provinces of the country for people in need. To receive such cargo from various international organizations Sites have already been prepared at the logistics support point Russian Navy in the port of Tartus and at the Khmeimim airbase. It has not yet been announced which contingent will be involved for these purposes. But given the complexity of the tasks at hand, it will apparently be significant.

WE WILL NOT FORGET THE KURDS ALSO

Let us note that Russia provides military-technical assistance not only to the Syrian troops, but also to the Iraqi Kurds. Consul-Adviser of the Consulate General of the Russian Federation in Erbil (this is Iraqi Kurdistan), Evgeny Arzhantsev, said last week that the Peshmerga (Kurdish militia) detachments, with the consent of Baghdad, were supplied with five ZU-23-2 anti-aircraft guns and 19 thousand ammunition for them. Of course, this weapon is not new at all (the installation was adopted by the USSR Armed Forces in 1960). But even it is capable of hitting helicopters and other low-flying air targets, including combat aircraft and drones. Such deliveries indicate that Moscow is preparing to defend its geopolitical goals in Iraq. This assistance is a clear hint to Ankara that its aerial bombing of Kurdish positions in Iraq will not go unpunished. Although there is a possibility that in response to this, Turkey will also begin supplying anti-aircraft missiles to the irreconcilable Mujahideen to fight Russian and Syrian aircraft.

Perhaps such deliveries are already being carried out behind the scenes, since last week militants knocked out settlement Kafer Nbuda (Hama province) Syrian Air Force MiG-21 fighter. The Russian Ministry of Defense claims that the plane was hit by a man-portable anti-aircraft missile system. And the other day, the Syrian media reported that “the Turks delivered a cargo of ammunition, the basis of which is Tou anti-tank missiles (PTK), to the village of Bdama (Latakia province) for the militants.” It is known that these anti-tank systems are produced by the USA, and Ankara was actively purchasing them at one time.

Meanwhile, it draws attention to the powerful offensive of Assad’s troops, the militia and the IRGC in the Palmyra area, as well as their attacks on militants in the province of Deir ez-Zor in east direction coincided with the actions of the Iraqi army to liberate the province of Anbar (Iraq), which is advancing west to the border with the Syrian Arab Republic. These are mainly Shiite troops supported by Iran, and, of course, the United States is not providing them with any assistance. The Americans, who support the Sunni forces fighting the Islamic State, have other plans for military operations in Iraq and Syria.

THE USA IS UP SOMETHING AGAIN...

The American role in resolving the Syrian conflict is confusing and unclear. It would seem that they want peace to be established in Syria and are interacting with Russian Center to reconcile the warring parties. However, for some unknown reason, they refused to develop a joint agreement on a ceasefire monitoring mechanism. The absence of such a mechanism, according to the head of the Main Operations Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, Lieutenant General Sergei Rudsky, gives terrorists the opportunity to masquerade as a moderate opposition that has joined the ceasefire. As a result, peaceful people are dying, and the reconciliation process is reaching a dead end.

According to Rudsky, “military force will be used only after receiving reliable evidence of systematic violations by armed groups of the obligations undertaken as part of the implementation of the joint Russian-American statement on the cessation of hostilities in Syria dated February 22, 2016.” He separately noted that military force would not be used against formations observing the ceasefire regime, as well as civilians and civilian objects.

One can only guess why Washington is so cool towards Russian proposals to monitor compliance with the cessation of hostilities in the Syrian Arab Republic. A military-diplomatic source explained this to NVO by saying that “Washington is not at all interested in striking such groups that, according to the US plan, should destroy the power of Bashar al-Assad. The signing of an agreement to monitor compliance with the ceasefire, which Moscow insists on, will impose precisely such obligations on the United States.” Therefore, we can conclude that the visit of US Secretary of State John Kerry to Moscow, which took place on March 23–25, is unlikely to resolve the military contradictions that have developed between Russia and the United States in Syria. The Americans, apparently, are clearly unhappy that, thanks to the help of Moscow and Iran, the Assad regime began to win important victories over ISIS units and militants from other terrorist groups.

Thus, the situation in Syria is still far from complete pacification. But, apparently, Damascus will be encouraged by Vladimir Putin’s statement that “taking into account our support and the strengthening of the Syrian army, I am confident that in the near future we will see new serious successes of patriotic forces in the fight against terrorism.” At a meeting with the head of Iran's Strategic Council for Foreign Relations, Ali Khamenei Kamal Kharazi, President Bashar al-Assad said that the political and military support of friendly countries, particularly Iran and Russia, has actively contributed to strengthening the resilience of the Syrians in the war they are waging against terrorism to rebuild security and stability of the country.

Help "NVO"

Ka-52 "Alligator" (according to NATO codification, Hokum B) is a Russian attack helicopter. The vehicle is capable of hitting armored and unarmored vehicles, manpower and air targets on the battlefield. Represents further development Ka-50 "Black Shark" model. Retaining the entire range of weapons of a single-seat helicopter (a mobile gun mount with a 2A42 cannon of 30 mm caliber and an ammunition load of 460 shells, blocks of unguided aircraft missiles of 80 mm caliber, aerial bombs, cannon containers and other weapons total mass up to 2,000 kg), the Ka-52 can additionally take on board Shturm-VU ATGM guided missiles with a laser guidance system (LSN), Igla-V close-range air-to-air guided missiles, as well as unguided missiles "air-to-ground". In the future, it is planned to use air-to-ground guided missiles.

Mi-28N “Night Hunter” (according to NATO codification, Havoc – “Devastator”) is a Soviet and Russian attack helicopter designed to search and destroy tanks and other armored vehicles, as well as low-speed air targets and enemy personnel in conditions of active fire resistance. . The Mi-28N's armament consists of a 30-mm 2A42 automatic cannon, and it can also carry both guided and unguided missiles. The helicopter can be equipped with air-to-air missiles. The helicopter has four suspension points. The vehicle can also be equipped for laying minefields.

The Russian military operation in Syria became not only a test of the military reform carried out, but also a kind of “review of the achievements” of the domestic defense industry. According to Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, 160 types of new and modernized weapons were tested in Syria. Most of these designs are no longer a post-Soviet legacy, but were developed and adopted into service in the last few years. Combat use forced a new look at Russian weapons traditional and potential buyers. The experience of successful use of weapons and military equipment in real wars has always been an important tool for promoting the international market, and has already led to the conclusion of additional contracts, including in the region itself.

Of the demonstrated Russian arsenal, the creation and first combat use of a whole family of high-precision weapons caused the most violent international reaction. cruise missiles sea- and air-based with satellite guidance. Strikes by small missile ships using the Caliber-NK complex over a distance of over 1000 kilometers were carried out from the Caspian and Mediterranean seas. The Kalibr-PL modification was fired from the coast of Syria from an underwater position diesel Submarine"Rostov-on-Don".

For the first time in the history of the Russian Navy, it had the opportunity to attack ground targets hundreds of kilometers from the coast with high-precision non-nuclear weapons. This made him take a fresh look at his role. Equipped with modern cruise missiles, the fleet and aerospace forces have acquired completely new capabilities for power projection.

Previously, the main purpose of the Russian Aerospace Forces Long-Range Aviation was the use of nuclear weapons, which made it almost useless in local conflicts. But in Syria, she tested her new ones in combat conditions non-nuclear air-launched cruise missiles Kh-555 and Kh-101. For strategic bombers Tu-95MSM And Tu-160 Syria was also their first combat use.

Thanks to the massive supply of military equipment to the Aerospace Forces, which has been ongoing for several years, all combat aircraft stationed at the Khmeimim airbase are either new or modernized. Transferred to Syria fighters MiG-29K/KUB, Su-27SM, Su-30, Su-33, Su-35, bombers Su-24M2 And Su-34(pictured), Su-25SM attack aircraft. The main difference between them all was the new generation of sighting and navigation systems. They gave them the ability to hit targets with increased accuracy even with conventional unguided bombs. But the main advantage of the new technology was the ability to use a new generation of Russian high-precision weapons. It was this that made it possible to turn the tide in the war with a very limited air force.

The most frequently used and most useful has become satellite-corrected GLONASS KAB-500S bomb. The receipt of such ammunition allowed Russian aviation to reliably hit single stationary targets in any weather conditions and from high altitudes with minimal collateral damage, even in populated areas.

In addition to aircraft, more than two dozen helicopters were used in combat operations. Russian transport helicopters need no introduction in this region. They have long formed the basis of parks in Iraq and Afghanistan. But for our new attack helicopters, the fight against ISIS was the first time they were used in combat. In neighboring Iraq, Mi-28NEs have been intensively used since 2014. Since the fall of 2015, four types of attack helicopters have made their Syrian debut in the Russian Aerospace Forces in Syria: Mi-28N, Mi-35M, Ka-52 And Ka-52K.

Particular attention was drawn to the use of new guided missiles "Vikhr-M" from Ka-52 helicopters. The range and high speed of approach to the target allow the helicopter to attack without being noticed until the last moment and without entering the range of MANPADS. This gives Army Aviation a significant advantage over the most common Attack missiles, which have a shorter range and warhead power.

If it’s difficult to surprise someone with Russian-made planes and helicopters, then Russian drones still look exotic to most foreign observers. In just five years, the number of light tactical drones in the army has increased twentyfold, and their characteristics have approached the best world standards. By the end of 2016, the Russian Ministry of Defense already had almost 2,000 unmanned aerial vehicles at its disposal. aircraft.

The Russian group in Syria included about 80 drones, ranging from light " Aileron-3SV" And " Orlan-10"to the heaviest and farthest - " Outpost" Their number exceeded the total number of manned aircraft and helicopters. This grouping radically increased intelligence capabilities Russian troops.

UAVs were used to detect targets and guide aircraft, assess damage, and adjust Syrian artillery fire. Russian drones have also been used for more peaceful tasks, from mapping terrain to escorting convoys carrying humanitarian supplies.

Due to limited Russian participation in ground combat ground equipment was presented much more modestly. The Syrian government army was supplied mainly with outdated weapons from storage bases. However, one cannot fail to note the first combat use T-90, which took place in this Middle Eastern country. The government army was supplied with several dozen T-90 early modifications. They are far from new, and therefore are not the best either in the world or even in Russia, which, in addition to the advanced Armata tank, has already developed much more advanced modifications of the T-90 itself. However, even outdated modifications performed well, showing significantly better survivability compared to all previous models of Soviet tanks in service in Syria.

Among infantry weapons, Russian-made guided anti-tank missiles have proven themselves to be the best. Their use in Syria and neighboring Iraq was widespread; thousands of units were used, from the obsolete Soviet Bassoons to the most powerful Kornets in the Russian arsenal.

Lessons and challenges

Any war inevitably becomes the best testing ground, weeding out unsuccessful samples and stimulating the development of the most effective weapons. The experience gained in long wars cannot be replaced by either exercises or tests. The conflict in Syria was no exception. Even according to official data, more than a dozen of the 160 new types of weapons tested were rejected (although it was not specified which ones).

The concept of using new digital sights for bombing with increased accuracy with conventional unguided bombs has shown mixed results in real conditions. It has proven its effectiveness in attacks on field fortifications of militants and terrorists, areas where they are concentrated, and in attacks on oil infrastructure facilities that ISIS terrorists used to finance their “caliphate.” At the same time, with typical modern conflicts In combat operations in populated areas, their accuracy turned out to be insufficient. Here, the use of guided precision munitions has proven itself to have no alternative. It allows not only to minimize collateral damage, but also to hit targets with maximum efficiency.

The old concept of using attack aircraft on a modern battlefield saturated with MANPADS was also called into question. Due to the danger of being hit by anti-aircraft fire, the Su-25SM squadron deployed to Syria was used mainly as light bombers, they engaged in navigational bombing from high altitudes instead of traditional attack with unguided missiles and cannon fire.

It was not possible to fully “show the goods” to naval aviation during the voyage of the only Russian aircraft-carrying cruiser to the shores of Syria. For whatever reasons, the two aircraft were lost, it could in any case damage export prospects. First of all, India comes to mind, which in 2017 announced a tender for the purchase of 57 carrier-based fighters for its Russian-built aircraft carrier, which will also include MiGs.

However, this failure did not lead to serious reputational costs. An agreement was signed in Abu Dhabi for the joint development and production of fifth-generation light fighters based on the MiG35 with the UAE.

Tank developers are faced with the most serious challenges. The proliferation of anti-tank guided missiles has demonstrated the high vulnerability of armored vehicles on the modern battlefield. Effective anti-tank systems in large quantities ended up in the hands of not only government armies, but also irregular forces, as well as terrorists. In battles in Syria, Iraq, and Yemen, not only the old ones showed their vulnerability to modern anti-tank weapons soviet tanks, but also American Abrams, German Leopard and French Leclerc.

This once again confirmed that modern heavy armored vehicles are unthinkable without complexes active protection. Russian military-industrial complex is one of the few with competence in active protection equipment. But for now they will not be equipped with them serial tanks for our own army, we can hardly expect export success of such systems. They were not tested in Syria either.

The experience of using anti-tank systems in regional conflicts shows that they have evolved from a specialized anti-tank weapon into an effective and universal infantry weapon, its “long arm.” This necessitates the development and mass procurement of all modern and future ATGM missiles, not only with cumulative, but also with high-explosive fragmentation and thermobaric warheads.

In the context of the increased efficiency of aviation and its weapons, the spread of automation and informatization of the battlefield, it becomes clear that today the capabilities of aviation are limited to reconnaissance and target detection means. After the introduction of a large number of UAVs in the Russian army, significant changes for the better have already occurred in this regard. But as a result of the operation, the need to saturate the troops not only with light short-range tactical drones, but also with heavier reconnaissance models became obvious. A search is underway for a device that will take an intermediate position between the effective, but expensive 450-kilogram Forpost UAV and the cheap, but extremely limited 18-30-kilogram Orlan-10 and Granat-4 UAVs.

There is still a need to continue building up the orbital constellation of reconnaissance satellites.

At the same time, the operation demonstrated a critical shortcoming - Russia’s lack of attack drones. In addition to UAVs, the US coalition in Syria is already using Israeli, Iranian and Turkish-developed mid-range attack drones, as well as improvised ultra-light unmanned bombers from commercial components developed by ISIS terrorists.

One can hope that the Syrian experience will spur the already ongoing development of domestic models of heavy and tactical attack drones.


Impact on exports

Macroregion of the Middle East and North Africa For many years it has remained the hottest spot on the planet. Now there are four major armed conflicts going on there at once - in Iraq, Yemen, Libya and Syria. The situation in Afghanistan threatens to get out of control. Traditionally, relations between Israel and its neighbors remain tense. One way or another, most countries in the region are drawn into these conflicts, including the richest oil monarchies of the Persian Gulf.

It's no surprise that it leads the world in relative defense spending. If European countries spend from 1 to 2% on their armies, then the total defense spending of the countries in the region in 2015 reached 7% of regional GDP. A significant share of these expenses is for the purchase of weapons.

Their usual foreign suppliers found themselves in a difficult situation due to the political confusion that arose after " Arab Spring" This resulted in an embargo and sanctions for a number of countries in the region. For EU important factor self-restrictions began on the supply of lethal and offensive weapons to warring countries and regimes that violate human rights and the rules of warfare.

Until 2012, Russia’s position in the regional market was weakening. The fall of the Gaddafi regime in Libya and the war in Syria deprived Rosoboronexport» already signed contracts worth billions of dollars. But such restrictions on competitors and Russia’s demonstrated willingness to provide not only political but also military support to its friends in the region allowed the Russian defense industry not only to return, but also to gain new positions in the local market.

At the same time, the losing side was the United States, whose inconsistent policies led to a decline in confidence in them. Most a shining example serves Iraq. After the United States suspended the supply of weapons needed to fight ISIS, even under already concluded contracts, the government was forced to turn to Russia. Our country managed to provide the Iraqi army with weapons promptly and without making excessive political demands. The Apache's place was taken by the Russian Mi-28NE and Mi-35M, and the delay in deliveries of the F-16 was compensated by the emergency sale of the proven Su-25 attack aircraft.

A similar story happened with Egypt, which is one of the largest arms purchasers in the region. Accustomed to relying entirely on US weapons, after the events of the Arab Spring, the country was forced to look for alternative suppliers. This gave Russia the opportunity to conclude several major contracts, including for missile defense systems.

Anti-aircraft and anti-missile systems have become the most popular product in the region in recent years.

Demand has been spurred by the build-up of the local air force with modern aircraft, the development of the Iranian missile program and frequent attacks by Yemen's Houthis on Saudi Arabian targets using ballistic missiles.

Russia managed to conclude contracts for the supply of a complex capable of shooting down ballistic missiles to Egypt S-300VM, and Iran removed from sanctions - S-300PMU-2. Iraq received the most modern Pantsir-S missile and artillery systems, and Algeria received modernized Buk-M2A air defense systems.

Russian helicopters remained another popular product.

Afghanistan, Egypt, and Iraq have already acquired up to 200 Mi-8s of various modifications in the 1990s and 2000s. There is no doubt that the experience of their operation contributed to the conclusion of major contracts recent years for impact models produced by Russian Helicopters. Algeria has acquired a record contract for 42 Mi-28NE. Iraq purchased another 15 helicopters of this type and 28 Mi-35M. These transactions became the first export contracts for the Mi-28. Immediately 46 Ka-52s were contracted by Egypt to form an air group of two Mistrals intended for Russia, which were resold to them by France.

Algeria and Egypt also became purchasers of Russian aircraft. An important contract for 50 MiG-29M/M2 fighters, valued at US$2 billion, was awarded to Egypt. Algeria purchased 14 Su-30MKA. In 2016, 10 modernized Su-24M2s were received by the Syrian Air Force, which was suffering heavy losses of its outdated fighter-bombers. In 2017, plans were announced for the delivery of another Su-24 squadron.

Deliveries of both aircraft and helicopters to this warring region are accompanied by accompanying contracts for thousands of weapons for them, including expensive guided missiles.

The demand for heavy armored vehicles also continues. Despite the vulnerability of existing models, tanks are still indispensable on the battlefield. In 2014, Algeria bought 200 T-90SA. A major success for the Russian defense industry was the large contract announced during the IDEX 2017 exhibition in the UAE for the supply of the newest and most protected version of the T-90MS tank to one of the Middle Eastern countries. Their recipient has not yet been named, but perhaps Kuwait will be the recipient. In this case, this will be a major return of Russian arms exports to the region's most lucrative market in the Gulf monarchies.

It is unknown how long the conflict in Syria and Russian participation in it will last. The outcome of this confrontation is also unclear. But it is already clear that these and smaller arms contracts marked a change in the pre-2012 trend of pushing Russian defense products out of the region. If the outcome of the current conflict is successful for Syria and Russia, we can expect even more significant export successes both in the Middle East and throughout the world.

At the same time, we cannot take them for granted. The local market continues to be an extremely competitive environment. All the best weapons manufacturers in the world are fighting for a place on it. In addition to Russia’s traditional rivals from the United States and Europe, competition from the rapidly developing Chinese and Turkish military-industrial complex is becoming increasingly sensitive. There is also a noticeable trend towards localization of production. The largest arms buyer is Saudi Arabia has already established its own production of light armored vehicles, drones, and guided weapons.

Anton LAVROV, military analyst

A week after the start of a special operation of the Russian Aerospace Forces against the Islamic State terrorist group, the first footage of the combat use of our helicopters appeared on the Internet. In a video filmed on October 7 by militants, Mi-24P helicopters of the Russian Aerospace Forces provided support to Syrian troops near Al-Lataminah. Later, the work of our helicopter pilots was noted in other sectors of the Syrian front. The question immediately arose why the Russian command decided to use the “old guys” “twenty-fours” in Syria, and not the new Mi-35M, Mi-28N or Ka-52. In this article we will try to answer this question by considering various arguments for and against.

The Mi-24P helicopter used by the Russian Armed Forces in Syria has been tested in combat operations in Afghanistan, Chechnya and South Ossetia, and therefore is free from childhood growing pains inherent in all new machines. Since the time of Afghanistan, the helicopter has been perfectly adapted to operations in hot climates and high dust conditions, which is extremely important in the Middle Eastern theater of operations. The same Ka-52 has not yet taken part in combat operations in desert conditions, unlike the MI-35 and Mi-28, which are in service with the Iraqi army, therefore its first combat test in such difficult conditions, perhaps, would be associated with certain difficulties.

The Mi-24P is a transport and combat helicopter, which, if necessary, can be used to evacuate crews of aircraft shot down by militants (or crashed due to technical reasons). Alas, this possibility cannot be ruled out, so the landing compartment of the T24, which can accommodate eight people or four stretchers, may well come in handy. The Ka-52 does not have a landing compartment, and the Mi-28N can be used for evacuation only as a last resort, because its technical compartment is poorly suited for transporting people.

The main advantage of the Mi-24P over its “colleagues” is its firepower. In addition to the GSh-30K double-barreled cannon, the helicopter has six hardpoints for guided and unguided weapons, on which anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs), unguided aircraft missiles (UAR), bombs, as well as external fuel tanks (PTB) can be placed. Experience in fighting illegal armed groups in Afghanistan and Chechnya has shown that the main weapon of a helicopter is the NAR, which is preferable to use against enemy personnel, especially when the attacked enemy is trying to disperse. There are not many targets for ATGMs, because militants are not as saturated with armored and automotive equipment as the regular army. However, we believe that guided missiles must be carried on a helicopter’s suspension in a number of several.

Since Russian bombers carry out bombing strikes not only on the line of contact between Syrian troops and ISIS, but also in the rear of the Islamic State, if it is necessary to evacuate Su-34 crews, the ability to use drop tanks on helicopter suspensions will be very useful. At the same time, it remains possible to use the entire range of weapons (ATGM, NAR), which will be needed to destroy militants trying to capture downed pilots.

The optimal weapon suspension on the Mi-24P is probably this: several ATGMs on two pylons and NAR units on four pylons. If it is necessary to work at a great distance from the base, the suspension option can be as follows: ATGM on two pylons, NAR units on two pylons, PTB on two pylons. In any of these options, the helicopter is capable of exerting a serious fire impact on the enemy.

Now let's look at its competitors. Both the Mi-35M and Mi-28N have only 4 suspension points, respectively, their firepower is weaker than that of their older brother, and when operating at a great distance from the base, the range of weapons will be weakened also due to the suspension of the PTB, leaving them under ATGM or NAR has only two pylons. The Ka-52 has six hardpoints, like the Mi-24P, but the guided missiles for this helicopter, according to some sources, have not yet completed the entire test cycle. It seems to us that it would be unreasonable to send a helicopter to war, which is deprived of the ability to attack armored targets and fortified firing points of militants with guided weapons.

Also, the possibility of sending the Mi-28N to Syria could have been affected by the August crash of one of the helicopters of this type during demonstration flights during the Aviadarts competition. Undoubtedly, until the end of the work of the commission investigating this incident, it would be wrong to use a vehicle in a combat zone that may have problems with the serviceability of the material part.

Of course, the new type of helicopters (Mi-28N, Ka-52) have improved capabilities to work “on the ground” independently, without resorting to the help of aircraft controllers, and are also more likely to evade an attack using MANPADS, but it seems Russian Ministry Defense decided that the use of a vehicle that has been proven over the years, with a large number of options for weapon mounting and greater evacuation capabilities, would be preferable in this situation. Considering that until now there has been no particular frequency of use of MANPADS by militants, perhaps there is a reason for this.

Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Armed Forces Vladimir Putin announced the completion of the military operation in Syria. Pilots, sappers, doctors, representatives of other branches and branches of the military returned to their places of permanent deployment, to their relatives and friends. What are the results of the participation of our Armed Forces, primarily the Aerospace Forces, in the destruction of gangs over the past two years since the start of the operation in the Syrian Arab Republic? How did our aviation equipment perform in combat conditions?

Let us remind you: the fulfillment of international duty by the Russian military in the Syrian Arab Republic was carried out at the request of President Bashar al-Assad. A few hours after the Federation Council of the Russian Federation unanimously supported Vladimir Putin’s appeal on the use of the Armed Forces in Syria, the Aerospace Forces launched the first missile and bomb attacks on the ground infrastructure of the terrorist “Islamic State” (banned in Russia).

Our aviation group at that time consisted of more than 50 aircraft. These are the Su-24M2 front-line bombers - deeply modernized vehicles, which are equipped with modern navigation and aiming equipment, allowing for precise strikes, the Su-34 - new multi-functional front-line bombers with modern on-board sighting and navigation systems and weapons, Su-25SM attack aircraft with armored protection pilot and engine who fought through Afghanistan with dignity. As well as multirole Su-30SM fighters, Mi-24P and Mi-35M attack helicopters, Mi-8AMTSh transport and assault helicopters, Mi-17 transport helicopters, reconnaissance aircraft. All of these machines are extremely reliable, have good interoperability and are designed for optimum ease of operation.

The Russian aviation group was stationed at the Khmeimim base (Basil Al-Assad International Airport in Syria), which was guarded by a battalion tactical group of Marines of the Black Sea Fleet with reinforcements and special forces. Sea cover was provided by Navy ships led by the missile cruiser Moskva. Mi-24 combat helicopters patrolled the near perimeter at low and extremely low altitudes. Even today, after the withdrawal of the main group, the base is well protected by an air defense system and ground forces.

The main targets of the attacks were combat positions terrorists, command posts, factories and workshops, large warehouses of military equipment, ammunition, fuels and lubricants, special clothing and food, hidden bases that were previously mothballed or carefully camouflaged, transshipment and strongholds, launch sites with communication centers, caravans with weapons and ammunition , training camps, bridges and other objects.

For specialists, of course, a logical question is: how do the combat missions performed by flight personnel in Syria differ from those in the Afghan campaign? The short answer is: practically nothing. Although any regional campaign always has its own characteristics and novelty. The Afghan Air Force, despite numerous miscalculations and mistakes, became perhaps the most successful and effective for the domestic Air Force in the post-war thirty years. The aviators of the Su-25 attack aircraft flew as much as no other combat pilots in the world have flown. In the hostilities with the Mujahideen, long-range aviation was also successful, performing specific combat missions, for example, destroying the lapis lazuli deposit of Ahmad Shah Massoud in the Jarm region, and a number of others.

In Syria, the intensity of combat missions turned out to be much higher. In particular, in just one of the last months of being in the Syrian Arab Republic, during the operation to defeat the ISIS group in the Deir ez-Zor region, more than 1,600 sorties were carried out and more than two thousand targets were hit. Dozens of warehouses with ammunition and military equipment, weapons, food and special clothing were destroyed. This intensity of aviation work was caused by the growth of confirmed intelligence data on infrastructure facilities, the offensive of terrorist groups in certain areas of the theater of operations, the need to reduce the combat potential and undermine the material and technical base of the militants, and disorganize their control system.

For example, in the provinces of Idlib, Homs, Hama, Aleppo, Damascus, and Latakia, the Russian Aerospace Forces group carried out 71 flights within 24 hours and struck 118 targets. In the area of ​​​​the village of Salma, Latakia province, it was destroyed command post and a large ammunition depot. Strikes were also carried out on hidden bases of militants that had previously been mothballed or carefully camouflaged, transit and strong points, and checkpoints. On the outskirts of the village of Misraba in the province of Damascus, a control post with a communications center of the terrorist group Jaysh al-Islam was destroyed, due to which the militants’ control system was disrupted.

Let us emphasize: initially about 20 sorties were carried out per day, but gradually their number increased. During the operation, tactics also changed. Our pilots began working alone, attacking several targets per mission. The methodology of their combat work was based on space and air reconnaissance data and only after clarifying all the information received from the headquarters of the Syrian army. As a rule, they attacked from a height of more than five thousand meters to avoid being hit by Stinger-type man-portable anti-aircraft missile systems. The aircraft's on-board sighting and navigation equipment made it possible to hit any terrorist ground targets with high accuracy.

At the same time, Russian pilots provided direct support to the advancing Syrian troops, delivering combat strikes at their request, and prevented the supply of terrorist groups and the replenishment of their units with people. As a result, the number of targets that needed to be hit increased sharply, as did the consumption of ammunition. If earlier Russian planes They took two to four high-precision ammunition or four to six conventional ones, then by the end of the operation they went on combat missions with multi-lock holders, allowing them to carry clusters of bombs.

Suicide bombers didn't help

Each flight was preceded by careful preparation. Objective control materials, UAV intelligence data, space reconnaissance images, and information from ground-based intelligence services of Syria and Russia were studied. Free-fall bombs and guided weapons used on front-line bomber and attack aircraft made it possible not to enter the kill zone of ISIS militants' MANPADS, and therefore to be in a safe combat zone.

On November 17, 2015, Russia for the first time deployed strategic missile carriers Tu-160 and Tu-95 MS, as well as 12 long-range Tu-22M3 bombers, in the Syrian operation. Tu-160 and Tu-95MS in total fired more than 30 rockets at IS positions in the provinces of Homs, Aleppo and Raqqa. As a result, 14 objects were destroyed, including an ISIS training camp, a weapons factory and armored vehicles. The planes worked in groups: one strikes, the other covers it. For the first time, 12 long-range bombers Tu-22M3 and Tu-22M3M carried out a massive bombing of military infrastructure. The strike was carried out in groups of two Tu-22M3 aircraft using 12 OFAB-250-270 aircraft. As a result, terrorist bases and camps in the provinces of Raqqa and Deir ez-Zor were destroyed.

All this suggests that the main contribution to the implementation of the operational plan to defeat the Islamic State was provided by the strike aircraft of the Aerospace Forces, which carried out hundreds of sorties and carried out thousands of missile and bomb strikes. Unmanned aircraft constantly provided the necessary intelligence information to the advancing forces of the Syrian and Russian troops. Attack helicopters Ka-52, Mi-28N, Mi-35M, covering the advancing troops, did the main job of “weeding out” ISIS troops from tanks, armored vehicles and pickup trucks, thereby depriving them of firepower and mobility. Su-34 and Su-24M destroyed armored vehicles, enemy columns, fortified areas and control posts, and areas where bandits were concentrated. Su-35S, Su-30SM, Su-27SM3 fighters prevented “erroneous strikes” from “partners” from the American coalition who were worried about the black bearded men, covered our strike aircraft, and performed other tasks.

A major role was played by providing the Russian group with reliable, high-performance, integrated, multi-level air defense systems of the Aerospace Forces, operating in close coordination with modern means reconnaissance, including from UAVs various types. The deployment of the second Russian S-400 anti-aircraft missile battalion was completed near the Syrian city of Masyaf in Hama province, along with the Pantsir-S missile and gun system. The position of the S-400 air defense system was located on a coastal mountain range and made it possible, on the one hand, to provide a significant overview of the division’s radar, and on the other, to compensate for the “shading” of the radar field at Khmeimim due to the mountain range.

In general, the aviation group of the Aerospace Forces completely constrained the active combat operations of the Islamic State and reliably covered the advancing Syrian and Russian troops.

Serious work was done by engineering units. For example, the crossing to the eastern bank of the Euphrates was built with the help of the Russian military. For this purpose, military transport aircraft deployed equipment from the new pontoon fleet PP-2005 and self-propelled ferry-bridge vehicles PMM-2M to Syria, allowing them to quickly cross the river. Within two days, a bridge with a capacity of eight thousand cars per day was erected.

Immediately after the air strike by the military aviation of the Aerospace Forces, the Syrian army, with the support of Russian special forces and aerospace forces, carried out a crossing of the water barrier near Deir ez-Zor. The advanced units entrenched themselves on the eastern bank of the river. This is for real historical event will certainly be included in textbooks on the art of war.

In an effort to stop the advance of the Syrian army near Deir ez-Zor and violating the truce in the province of Hama, IS launched hundreds of well-trained ingimasi (from Arabic: breaking in) - special special forces of the Islamists - into the offensive with the support of armored vehicles. special operations. Each such terrorist is wearing a suicide belt, although they only blow themselves up in the event of a completely hopeless situation. But the real martyrs are allowed to go ahead. The task of the ingimasi is to win or fall in battle. But nothing helped. As a result, dozens of corpses of militants, burnt and captured armored vehicles. And this despite the fact that to prepare the operation, the jihadists used instructors from the United States, American military equipment, and closed intelligence communications.

In parallel with the fulfillment of their international duty, Russian “defense specialists” and pilots checked in combat work on IS facilities newest weapons, including after modernization and modifications. The need for this arose after the actual use of the samples in a theater that was unconventional for us. From the point of view of causing maximum damage to IS groups and the so-called opposition, the use of our air-, sea-, and ground-based cruise missiles (CR) in Syria was completely justified.

The newest ultra-long-range ALCM Kh-101 (nuclear variant Kh-102) was actively used in Syria in 2015-2016. Over the course of several series, 48 ​​such missiles were produced. Their main carrier at that time was the Tu-160. Later the Tu-95 also joined.

One Tu-95 strategic bomber can carry up to eight X-101s on an external sling. Its internal revolver launcher can accommodate up to six of these cruise missiles. July 5, 2017 from two Tu-95MSM, accompanied by a flight multi-role fighters Su-30SM with a full combat complement of air-to-air missiles, five Kh-101 missiles were launched and four ISIS targets were hit.

This experience is priceless. Even intensive combat training, full of exercises and maneuvers, will never replace real participation in local conflicts or limited military operations.

Damage prevented

The point is not only in purely military experience, which is a consequence of the current international situation and most closely resonates with it. As the classic said, war is the continuation of politics by other, violent means. Therefore, the most important aspect of the Syrian campaign is who it was waged against initially and continues to be today.

If the country, on the side of whose legitimate government Russia is fighting, came under the control of Sunni radicals (this is by no means only the “Islamic Caliphate”, but almost all “fighters against Assad’s tyranny”), it would instantly turn into an unparalleled modern history a source of terrorism incomparably more dangerous than Afghanistan under the Taliban. For Sunni radicals, external expansion is not just the basis of ideology, but a way of existence. And Russia would become one of the most important targets, and immediately. If Moscow had not started the Syrian operation two years ago, we would already be fighting on our own territory or in the so-called soft underbelly of Russia. That is, in essence, the campaign ultimately brought the country high income in the form of prevented damage.

The capture of Raqqa and Deir ez-Zor - the end of Sunni military resistance in Syria in the IS format does not mean that it ceased to exist there. The caliphate is viable if a number of factors are present. The main thing is control over the territories in which this organization can form governing bodies, create tax system and a security apparatus that is a guarantee of security for local Sunnis. The essence is to provide them with an optimal model of socio-economic autonomy and state structure based on Sharia in its original form, as opposed to the semi-secular monarchies and pseudo-republics existing in the Arab world, whose regimes are corrupt and are not able to provide social elevators to youth.

The main difference between IS and al-Qaeda is that from the very beginning it sought a self-sufficient financing system through the formation of a quasi-state with control over the main sources of income: oil and water resources, irrigation facilities, land and river routes. Al-Qaeda, as is known, has always lived off financial tranches from the countries of the Arabian Peninsula.

IS is a purely nationalist formation that uses, but does not practice, the ideology of building a global caliphate to recruit manpower abroad, without which it cannot exist in large areas. Between 60 and 70 percent of IS and Jabhat al-Nusra personnel were foreigners.

One target - one bomb

The Russian air group created in Syria, consisting only of modern and modernized models of equipment, equipped with advanced weapons and sighting and navigation systems, made it possible to carry out high-precision strikes against gangs throughout the SAR, without entering the enemy’s MANPADS zone. The widespread use of reconnaissance and strike systems based on reconnaissance, control and communications complexes has made it possible to implement the principle of “One target - one missile (bomb).”

The superiority of the Russian group in reconnaissance, electronic warfare, integrated control and engagement systems ensured the non-contact defeat of the enemy with minimal risk to our troops and forces.

A comparative analysis of the results of the actions of Russian pilots and international coalition aviation in Syria shows that with many times fewer aircraft, the Russian Aerospace Forces carried out three times more sorties and carried out four times more missile and bomb strikes.

The most expressive indicator for assessing the performance of military pilots is the ratio of the number of combat sorties to the number of combat losses incurred. Purely statistically, losses are inevitable in any combat use of troops. But if we consider what happened in this sense with the Russian aviation group in Syria, then during the operation, according to official data, more than 28 thousand sorties were carried out and about 99 thousand strikes against militants. The losses were three aircraft (Su-24, shot down by a Turkish F-16, accident victims Su-33K and MiG-29K of the air wing of the cruiser "Admiral Kuznetsov"), five helicopters.

For comparison: over nine years of fighting in Afghanistan Soviet aviation Almost a million combat sorties were carried out, 107 aircraft and 324 helicopters were lost. In other words, in rough rounding, for every 100 thousand sorties we lost 10 aircraft and 30 helicopters. If the same proportion had been maintained in the aviation group of the Aerospace Forces in Syria, aviation losses would have been two or three aircraft and about 10 helicopters.

According to Colonel General Viktor Bondarev, at that time the commander-in-chief of the Aerospace Forces, well-trained Russian pilots “never missed, never struck schools, hospitals, or mosques.” Largely also because the air operation plan was carefully thought out and developed taking into account clear interaction with the Syrian military leadership. In addition, we repeat, we managed to restore order in Syrian airspace thanks to the transfer of S-400s to the country.

Russia won a convincing victory over thousands of terrorist formations, which two years ago controlled about 80 percent of the territory of the Syrian Arab Republic. And thereby preserved its sovereignty and integrity, warded off the blow of the black evil spirits from its territory, declared itself as a powerful geostrategic player whose national interests cannot be ignored.