[Updated] Video: Syrian Air Ilyushin 76 unloading ‘goods’ at Hamah airbase. With several flyable MiG-21s, helicopters and MiG-27 in the vicinity

Update Mar. 8 19.30 GMT

Recorded on Mar. 2, 2012, the following video shows a Syrian Air Il-76 unloading vehicles and weapons (according to the Youtube title), at Hamah airbase, in western Syria. Actually, based on the footage, it’s almost impossible to determine the type of goods carried by the Syrian Ilyushin.

However, the video is particularly interesting because it offers an overview of the airbase that discloses the presence of at least five Syrian Air Force MiG-21s in flying conditions, several seemingly mothballed helicopters and a solitary MiG-27. According to Tom Cooper of ACIG.org (who suggests that a sixth example on the video is probably a decoy since it misses both the engine and nose cone),  a fleet of around 40 overhauled and upgraded MiG-21s remains in service with the SyAAF.

Thanks to Fred Enaj for the heads-up on the longer version of the video

About David Cenciotti
David Cenciotti is a journalist based in Rome, Italy. He is the Founder and Editor of “The Aviationist”, one of the world’s most famous and read military aviation blogs. Since 1996, he has written for major worldwide magazines, including Air Forces Monthly, Combat Aircraft, and many others, covering aviation, defense, war, industry, intelligence, crime and cyberwar. He has reported from the U.S., Europe, Australia and Syria, and flown several combat planes with different air forces. He is a former 2nd Lt. of the Italian Air Force, a private pilot and a graduate in Computer Engineering. He has written five books and contributed to many more ones.