How Syria repelled most missiles

CAIRO – 15 April 2018: Russia said that most of the missiles launched Saturday by the Western states on Syria had been downed by Syria's air defenses.

The Russian defense ministry said in a statement that 71 out of 103 missiles fired were intercepted by Syrian air defense systems, which are more than 30 years old, according to the ministry.

"Syria's means of air defense: S-125, S-200 air defense systems, as well as Buk and Kvadrat units, were used in repelling the missile strike," the statement noted.


The S-125 Neva/Pechora


S-125 Neva air defense system from 250th Air Defense Brigade of Serbian Army on display at Batajnica airbase during the Batajnica 2012 open day


The S-125 is a short-range surface-to-air missile (SAM) system. It started being developed in the 1950s in the former Soviet Union. It was designed by Russian Almaz Central Design Bureau to provide low altitude coverage.

The mobile S-125 system uses radio command guidance. There are two different versions of missiles used by the system, including the V-600 with range of about 15 kilometers and the V-601 with a range up to 35 kilometers.


The S-200 missile system


S-200 anti-air rocket (SA-5 Gammon) in Army History Museum and Park in Kecel, Hungary


It is a very long-range SAM system designed to provide medium- to high-altitude coverage. The S-200 can operate in different climate conditions. It entered the service in 1966. The S-200 Angara engages with and destroys flying objects at ranges between 200-350 kilometers.

In 1983, the USSR delivered the first S-200 systems. According to sources in 2017, the Syrian army has control of 45-50 S-200 launchers.

In March, an Israeli channel said that Israeli warplanes were targeted by the Syrian government by using the S-200 system during an Israeli attack on Syrian targets. The Syrian government announced shooting down a warplane; however, Israel denied any damages took place.

Buk


Wheeled self-propelled launcher of "Buk-M2" surface-to-air missile system on the military exhibition on the 65 anniversary of Kapustin Yar missile range, Znamensk, Russia


In November 2015, a Russian general said the Russian military sent anti-aircraft rocket systems to Syria, including Buk anti-craft missile systems. The Buk is made by the USSR and is designed to counter smart bombs, cruise missiles and unmanned aircraft.


Kvadrat

It is a defense system designed to protect ground forces against aircraft flying at low and medium heights at subsonic or supersonic speed (slower or faster than the speed of sound). The system was produced by the USSR in the 1950s.

U.S., British and French forces pounded Syria with air strikes early on Saturday in response to a poison gas attack that killed dozens of people last week, in the biggest intervention by Western powers against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

At least six loud explosions were heard in Damascus and smoke was seen rising over the city, a Reuters witness said. A second witness said the Barzah district of Damascus had been hit in the strikes. Barzah is the location of a major Syrian scientific research center.


The scientific research center in Barzah after the attack as claimed by Syrian state TV



The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said a scientific research center and military bases in Damascus were struck in the attack. The military targets included the Syrian army's Republican Guard, Mezzeh Military Airport and the fourth military division.

The U.K.'s Ministry of Defense said that four Tornado fighter jets armed with Storm Shadow cruise missiles participated in the strike.The jets targeted a Syrian chemical weapons site in Homs, according to the ministry.

France used French Mirage and Rafale fighter jets and four frigate warships in the airstrikes on Syria, according to a presidency source. The strikes targeted the research center and two production sites, the source said.

A U.S. defense official said that the U.S. Air Force used B-1B bombers in the attack. The U.S. did not announce where the jets flew from. However, in its operations in Middle Eastern countries, including Syria, the U.S. usually uses al-Udeid Airbase in Qatar, which is home to about 10,000 American troops.


A U.S. Air Force B-1B Lancer bomber aircraft lands at Avalon Airport, Geelong, Australia

The Pentagon said that Assad fired 40 defensive missiles in a failed attempt to save the targets of Saturday's missiles.