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Putin’s MiGs vs. US F-16s in Syria

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Putin’s MiGs vs. US F-16s in Syria


after four years of devastating civil war with more than 240,000 dead — some from government use of chemical weapons and some from government-induced starvation — Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad has admitted he has a manpower problem. In fact, he has a bigger problem than that.

Assad’s Russian and Iranian sponsors know that his grip on Syria is far from secure. The Islamic State group has expanded its territory in the north, and fighting in the suburbs of Damascus could trigger a collapse of the regime if one major breakthrough occurs. Thus the Syrian government has turned to brutal bombings of civilians and other measures to try to stave off what is looking more and more inevitable.

The situation could deteriorate further, and Assad may use even more desperate methods if he can find them.

Alongside, and only partly related to the Syrian civil war, the US has moved F-16 fighter jets to Incirlik, Turkey, not far from northeastern Syria. At the same time (a countermove?) the Russians have moved MiG-31M supersonic interceptors to Syria. Where are we headed?

The air base at Incirlik would allow the US Air Force to operate much closer to Islamic State group targets in both Iraq and Syria. To get Turkey’s permission, however, the Obama administration had to entertain Turkish demands for a “no-fly zone” in northern Syria. The Turks want to move thousands of Syrian refugees out of Turkey and back onto Syrian soil, and to keep Syrian aircraft from operating near Turkey.

The Russians countered the notion of restricting Syrian flights by delivering to Assad six MiG-31M aircraft in a deal previously agreed to but canceled in 2009. The superfast MiG-31M is the first Russian plane equipped with a look-down/shoot-down radar.

Its original mission was to catch and shoot down the American Mach 3+ SR-71 spy plane; the SR-71 was retired, an indication of the MiG’s capability. Because of its speed and ability to operate at very high altitude, the appearance of the MiG-31 in Syria appears intended to harass the F-16s and make a no-fly zone impossible.

Since a no-fly zone is much more complicated than just having American jets in the area, it is unlikely the Turkish plan will come to fruition. And in the first of several conundrums, having the US fly out of Incirlik actually helps the Islamic State group by taking the Syrian Air Force out of the war over territory in the north that the Islamic State group holds. Yes, it switches out one enemy for another, but the US is likely to be a much more cautious, and thus less deadly, enemy to the Islamic State group.

In that sense, too, the deployment of MiGs in Syria is a conundrum for Russia, which should appreciate any American activity against the Islamic State group, even if it takes place over Syrian territory. But Russia’s client, Syria, would not.

The dance of aircraft is part of the larger crosscurrent regarding the future disposition of the Syrian regime, and the difference between the American position and that of the Russians and their Iranian allies.

The US wants Assad replaced by a coalition government that could include “moderate Islamists,” and retain the current borders of Syria. The US effort to find and train “moderate Islamists,” however, has been an abject failure, and the war is really between radical Sunnis and the Alawite Shi’a government.

The Russians, it appears, would accept some form of partition of Syria with the Assad regime retaining limited powers in the mainly Alawite area. There would also be a Sunni entity, and perhaps enclaves for Christians and Kurds. None of this has been spelled out, however, and where the behind-the-scenes negotiations are going is a guess.

The American move into Incirlik may be an indication that US-Russian negotiations are failing. But whatever the Americans and the Russians want, the Islamic State group will have to be at least a tacit party to any Syrian settlement. And unless the Islamic State group and its affiliates are definitively on the run and under siege, there is little chance they would accept any deal. And if they do, there is even less chance they would keep a deal. That leaves both the US and Russians without a dance partner, and neither wants to dance with the Islamic State group.

What should appear to be agreed upon action against the Islamic State group by Russia and the US, albeit for different reasons, is now the conundrum of what will happen when an F-16 meets a MiG.
 
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The SR-71 was replaced by satellites, it was expensive and obsolete (dating to the 1960s). The SR-71 was in service from 1966 to 1998. The MiG-31 entered service in 1979. So... the MiG-31 was so scary the US continued to operate the SR-71 for another 19 years while the MiG-31 was in operation.

You cast doubt on everything you say when you say such drivel.
 
You give them MIGs or at least bring in MIGs with Russian pilots even if true, they still won't fire on American aircraft in Syria.
 
Mig will end up in a trash can.
It depends on the Pilot more than it depends on the machine.
The new Sukhoi's and MiG counterparts will easily take out the F16s, F15s, F18s and dare I say, F35s and F22As.
For example, the MiG 29 is the Russian equivalent of the F16,
the MiG 35 is the Russian equivalent of the F16 Block 52+, ect, ect.
In fact, if the F16 fires an AIM 9 missile, the MiG 31 will be able to out run the missile.
 
In fact, if the F16 fires an AIM 9 missile, the MiG 31 will be able to out run the missile.
I doubt they will never get close enough for AIM-9s. -120C/Ds will be the more likely weapon. Either way there is no outrunning a modern AAM. They go like Mach 4.5-5
 
What's this thread doing in Pakistani Air Force section?

I doubt they will never get close enough for AIM-9s. -120C/Ds will be the more likely weapon. Either way there is no outrunning a modern AAM. They go like Mach 4.5-5


Their range is limited. Sure a MANPAD is faster than a jet, but it has limited range to catch up to a jet.
 
[QUOTE="SquadronLeaderDin, post: 7592213, member: 162300] Alongside, and only partly related to the Syrian civil war, the US has moved F-16 fighter jets to Incirlik, Turkey, not far from northeastern Syria. At the same time (a countermove?) the Russians have moved MiG-31M supersonic interceptors to Syria. Where are we headed?

What should appear to be agreed upon action against the Islamic State group by Russia and the US, albeit for different reasons, is now the conundrum of what will happen when an F-16 meets a MiG.[/QUOTE]

Time to retest the proven capability of the new AESA radars on the -16 with longer range ARAAM D's. The Mig will NEVER come out to WVR fight as it knows the -16 will turn it into Chicken soup. But this would be all BVR.

I'd expect the Mig to do what the Russians used to do with the Mig-25, high speed passes close to Mach 2.5 or more and just an overshoot all the time. But might be a high speed Ambush type scenario with both sides using BVR weapons. But the -16 due to its advanced radars and NATO's AWACS working in synch, would detect the Mig right when it get airborne. The remainder will be history written here and elsewhere as to how combat proven the -16 is!!!
 
What's this thread doing in Pakistani Air Force section?




Their range is limited. Sure a MANPAD is faster than a jet, but it has limited range to catch up to a jet.

All missiles have limits. The question is how they use it effectively. If its anything like the MIG 25, its possible to hit it.
 
All missiles have limits. The question is how they use it effectively. If its anything like the MIG 25, its possible to hit it.

The -15 took out a few Mig-25's during the operation desert storm. AIM-7 Sparrows were what brought the Migs down. There was another incident with a -16 and it brought either a Mig-29 or a 25 down with the first and only AMRAAM ever used in that conflict.....
 
Whatever it may be, but they must not shoot each other for if they do, either one or both the pilots may end up in the hands of ISIS!!:coffee:
 
i dont think the article is true meaning the Russian in Syria with fighter jets
 
The -15 took out a few Mig-25's during the operation desert storm. AIM-7 Sparrows were what brought the Migs down. There was another incident with a -16 and it brought either a Mig-29 or a 25 down with the first and only AMRAAM ever used in that conflict.....


Iraqi MiG25 were old and not upgraded (due to sanctions).. whr as US F15 had latest upgrade...

In Syria it will be nice to see Upgraded MiG31 Vs Upgraded F16... I will happy if some Turkish bird goes down :D

Recently Russian ATM (anti tank missiles) eat up some Saudi M1Abarams..
 
It depends on the Pilot more than it depends on the machine.
The new Sukhoi's and MiG counterparts will easily take out the F16s, F15s, F18s and dare I say, F35s and F22As.
For example, the MiG 29 is the Russian equivalent of the F16,
the MiG 35 is the Russian equivalent of the F16 Block 52+, ect, ect.
In fact, if the F16 fires an AIM 9 missile, the MiG 31 will be able to out run the missile.
Go kid do some research and than talk SU and MIGS are garbage planes, F-22 and F-35 are world most electronically advanced planes on the planet
 

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