Su-25 head for Latakia?

The General Staff of Armed forces of the Russian Federation does not exclude creation in the Air Force base future in Syria. The first deputy chief of the General Staff of VS Nikolay Bogdanovsky on September 16 reported about it.

– While such plans (on base creation) are not present. But everyone can be, – he significantly told.

Earlier the Pentagon declared possible preparation of construction of the Russian air base near to the Syrian city of Latakia. On September 14 the private American prospecting and analytical company Stratfor known for the close connections with investigation, published information with satellite pictures that the military personnel from the Russian Federation expands and strengthens a runway at the airport of Latakia. And the telebroadcasting company Deutsche Welle reported referring to the Syrian opposition that besides air base construction in Latakia, airport reconstruction under Tartus, usually used for agricultural aircraft is begun.

Let’s note that on September 14 the source close to the Russian defensive department, told to "Sheets" that repair work in the Syrian airfield in Latakia and in point of material support (PMTO) of fleet in Tartusa was organized with the assistance of Russia because of the extremely started condition of these objects which complicates their operation. According to the interlocutor of the edition, the technical condition of these objects does not allow to solve normally problems of delivery of humanitarian assistance and bought by Syria for the army of arms, ammunition and supply subjects.

Delivery and unloading of the Russian cargoes, he added, the armed security forces from among the Russian military personnel accompany, but about their participation in operations in Syria speech does not go.

By estimates of journalists, all since the beginning of year the Russian big landing ships (BDK) came to Syria about 41 time while in 2013-2014 the quantity of campaigns of the Russian BDK made 29 and 46 times respectively.

On September 16 the official representative of Syria at the United Nations Bashar Dzhaafari declared that Russia should have possibility to bomb a position of terrorist group «Islamic state»:

– Why Americans are at war against YOKES the Air Force, and it should be forbidden to Russia?

The director of the Center of studying of the countries of the Middle East and Central Asia Simeon Bagdasarov says that Syrians even prior to the beginning of civil war suggested Russia to modernize, first, the 720th point of material support of the Navy of Russia in Tartusa. To turn it into the high-grade port. Secondly, to make in Latakia Air Force base and to put there S-300 for cover.

– However anything from this it was not made. PMTO as represented, excuse, to pair of sheds, and represents now. As to S-300, as it is known, in 2010 Moscow signed with Damascus the contract in cost of 900 million dollars on delivery of six launchers and 144 rockets. But the United States, Israel and some other countries made out threat of the safety though it was a question of especially defensive arms in this step of our country. Nevertheless, the Russian side on an aggravation did not go and long delayed the decision. But eventually, the deputy director of Federal service on military technically cooperation Konstantin Biryulin declared that the Russian ZRS S-300 intending for Syria, will be utilized.

But it is better late, than never. The air base in Syria is necessary to us, differently we again can be late. For example, I was already tired to say everywhere that Bashar Assad needs to unite with the Syrian Kurds and to be at war with them a united front against different Islamists. Help with it our military instructors can. But while we with it pull. And I have Americans in this respect information, already send the instructors to army of the Syrian Kurdistan.

In general, the Air Force base in Latakia, being on the bank of the Mediterranean Sea in strategically important region of the Middle East, can become the tool for the solution of many tasks on protection of the Russian national interests. For example, we can provide air cover of possible joint actions of the Syrian army and the Syrian Kurds with attack planes of Su-25, the front Su-24 bombers.

Certainly, in Latakia very small airport. In an amicable way, it needs serious modernization and expansion of strips. But we have the technologies providing construction of fast-erected front airfields in case of war. There would be an order, and engineering divisions will consult with it. As to air base cover from air, that, I think, it is possible to think up something – to put any systems and to adapt them under local conditions.

The deputy director of Institute of the political and military analysis Alexander Hramchikhin notes that on arms of armies of air defense in Syria ZRK S-75, S-200 divisions, to five regiments "Square", to six Booke-M1 and Booke Sq.m divisions, ZRK "Wasp", "Arrow-1", "Arrow-10" and ZRPK "Pantsir-C1" consist.

– From all this equipment ZRK "Beech" (especially "Booke Sq.m") and ZRPK "Pantsir-C1" are modern. The considerable potential Syrian air defense became the major factor which has prevented intervention of NATO against Syria, thus on its account already there is a Turkish scout of RF-4E, probably, the fighter F-16C which has fallen in 2013 near the Syrian border, and the American fighting bespilotnik "Predator". It as to the Syrian armies of air defense.

But if Russia in Latakia really seriously decides to create air base, that, it is clear that the anti-aircraft weapons – without calculation on Syrian will be brought. For ourselves we, eventually, can and S-300 to throw. For example, the same S-300PS which are liberated after acceptance on arms S-400. However, it is quite difficult, because "three-hundred parts" quite bulky, many flights demand and at a transfer will take a place of more actual arms. After all, by and large, now for Syria there is no threat from air. At Islamists of aircraft is not present in general. Turks hardly will risk to bomb object where there are Russian military. If as opponents to consider Americans, it will be difficult to us to create there adequate to air defense in the necessary quantity.

I think that hardly the Russian Federation in case of air base in Syria will have rather big group – only Su-24 and Su-25. If operation scales, that, obviously extend, other airfields will be involved also.

The senior research associate of the center of international security ИМЭМО of the Russian Academy of Sciences Vladimir Yevseyev believes that the Russian air base in Syria can start to work already soon.

– From September 28 to October 3 in New York within General Assembly of the United Nations there will take place session of high level on which president Vladimir Putin will act. It is possible, after that the decision on high-grade expansion of air base in Latakia will be made. Also would be logical if certain preparatory activities already were now carried out. Then, in case of need, it will be possible to throw aircraft in rather short terms. Let’s tell, for a transfer of a regiment of aircraft even if to fly through Iran, no more than two days is required. And fighting helicopters can be transported on BDK which, since summer of 2015, pass through Bosporus with the equipment exposed already on the deck of vessels.

However, if the base also earns soon, only in a limited look. For high-grade work training flights should be carried out. Pilots should familiarize with the district, fulfill interaction with land systems.

As to base cover from air, it is doubtful that the aircraft of the USA, Turkey or Israel will decide on blow on the Russian base, but, nevertheless, it should be. And at the first stage the group of the fighting ships which have a certain range of detection of air targets and possibility of their destruction can assume this function.

I think that for today already there are any arrangements with US authorities and Turkey. It is clear that our countries are not going to be at war with each other in the territory of Syria therefore the air space of the country can be differentiated.

I think, the leaders of our country are ready to such scenario. Because the situation in Syria develops extremely adversely for the peace population – Islamists approached to densely populated regions of the country. Now in the territory which is supervised by Bashar Assad, lives to 80-85 % of the population of Syria. Actually people are concentrated in those central provinces round Damascus on which try to come YOKES and other groups of radical sense.