Arsenal: Putin
has an awesome array of firepower at his disposal in warplanes, missiles
and state of the art tanks with thousands of military personnel
deployed in the war on terror from the air and sea
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Syrian government forces backed by heavy Russian air support have driven Islamic State out of ancient city of Palmyra
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'The deadly arsenal Putin is using to pound ISIS in Syria'
Syrian government forces backed by heavy Russian air support have driven Islamic State out of ancient city of Palmyra
Assad supported by Putin has inflicted what the army called a 'mortal blow' to militants who seized the city last year and dynamited its ancient temples
Putin is using Syria as a testing ground for a terrifying new generation of weapons
His warplanes, missiles and tanks, smart bombs and satellite technology have already changed the landscape in Syria
Russia claims to have destroyed 3,000 'terror' targets during 14 days of airstrikes at the beginning of February
But it has also been accused of killing 1,000 civilians in the bombardment
The fighter jets (pictured, the Su-34)
stationed at Russia's main airbase in Latakia, north west Syria, have
been responsible for the vast majority of strikes on ISIS and rebel
locations
They have been dubbed 'Moscow's war games', a deadly flexing of Russia's military might in the battlegrounds of Syria that has seen Vladimir Putin's forces tip the balance of power towards the once beleaguered leadership of Bashar al-Assad.
For
ranged now in the name of Putin's war on terror is an awesome array of
firepower, with Russia's iron man president deploying an arsenal of his
latest weapons to Syria - operating from land, sea and air.
In
the latest major campaign to support Assad, the Russians have helped to
drive Islamic State out of the ancient city of Palmyra, inflicting what
the army called a 'mortal blow' to militants who seized the city last
year and dynamited its ancient temples.
The
loss of Palmyra represents one of the biggest setbacks for the
ultra-hardline Islamist group since it declared a caliphate in 2014
across large parts of Syria and Iraq.
As
Putin's intervention turns the tide of Syria's five-year conflict in
Assad's favour, This article spotlights the terrifying arsenal of weapons,
armour and warplanes that have become so pivotal to the fate of all
sides inside Syria.
Costing
£26-million each, Russia's Su-34 (pictured) possess a state-of-the-art
fire control system, a phased array radar, and powerful electronic
countermeasures (ECM)
BY AIR: Fleet of fighter jets with precision-guided missiles so advanced some are even controlled by the pilot's helmet
While
the Russian Command Group and Co-ordination teams are based at their
embassy in Damascus, it is their base in the port city of Latakia, north
western Syria, which is providing the hub for the air power. Dozens of
daily sorties were flown from these headquarters when the campaign was
at its height.
Based
there is the astonishingly powerful Air Group of Su-34, Su-35S,
Su-30SM, Su-24 and Su-25 combat aircraft, the Helicopter Group of Mi-24
and Mi-35 gunships, Mi-8 utility helicopters and the Airlift Contingent
of An-124, II-76 and Tu-154 aircraft.
The
supersonic Su-24 tactical bomber, Su-25, Su-30 and Su-34 are all
equipped with air-to-air and air-to-surface missiles to assist Syrian
ground troops and destroy enemy bases.
The
KH-29L air-to-surface missile - weighing up to 690kg - is designed to
level hardened ground targets including railways, bridges, factories,
runways and aircraft in reinforced concrete shelters, according to the Tactical Missiles Corporation.
The 80ft wide Su-24 (pictured during
military exercise) can reach speeds of around 1,400mph and can climb at a
rate of 29,000ft a second
Known as the 'White Swan' by its pilots, the Tu-160 Strategic Bomber (pictured) is the heaviest combat aircraft ever built
Significantly,
Russian forces too have been testing their electronic warfare
capabilities, using advanced equipment such as the Krasukha-4 mobile
electronic warfare units designed to jam not only the rebels'
battlefield communications but also radar and aircraft communications.
One
retired British officer, who commanded forces that fought alongside
Syrian troops in the first Gulf War, told MailOnline last night: 'Putin
and his military have totally changed the course of the conflict in an
alarming but impressive way.
'He
has out flanked, out thought and out bluffed the West both testing and
showcasing his weapons, many of which have not been seen in such
situations before.
'Everyone is watching with interest and an element of horror as more and more hardware is rolled out.'
Russia's
Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin openly admitted the weaponry being
used in Syria has promoted the Russian army to a 'higher league,'
promising that the gained combat experience would be thoroughly studied.
Fitted
with high explosive, penetrating warheads weighing up to 136kg, the
rocket can reach speeds of up around 900mph. It has a range of up to six
miles and can hit a target within an accuracy of just two metres.
It uses a 'semi active laser guidance system' whereby the pilot marks a target using a laser sight which the missile follows.
Russia
deployed its colossal two tonne KH-101 cruise missile (pictured) in
Syria shortly after a passenger jet filled with its citizens was downed
in Egypt's Sinai province in November
Russian
warplanes are also using the smaller KH-25 missiles, weighing around
300kg, to destroy ships, armoured vehicles, ammunition caches and oil
reserves.
Meanwhile
the 80ft long, 60ft wide Su-24 can reach speeds of around 1,400mph and
can climb at a rate of 29,000ft a second, according to experts at Military Factory.
It is also equipped with a six barreled GSh-6-23 cannon and 500 rounds of 23mm ammo.
Russia
claimed a Su-24 bomber destroyed the ISIS command centre in the Idlib
on February 11. ISIS's presence in the province is disputed.
In
November, a Russian Su-24 was shot down by two Turkish jets after the
country claimed their airspace was violated. Both of the flight crew
ejected before the plane crashed in Syria.
Russia responded by arming its Su-34 jets with AA-10 and AA-11 air-to-air missiles.
Costing
£26 million and dubbed the 'Fullback', the two-seat Su-34 possesses a
state-of-the-art fire control system, a phased array radar, and a
powerful electronic countermeasures (ECM) suite.
Russia's
defence ministry released footage of the 24 foot long cruise missile
being launched over an undisclosed location in Syria
The
AA-10 and AA-12 air-to-air missiles can hit targets from 60miles away
and, when fully loaded, have a maximum speed of Mach 1.8. They fly to a
range of 2,500 miles before needing to refuel.
The A-11 Archer is the best short range air-to-air missile in Russia's possession, according to military experts at Federation of American Scientists.
The smart rocket is connected to the pilots' helmets, which they use to target enemy aircraft.
The
technology also means the missiles can be fired at jets flying either
side of the aircraft, which a traditional system of targeting and
guidance cannot manage.
Just
like the AA-10, the AA-11 is designed to destroy helicopters, drones
and cruise missiles - but can also engage modern and 'next generation'
fighter jets.
The heat seeking AA-10, which carries a 39kg warhead, can intercept flying targets travelling at a speed of up to 2,000mph.
CRUISE MISSILES: White swan that carries KH-101 and KH-55 cruise missiles
Russia
responded to the downing of a passenger jet over Egypt's Sinai province
in November by deploying its colossal 24 foot long, two tonne KH-101
cruise missile for the first time.
Carried
by a Tu-160 bomber dubbed the 'White Swan', the cruise missile can be
fired 6,000 miles from its target, flies as low 30m off the ground to
avoid enemy radar, and is said to have an accuracy of between 25m to
30m.
Its astonishing range means the KH-101 could be launched from Moscow to hit an enemy base in Syria.
The KH-101 and its predecessor, the KH-55 (pictured), are fired from Russia's long range strategic bombers including the Tu-160
The
satellite-guided smart rocket hugs the terrain using a digital map,
which is downloaded onto its on board computer before it is fired.
Both
the KH-101 and its predecessor, the KH-55, are fired from Russia's
largest long range strategic bombers, the Tu-95 and the Tu-160.
The
Tu-160 Strategic Bomber is the heaviest combat aircraft ever built. It
can accelerate to a maximum speed of 1,380 mph, climb to a maximum
altitude of 49,235 feet and has a range of 7,643 miles.
It
is capable of carrying up to 12 Kh-55 cruise missiles and Kh-15 short
range missiles. It is also capable of carrying with nuclear and
'regular' bombs.
A
nuclear version of the missile, the KH-102, can carry a 250 kiloton
warhead, which the United States has expressed concerns about.
GUNSHIPS: Helicopters fitted with tank-destroying rockets and cannons
Russia
has three helicopter gunships operating in Syria - the Mi-35s, Mi-24Ps
and the new generation Mi-28, which is designed to carry out search and
destroy missions on tanks and armoured vehicles.
Syrian TV crews filmed what is believed to be an Mi-28 near Humaymin air base in Syria, Russia based Sputnik news reported.
Called
the 'Night Hunter' by pilots, the Mi-28 is equipped with 16
tank-destroying missiles, the Shturm and the Ataka, one unguided S-13
rocket and a turreted 2A42 cannon that fires up to 550 30mm shells a
minute.
Called the 'Night Hunter' by pilots, the Mi-28 (pictured) is equipped with 16 tank destroying missiles
It can also carry Ataka missiles (pictured), an upgraded version of the Shturm, which has a longer range of around 6,000m
The Mi-28's 30mm cannon, the 2A42, weighs around 115kg and can hit armoured ground targets from around 1,500m away
Amateur
footage from the Syrian town of Kafr Nabudah showed two Russian Mi-24
helicopters (pictured) firing rockets at rebels in the area
The
helicopter is said to be one of the new pieces of equipment being
tested in Syria and is being used to destroy tanks and other armoured
vehicles.
The Mi-28's 30mm cannon, the 2A42, weighs around 115kg and can hit armoured ground targets from around 1,500m away
It
has a range of up to 5,000m, hits the target travelling at 400m per
second and its warhead can penetrate around 560mm of armour.
Up to 16 missiles can be fitted on the Mi-28, which can operate at any time of the day and in severe weather.
Dramatic
footage from October showed two Mi-24 helicopters firing rockets on a
Syrian town which was thought to be occupied by US trained rebel
fighters.
SMART BOMBS: Satellite-guided 'smart missiles' that move at the speed of sound
Syria has been a testing ground for Russia's precision guided bombs.
Its
warplanes have deployed the satellite guided KAB-500S to devastating
effect on both ISIS and rebel strongholds - and plans to test the
smaller KAB-250 in the conflict too.
The
state of the art KAB-500, which made its combat debut in Syria in
September 2015, is guided by Russia's space based GLONASS global
positioning system (GPS).
The satellite guided KAB-500 (pictured) made its combat debut in Syria in September
Supersonic smart bomb, the KAB-250 (pictured), is also thought to have been used in the Syrian conflict
The
missile can be fired from heights of between 500m and 5,000m, and can
be moving at the speed of sound when they strike their intended target
with an accuracy of between 7m and 12m.
It is designed to destroy munitions depots, factories and ships in dock.
Footage from October showed a Russian Su-34 bomber dropping a KAB-500 on a Syrian rebel group's headquarters.
Another video released by Russia's MoD showed a KAB-500 being used to destroy an ISIS artillery stronghold in Latakia.
Footage from October showed a Russian Su-34 bomber dropping a KAB-500 on a Syrian rebel group's headquarters near Raqqa
Another video released by Russia's MoD showed a KAB-500 being used to destroy an ISIS artillery stronghold in Latakia (pictured)
Konstantin Sivkov of the Russian Academy of Rocket, Missile and Artillery Sciences claimed the rocket was used against ISIS.
He
wrote in the Military Industrial: 'Our aircraft have employed the
latest product of Russia's defense industry, the KAB-250, to eliminate
targets in the immediate vicinity of civilian infrastructure.
The KAB-250 was made to destroy lighter, thin skinned vehicles and other small enemy installations.
BY SEA: Black Sea fleet provides air defence 'umbrella' and boasts quietest submarine in the world
Russia
has a Black Sea Fleet of at least ten ships headed by a Slava class
guided missile cruiser in eastern Mediterranean waters, which provide
logistics and an air defence 'umbrella' over Latakia and Tartus regions.
It
includes a diesel electric submarine known as the Rostov-on-Don, which
launched Kalibr cruise missiles against targets near the Syrian city of
Raqqa, ISIS's de facto capital on November 17.
Commissioned
in late December 2014, the submarine is a Project 636 Varshavyanka sub
deemed to be one of the quietest in the world.
A
diesel electric submarine known as the Rostov-on-Don (pictured)
launched Kalibr cruise missiles against targets near the Syrian city of
Raqqa
The anti-aircraft system on Russia's
Moskva missile cruiser, which was stationed in the Mediterranean Sea,
off the coast of Syria, in December
Russia
fired 26 long range 3M-54K missiles (pictured), known as 'Sizzlers',
from Kalibr-NK missile systems on four warships stationed in the Caspian
Sea
The
stealth submarine is so advanced it is dubbed the 'black hole' because
it is so hard to detect. It is the second submarine out of six planned
for the Black Sea Fleet by the end of 2016.
It
is backed up by Buyan-M class warships - four of which launched a
barrage of 26 cruise missiles which blitzed ISIS targets located more
than 930 miles away.
Each
Buyan-class ship carries eight 3M-54K cruise missiles - known as
'Sizzlers' - which are 27ft long and carry a 450kg warhead.
The
missile system is designed to destroy submarines, other 'surface
vessels' and 'slow moving targets whose coordinates are known in
advance'. The rockets have a range of up to 410miles.
Despite
their 'relatively small launch weight of 1,570kg, the rockets can 'blow
up very large surface craft,' according to experts at Global Security.
They
added: 'The missile's moderate weight allows even warships with a small
displacement to take aboard quite a few of such deadly weapons.'
BY LAND: Russian tanks can stop 'any missile in the world' and the 'Grizzly' that can defend attacks from 24 angles
Russia
has sent at least 24 T-90 tanks to Syria and this month, they were used
to push back the forces opposing Assad around Aleppo.
A
local rebel commander told the Turkey-based Yeni Safak website his
troops were attacked by more than 80 T-72 and T-90 tanks, although that
number has not been verified.
The
T-90s are the most advanced tanks in Russia's arsenal and are fitted
with an anti-tank missile system that can stop any missile in the
world.
Some of the 24 T-90 tanks (pictured,
T-90s on training exercise outside Moscow) Russia has sent to Syria have
been used in the recent offensive in Aleppo
A local rebel commander told the
Turkey-based Yeni Safak website his troops were attacked by more than 80
T-72 and T-90 tanks (pictured, on the Red Square in Moscow)
The T-90 tank, one of the most advanced in the world, is armed with a 2A46M cannon which fires 125mm shells
When
they were first transported to Syria, they were seen as the latest heavy
armour by Russia to prop up Assad's forces in the ongoing civil war.
The
armoured tank, which costs around £3million each to produce, is made
from Kontakt-5 armour, which deflects the true force of the blast over a
larger surface area to reduce damage.
It
is also armed with a 2A46M cannon which fires 125mm shells, as well as
AT-11 missiles that can destroy tanks and low flying helicopters up to
three miles away, according to Military Today.
Russia
has also deployed SA-17 surface-to-air missiles in an area along the
Turkish border known as the Azaz Corridor, a major infiltration route
for jihadist and other anti-government forces.
The SA-17, also known as the Grizzly, can engage up to 24 targets flying from any direction at any one time, experts at Army Recognition have said.
It can shoot down strategic and tactical jets, cruise missiles, air launched rockets, guided bombs and helicopters.
The missiles can reach an altitude of 24,000m and have a range of up to 31 miles, depending on conditions.
Russia's SA-17 missile (pictured),
also known as the Grizzly, can engage up to 24 targets flying from any
direction at any one time
Russia is also said to be equipped with 25 D30 Howitzers (pictured) that fire 122mm rounds
Russia's Smerch Mulitiple Launch
Rocket System (pictured) has a 12 launchers which fires 300mm 3M-55K
missiles at targets between 12 and 43miles away
Russia
is also said to be equipped with 25 D30 Howitzers that fire 122mm
rounds and 12 Smerch Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS).
The Smerch has a 12 launchers which fires 300mm 3M-55K missiles at targets between 12 and 43miles away.
The rockets, which are used to destroy vehicles and other missile systems, are around 24ft long and weigh 800kg.
Satellite
images from October showed 12 towed artillery pieces - 'probably 122 mm
D-30 howitzers' - deployed at Russia's Latakia air base, according to
defence and security intelligence organisation, IHS Jane's.
BY INTERNET: The Krasukha-4 Land Jammer can disrupt radars and even low-flying satellites
The Krasukha-4 jammer is the newest electronic warfare system in the Russian arsenal.
As
a broadband multi-functional jamming platform, it could disrupt
ground-based radars, airborne radars (especially AWACS systems) and low
earth orbit satellites.
The jammer is said to cause permanent damage to targeted radio-electronic devices.
The Russian contingent in Syria is believed to possess a Krasukha-4 platform, which has a reported range of 200-miles.
It
is claimed the Krasukha-4 could blind some AWACS planes and make it
difficult for NATO to generate the air picture of the eastern
Mediterranean and Syria.
Russia's might in Syria is believed to
possess a Krashuka-4 platform (pictured) which could disrupt
ground-based radars, airborne radars (especially AWACS systems) and low
earth orbit satellites
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