Video shows first direct hit of a Surface to Air Missile on a Syrian helicopter November 27, 2012
Posted by David Cenciotti in : Helicopters, Syria , 10commentsThe following video clearly shows a Syrian Mil Mi-17 Hip helicopter hit by a surface-to-air missile near Aleppo on Nov. 27, 2012.
Even if there we have seen many videos showing Assad’s gunships downed by rebels fire, this is the first one to provide evidence of a direct hit using a SAM.
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This B-1 bomber releasing flares during a high-speed flyby is my favourite image of the day November 13, 2012
Posted by David Cenciotti in : Military Aviation , add a commentThe B-1 has been dubbed as the plane capable to carry the largest payload of both guided and unguided weapons in the Air Force inventory.
Flares are aerial infrared countermeasures made of a composition based on hot-burning metal used to counter heat seeking surface-to-air missiles: flares generate temperatures equal to or hotter than engine exhaust attracting the missile’s seeker head.
Put the two things together and you’ll get one of the coolest pictures I’ve seen lately.
Image credit: Dyess Air Force Base
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Video of Su-22 releasing flares during attack shows Syrian pilots are becoming concerned of surface to air missiles October 22, 2012
Posted by David Cenciotti in : Syria , 1 comment so farReportedly filmed on Oct. 20 at Maarat Al-Nouman, Idlib, where Syrian Arab Air Force planes have been concentrating their missions lately, the following video shows a Su-22M-4K involved in a bombing run against the Free Syrian Army units that have taken control of the main road to Aleppo cutting off Assad supply route.
Noteworthy, the Syrian attack plane releases several flares, aerial infrared countermeasures made of a composition based on hot-burning metal used to counter heat seeking surface-to-air missiles: flares generate temperatures equal to or hotter than engine exhaust attracting the missile’s seeker head.
Many videos from Syria have shown Assad warplanes flying over Damascus and other Syrian towns without worrying too much about MANPADS (Man Portable Air Defense Systems).
SA-7 Grail (or Strela-2) and one those reportedly in the hands of the FSA could have downed the Mil Mi-8/18 Hip gunship filmed exploding mid-air after being hit near Idlib few days ago.
H/T to @hlk01 for the heads-up
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Pilots of the Turkish RF-4E downed by Syria executed by Assad on Russia’s advice. But new theory raises questions. September 29, 2012
Posted by David Cenciotti in : Turkish RF-4E shot down , 4commentsLeaked top secret Syrian intelligence documents obtained by Al Arabiya shed light on the fate of the two Turkish Air Force pilots flying the RF-4E that was downed by Damascus on Jun. 22, 2012.
Although what really happened to the Turkish reconnaissance plane that violated the Syrian airspace is still unclear (with Ankara claiming that the aircraft was shot down by a missile exploded near the plane and Damascus saying that the aircraft was gunned down by a Syrian air defense battery), the newly disclosed documents provide a different version about one of those details that was never before questioned.
The shocking detail is that, contrary to what was publically claimed from both sides, both the pilot and the WSO (Weapon System Officer) survived the crash by ejecting from the plane and were later executed by the regime of Syrian President Assad.
Turkey’s armed forces said they had found and later recovered the bodies of both pilots on the Mediterranean seabed: in fact there were no reports of the crew ejecting from the plane thus it was quite reasonable that they were still inside the wreckage.
However, provided that the document obtained by Al Arabiya is authentic, a confidential note sent from the Assad’s presidential office states that:
“Two Turkish pilots were captured by the Syrian Air Force Intelligence after their jet was shot down in coordination with the Russian naval base in (the Syrian city of) Tartus.”
The same document orders to treat both pilots according to the protocol of war prisoners, and also suggests the possibility to move them into Lebanon and leave them in the custody of Hezbollah.
Another leaked document, also sent from the presidential office reads:
“Based on information and guidance from the Russian leadership comes a need to eliminate the two Turkish pilots detained by the Special Operations Unit in a natural way and their bodies need to be returned to the crash site in international waters.”
Therefore, the two pilots were not killed by the crash, but by President Assad.
Although the alternative narrative surfacing by way of these leaked document is reasonable, it must be noticed that Damascus took a serious risk by staging the fake death of the crew in the crash.
First, the Turkish armed forces immediately dispatched vessels in the crash area that could find evidence of the ejections.
Second, Ankara recovered and studied part of the wreckage, crew members flight gear: material that could prove that both pilots ejected before the aircraft crashed into the water.
Third, Turkey, the U.S. and (most probably) Israel have been constantly monitoring Syrian armed forces movements and communications. An RC-135 spyplane was noted in the region at the time of the shooting. It’s hard to believe no spyplane, intelligence gathering platform or military combat plane in the area has intercepted the emergency beacon/locator radioed by the ejection seats of the downed Phantom.
Image credit: U.S. Navy
“Turkish RF-4E Phantom shot down by Syrian missile in international airspace” Ankara says September 19, 2012
Posted by David Cenciotti in : Turkish RF-4E shot down , 1 comment so farTurkish military prosecutors that have investigated the mysterious downing of a Turkish Air Force RF-4E that went down inside the Syrian airspace on Jun. 22, 2012, say that the reconnaissance plane was shot down by a missile.
According to the official report, the missile (fired by a SAM battery) exploded near the left engine nozzle, when the aircraft was still in international airspace (35.48.2N 35.33.21E), at 7,400 feet altitude, flying parallel to the Syrian border with a heading of 211°.
No technical malfunction or failure occurred prior to the missile’s explosion.
The blast caused a sudden loss of control: the aircraft banked to the left and crashed into the sea at 8.6 nautical miles from the Syrian coast (35.48.26N 35.37.59E). A missile alert signal was recorded by the Radar Warning Receiver.
Although a previous report said that the remains of the aircraft collected had not provided evidence of any organic or inorganic explosive residues, any fire initiator or accelerator substances which are derivatives of petroleum, and there was no sign of an ammunition remnant, traces of potassium chlorate, used in warheads and propellants as oxidizer, RDX (Hexogen), HNX (Octogen), TNT (2,4,6-Trinitrotoluene) and PETN (Pentaerythritol Tetranitrate) were found on the wreckage.
Hence, the new official version by Ankara is that the aircraft was hit by a surface-to-air missile (an SA-3 or modified SA-2 as suggested by ACIG.org Editor Tom Cooper).
However, Turkish claims are still a bit confusing.
On Jun. 22, Turkey said that one of their planes had been gunned down by Syrian armed forces (a version backed by U.S. intelligence sources) even though they later claimed it was hit by a SAM missile. On Jul. 12 they released a statement according to which the parts of the airplane recovered by the sea did not have traces of explosives. Latest report says the plane was not hit but crashed as a consequence of a missile blast near its rear.
The saga continues.
Image credit: Turkish Air Force
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