The Latest: Russia praises Syrian air defenses after strikes

Associated PressApril 17, 2018

ricky l

1 second ago

Actually to verify whose claim was true :-
(1) Russia claim - Syria fired 112 air defense Russian supplied missiles, shooting down 71 out of 103 incoming missiles.
(2) Trump claim all its missiles hit the intended target.

Just supply the satellite images of the intended target - before and after missiles hit.

This will help to proof whose claim is true.

ricky l

25 seconds ago

If Russia claim is true, it means :-
(1) US Tomahak missiles system is unable to jam Russia's anti-missile radar and guidance system.
(2) It is time for Trump to look for improvement or alternative to its Tomahak cruise missiles.

If Trump's claim is true, it means :-
(1) US Tomahak cruise missiles are still effective and its anti-jamming system is still effective.
(2) US still can fly its aircraft without fear that Russia anti-missile system can target US aircraft and missiles.

ricky l

1 second ago

The outcome of the findings --- will alter how future battle between the 2 systems are fought.

(1) Lobbying missiles to neutralise air-defense and air-bases
(2) Aircraft take control over air spaces after air-defenses are neutralise
- all these will change.

ricky l

1 second ago

If the anti-missile defense system is effective - it means A2AD become an effective integrated defense against aerial attack - missile or aircraft.

Aircraft bombing or missile bombing become ineffective to control the airspace - as missiles and aircraft can be shot down.

When this happen, naval and army troopers plus mechanized divisions become the forces for offensive.

Geoff

5 hours ago

Judging by the pictures of the targets before and after the strikes, the Russian system is rubbish. If you doubt that ask yourself how the Israelis seem to be able to roam at will over Syria and destroy half their air defences.

ricky l

1 second ago

What about Russian S300 or S400 anti-missile system - that say are tracking the missiles flying in from the 2 airbases but are not doing anything?

That means they are not jammable - as its radar and guidance system are still working.

• Yvan Schmidt

  4 hours ago

  @Reality Check,
  
  Shi'ite? Sorry, that's Assad.
• 

  Yvan Schmidt

  4 hours ago

  @Timur,
  
  That and a slew of point defense systems, including 8 or 9 Buks (the same system that shot-down the KLM 777 over Ukraine), and the SA-3, SA-6, SA-8 and one of the newer Russian SAMs, the SA-22 (aka, the Pantsir, which a Russian General was pimping hard I the article).
  
  Every single one of them failed. Given the video of SAMs over Damascus flying perfectly straight routes (meaning they're not tracking or following anything), and the fact that they were 0 for 40+ with their SAMs, I think they were afraid to turn-on their radars, and were firing their SAMs ballistically, rather than with guidance.
• 

  Fred

  6 hours ago

  @Reality Check You are full of it
• 

  Reality Check

  7 hours ago

  Already did moron. The entire area is leveled at all locations. Then never knew what hit them. 85% success rate. Russia is full of ....
• 

  Timur

  10 hours ago

  For all those Rickies and Morties who don’t follow the story and jump to comment section I will explain: Russian HAVE NOT EVEN USED its missiles defenses, - what was used is Soviet era s200
• 

  ricky l

  now
  
  
  Checking the satellite maps before and after as well as the ground photos (if all are not doctored or fake) - the 3 targeted sites are destroyed.
  It means considerable amount of missiles must have hit the sites - to cause such damages.
  Also all British and France aircraft return safely - this mean the anti-missile system did not hit the aircraft.
  
  S400 anti-missiles are also deployed (but are far away) from the 3 targeted sites - and they are operated by the Russian troops.
  
  The only claim to verify is that, did this S400 radar and guidance system turn on and able to track the incoming missiles hitting the multiple sites.
  
  If yes, then is Tomahawk effective in jamming the S400 radar and guidance system in a battle scenario situation.
  
  This is all about science and technology - not able politics or emotion.
  
  So far no independent report can verify this.
• 

  ricky l

  1 second ago
  By verifying this, it will help to determine future battle scenarios - for sites guarded by S300 of S400 - in an A2AD (anti-access, area defense) situation.
  
  Will Tomahawk effective in neutralising air-defense put up by S400 or S300 and jamming their radar and guidance system.
  
  If yes, F15, F16, F18 can still fly to control airspace.
  Also F22 and F35 stealth can still fly before S300 and S400 are neutralise?
  
  These will determine how future air battle and air-defense system will be fought with the 2 opposing systems.
  
  It is all about science and technology - which are scientifically verifiable - not by claims and counter-claims, emotion and counter-emotion -- devoid of facts on the ground.
  
  
• 

  martin

  2 hours ago

  @Geoff You have no idea how many targets there were. You only know that three were hit. None of those three would have had air defense systems protecting them. It is logical to assume that the targets that were no hit had air defence systems
• 

  martin

  2 hours ago

  Ricky, the US will just lie about the targets. They have only shown images of three targets that were hit. I would imagine that Russia decided along with Assad to sacrifice those so the USA could save face. They are all talking behind closed doors and agreeing action in advance and giving warning. Trump may be off his rocker but the people around are more sensible.
• 

  ricky l

  1 second ago
  @martin 
  Well I go by statistics and fact.
  Based on actual count :-
  (1) 76 missiles were fired and hit the research centre - Site 1
  (2) 22 missiles were fired and hit the chemical weapon storage site - Site 2
  (3) 7 missiles were fired and hit the underground chemical storage site at Homs - Site 3.
  
  In total, 105 missiles were accounted for on these 3 sites.
  
  So how many missiles are not fired on other sites and are unaccounted for?
  
  
• citizen

  15 minutes ago

  @Timur ..How would you know?
• 

  Ben

  3 hours ago

  @ricky l But it does not take 112 missiles to destory a few buildings I beleave the russian.

• ricky l

  1 second ago

  @Ben - The Tomahawk cruise missile can transmit battle damage indication imagery and missile health and status messages via the two-way satellite data link
• 

  ricky l

  1 second ago

  So unless Trump produce the imagery that its cruise missile hit the target and not shot down by Russia anti-missile system - no one can tell whether Trump's claim is correct or Russia claim is correct.
  
  Base on past history, about the same amount of cruise missiles are used when they intend to destroy prized target like chemical sites, nuclear sites --- about 70 or more cruise missiles per site - each missile carrying 450kg munition designed to penetrate hardened target.
  
  For underground target, more cruise missiles are used to ensure underground assets are destroyed.
  
  The more important information is, how the Tomahawk cruise fare with S400 or S300.