Russian Arms in the War on Terror

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Aug 23, 2017

Mi-8AMTSh assault helicopter on display, Army 2017. Photo: Defense-Update

Since the break of the conflict in 2011 Syria Moscow stood by its Syrian Allay but refrained from an active intervention even after the Western coalition launched an aerial offensive against the Islamic State in August 2014. By September 2015, when the Syrian regime faced defeat from the rebels, Russia decided to act. Although the task force committed to the operation was limited, the choice of arms used included a variety of weapons from many disciplines, enabling different Russian elements – army, air force and naval units, to gain combat experience.

Russian Air Power in Combat
Russian forces deployed to several locations in Syria, including the port of Tartus and Hmeimim Air Base near Latakia. From the initial phase, these bases were protected by air defense assets including S-400 elements (surveillance radars communications nodes) and Pantsir S1 mobile air defense systems. Following the loss of Russian Su-24 to a Turkish Air Force F-16 the Russians deployed S-400 fire units to Hmeimim, completing a permanent air defense capability that covers a large part of Syria including most of the ingress and egress routes used by coalition air forces operating in Syria, as well as large area of the international airspace over the Eastern Mediterranean Sea. Su-30SM fighters were also deployed to provide air cover to the strike force, augmenting the ground-based air defense elements.

Russian forces deployed to several locations in Syria, including the port of Tartus and Hmeimim Air Base near Latakia. From the initial phase, these bases were protected by air defense assets including S-400 elements (surveillance radars communications nodes) and Pantsir S1 mobile air defense systems. Following the loss of Russian Su-24 to a Turkish Air Force F-16 the Russians deployed S-400 fire units to Hmeimim, completing a permanent air defense capability that covers a large part of Syria including most of the ingress and egress routes used by coalition air forces operating in Syria, as well as large area of the international airspace over the Eastern Mediterranean Sea. Su-30SM fighters were also deployed to provide air cover to the strike force, augmenting the ground-based air defense elements.

SU-34, the strike fighter recently delivered to the air force was widely used during the first months of the Russian involvement in Syria. The choice of this platform was its flexible armament carrying capability and high level of protection (the crew is seated side by side in an armored protected cockpit made of titanium). The Russians also deployed the brand-new SU-35 to Syria, to gather some combat experience and train its systems in a realistic environment that included Patriot and Italian Aster 30 SAMP/T air defense missiles.

The wide range of aerial weapons used in those air attacks represents the majority of weapon’s types used by the Russian Air Force, from standard unguided bombs to cluster munitions, incendiary and high explosive, precision laser guided and GLONASS/GPS guided weapons. Guided weapons also included cruise missiles of different variants – from the air launched KH-101 missiles launched by bombers that flew all the way from the arctic circle, to KH55 launched from Tu-95s from a range of 1,000 km. Cruise missiles were also launched from naval platforms – from frigates in the Caspian Sea, using brand new Kaliber systems, as well as missile destroyers and submarines hitting targets in Eastern Syria, some 1,500 km away from the Mediterranean Sea.

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Mi-28NM will soon enter service with the Russian Air Force. Photo: Defense-Update

Helicopters in Support of Ground Operations
Apart from supporting the Syrians from the air, some of the Russian forces have joined the Syrian ground units to provide direct, fire suppression, close air support, assault transport and supply missions. On these missions, the Russian forces deployed from temporary forward bases, operating Su-25 attack aircraft, Mi-24/35, 28NE and Ka-52 attack helicopters, along with Mi-8AMTSh – configured for assault and attack missions. This variant is also fitted with a larger door on the right side and can be configured with a loading ramp in place of the usual clamshell doors at the rear.

Another helicopter proved effective in combat in recent years is the Mi-28 has seen extensive combat operations in Syria and Iraq, operating with the Russian and Iraqi air forces. For example, an air assault conducted by the Syrian ‘Tiger Force’ near Dir E-Zor on August 12, 2017, Russian helicopters were embedded with Syrian task force that conducted the night assault. Russian helicopters included Ka-52 that played in a support role, and Mi-8AMTSh providing assault transport to the task force, that also used Syrian Mi-8 assault helicopters and Mi-35 in the fire support role.

At Army 2017 expo held in August Russian manufacturers displayed some of the latest variants of those helicopters, upgraded to reflect combat lessons learned in Syria. For example, Russian Helicopters unveiled an improved and upgraded version of the Mi-8AMTSh, fitted with improved ballistic armor and self-protection. An improved version of the Night Hunter, Mi-28NM is also in final testing, prior to delivery to the Russian armed forces later this year.

Vulcan-VPK balistic protected combat suite for helicopter aircrew.

Additional protection is provided for the crew by the Vulkan-VKS suits developed by the Armocom Center. The suite includes a bulletproof vest and ballistic helmet with built-in communications, providing protection against fragments and small arms with caliber up to 7.62mm. Thermally protected and flame retardant, Vulkan-VKS also provide knee and elbow joints protection in case of a hard landing.

Equivalent to the American Apache and European Tiger, the ‘Night Hunter’ as this helicopter is called, is equipped with large armament and sensor package including supersonic air-to-ground ATAKA missiles, and 80mm rocket pods, 30mm gun turret, and optional 23mm gun pods. The helicopters sent on those combat missions were equipped with the latest, most sophisticated means of self-protection, including ballistic protection for cockpits, engines, transmissions, and tubing.

Earlier versions include steel plates, but the latest designs use advanced plates made of lightweight composites and crashworthy seats for the crew, advanced heat suppression systems reducing engine exhaust heat, flares and radar and laser warning systems, missile approach sensors, and various infrared countermeasures to defeat man portable air defense missile systems (MANPADS). The latest version of Defensive Aids System (DAS) include the President S suite comprising RF and IR countermeasures. The system comprises various threat detection sensors including radar warning receivers (RWR), laser sensors and missile approach warning systems (MAWS) that detect both air/air and surface to air missiles (SAM) and multi purpose guided missiles and rockets fired from the ground. RF solutions include active EW and decoy dispensers that can deploy infrared decoys, chaff or active RF decoys.

Orion E MALE UAV was displayed in a full scale model by the developed by the Russian Kronstadt Group. Orion-E is the first MALE drone produced in Russia, that is capable of carrying weapons.

Unmanned aerial systems were also used extensively in Syria. Systems known to have participated in the operations include the Orlan 10E multi-mission tactical drone, used for aerial surveillance, target acquisition, and battle damage assessment. Orlan 10E can stay on a mission for 10 hours, carrying a useful payload of 18 kg. Another micro-UAV deployed with the Russian ground forces is the Granat, serving as organic intelligence gathering asset with army battalions.

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T-14 Armata tank arrives at Army 2017 expo.


More Firepower for the Ground Troops


On the ground, Russian forces were deployed with limited numbers of full combat formations, these included T-90A/S main battle tanks, equipped with the latest reactive armor and Stora-1 ‘soft kill’ active protection systems that proved their effectiveness against second-generation anti-tank threats they were designed to defeat. The 125mm 2A46 main gun is more accurate than the T-72’s, and electronic fire control systems support effective operation in movement, both in day and night. The T-90MS is the latest variant of T-90, was not delivered to the Russian Army and therefore did not deploy to Syria.

A new armored vehicle used in Syria for the first time is the BMPT Terminator, an AFV based on the T-90 chassis designed to deliver direct first support using twin 2A42 30mm cannons, coaxial 7.62 PKT machine gun, and four Sturm-SM missiles. The vehicle has a crew of five. The vehicle first appeared in Syria in 2017, displayed to Syrian president Bashar al-Assad on his visit to Hmeimim.


Another support vehicle based on the T-90 platform is TOSH-1A heavy rocket launcher. The TOSH carries 24 220mm rockets equipped with large thermobaric warheads. The system quickly covers large areas using incendiary and high-pressure effects of multiple the fuel-air explosive charges. A salvo of 24 rockets fired in six seconds is useful at ranges from 600 to 6,000 meters, covering an area of 40,000 square meters, effective against exposed personnel as well as buildings and bunkers, and vehicle concentrations, including armored vehicles. Long range rocket attacks are also provided by BM30 SMERCH units, spotted in Syria. Thermobaric warheads are also used with man portable shoulder fired weapons including the RshG 1 / 2 and RPO-A Shmel.

TOSH-1 rocket launcher

K17 Boomerang launching a Kornet-EM guided missile at Alabino proving ground. The K17 was demonstrated publicly for the first time during the Army-2017 expo. Photo: Russian MOD.

Among the weapons, the Syrian army has used for the first time in Syria were various combat robots, including the Uran 6 demining robot.

Other Russian weapon systems widely deployed in Syria include the Kornet-E laser beam riding guided missile that defeats armored targets, including the most heavily armored main battle tanks, from a maximum distance of 5.5 km (4 km in mountainous terrain). Since 2003 Kornet proved itself in many theaters, operated by insurgents, terrorists and regular military forces, in Iraq, Lebanon, Yemen, and Syria. Russian forces in Syria are also operating vehicular variants of the missile called Kornet EM that can hit targets at 10 km distance. These weapons require the support of guidance systems mounted on Tiger armored tactical vehicles.

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The family of mobile Krasukha EW units on display at Army 2017.

Probing the Effects Electronic Attack
Another level of military assistance provided by the Russians in Syria is Electronic Support – among the systems the Russian forces deployed to Syria were the Tu-214R electronic surveillance aircraft. The Russian Air Force also deployed IL20M1 surveillance aircraft equipped with SAR and SIGINT sensors to provide wide area surveillance over a radius of 300 km. On the ground, the Russians deployed tactical mobile jammers capable of disrupting communications activity at ranges of 10-15 km. Larger EW systems mounted on 8×8 trucks were also deployed in theater.

The Russian army operates the Krasukha Electronic Warfare units in support of short range missiles (such as SS-26 Iskander) and long-range surface to air missile (SAM) units (S-400). The system is developed and built by the Gradient plant of the KRET electronics group.

The system comprises several types of mobile units mounted on 8×8 BAZ-6910-022 trucks. Krashuka-2 are used specifically against airborne early warning and Control (AWACS). The Krasukha 4 broadband multi purpose electronic warfare systems.

Krashuka-4 operates high power jammers in the VHF/UHF and higher wavebands, against radar systems and communication links supporting reconnaissance aircraft, unmanned aircraft (UAVs) and satellites in Low Earth Orbit. According to Russian sources, one of the techniques employed by the system is disrupting enemy capability to carry out precision attacks by denying adversary aircraft and missiles from obtaining target positions and location updates.

According to western sources, these systems were instrumental in masking the tracks of the insertion of Russian air power in Syria (Krashuka-4 units were spotted at Hmeimim soon after the first deployments). Coalition air forces have also encountered heavy interruptions to location signals transferred from airborne and land based command posts to attack aircraft, causing repeated mission aborts.

Summary
The Russians position their involvement in the Syrian conflict as support of an allied nation in distress. The Russian opted their intervention to be in wide scale, decisive manner, in which they were determined to come victorious and the most benefit of their investment.

Apart from supporting their allies, for the Russian air force, the deployment of first line air- and ground based air defense units to a combat theater provided unprecedented benefits. It is the fact they can track the latest types of adversary weapons – F-22, B-1, Typhoon, Patriot and SAMP/T air defense systems and unmanned aerial systems (UAS) as well as soon to arrive F-35 (Israeli or American). The Russian presence in Syria, on the ground and in the air, enables their expert teams to test and evaluate advanced electronic reconnaissance and combat systems against them. They are also busy obtaining measurement and signature intelligence (MASINT) against potential adversary platforms operating in combat deployment. A nice side benefit is the differentiation and promotion of battle proven weapon systems made in Russia, a trend that is already having traction – new sales of Su-34, 35, Mi-28NE, Ka-52, BMPT, S-400, Tosh and Pantsir S1 – were all reported in 2017.

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