Tel Aviv: The failure of Russian made air defence systems used by the Syrian army to intercept Israeli air launched weapon systems causes great concern in Moscow. An Israeli senior expert said that the Russians are now trying to figure out what is the reason of the failure.
The expert added that the Israeli superiority in Syria is not guaranteed, as the Russians have to prove that their systems work. “The export of Russian made air defence systems are a source of income and the Russians will do everything not to lose it. They will do an utmost effort to establish the reason of the failure”.
Earlier this week, Russia accused Israel for the first time after another attack, allegedly performed by Israel on an Iranian related target in Syria. Israel defense sources said that the accusation is not a change in Russian policy but an attempt to explain the failure of the Russian made air defense systems operated by Syria to intercept the Israeli weapon systems.
According to the Russian news agency TASS, Russian-made Buk-M2 and Pantsir-S air defence systems in service with the Syrian army destroyed six out of eight missiles launched by Israeli warplanes during the November 8 air raid.
Vadim Kulit, deputy chief of the Russian Center for Reconciliation of the Opposing Parties in Syria, said on Tuesday,
“Between 20:16 and 20:23 on November 8, six F-15 tactical fighter aircraft of the Israeli air force violated the state border of the Syrian Arab Republic from the airspace of northern Lebanon and launched eight guided missiles at logistical and military support facilities of the Syrian armed forces in the Homs governorate. Syrian air defense units destroyed six of those missiles using Russian made Buk-M2 and Pantsir-S air defense systems in service with the Syrian armed forces”.
According to the Russian defence official, the Israeli airstrikes inflicted minor damage on the ground, two Syrian servicemen were injured. The fact that the air defense systems were not affective, worries Moscow as these systems are offered now to other countries.
According to middle eastern sources, the Israel air force is using advanced standoff weapons in most of the strikes in Syria. The Israeli air force is using mainly three types of the Spice Family of standoff weapon systems, manufactured by Rafael – Spice 1000, Spice 2000 and the Spice 250.
The Russian made air defense systems used by Syria are the Buk-M2E and the Pantsir S. The Buk-M2E surface-to-air missile (SAM) system is an export variant of the Buk-M2, which entered into service with the Russian Army in 2008. The Pantsir air defense system is designed to intercept tactical aircraft, precision-guided munitions (PGMs), and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
-The writer is an Israel-based freelance journalist. The views expressed are of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views of Raksha Anirveda
