Watch this interesting video of the Russian planes (with Red Star painted over) at work in Syria

October 2, 2015 Russia, Syria, Troubled Areas, War on ISIS
David Cenciotti

Take a look at what happens inside Latakia airbase, where the Russian Air Force contingent is based.

The following exclusive video by RT brings you inside al-Assad International Airport, near Latakia, where Russian Air Force contingent, currently made of 36 combat planes, is based.

The footage is extremely interesting as it clearly shows the six Su-34 Fullback aircraft returning from the first combat sorties against Islamic State targets in Syria.

A closer look at the warplanes provides the confirmation that all the aircraft, including the Su-25s and the Su-34s, were removed the standard Russian Air Force markings and the typical Red Star: most probably the Russians don’t want their symbol to be shown off along with the wreckage of a plane in case one is shot down or crashes in Syria.

By the way, the insignia were overpainted on the Su-30SMs and the Su-24Ms as well, even if these are not clearly visible in this video; however there are screenshots in the social media that prove the same applies to Flankers and Fencers.

Su-34 tail

Su-25 Latakia

This is not the first time aircraft taking part in real operations are stripped off their national markings. UAE F-16s deployed to Jordan to take part in Operation Inherent Resolve didn’t wear the national flag while some U.S. drones deployed in sensitive areas perform their clandestine missions “unmarked.”

Related articles
About David Cenciotti
WebsiteFacebookTwitterLinkedIn instagram
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.

Related Articles

6 Comments

  2. We will finally get to see F22 vs Su-30MK and its going to happen sooner than later. When Russia told the US to exit the airspace that was the spark.
    The main question I have will be how will the older F16’s and F18’s do against the MK – will they get taken out quickly? Next up, with the S400 Growler Misses coming, especially the Mach 6 48N6 out to 160 miles. That is the real test – the US Navy’s Spy Radars vs. the 92N6E Grave Stone and 96L6E acquisition land based radards.

  4. In the eventuality of a crash, they don’t want some kind of “trophy” propaganda. I think that figures.

  5. Probable cause for me: They were there earlier, but they do not have a proper paint-shop to add the roundels in Syria.

Comments are closed.