2014-05-30

First Photo of a SyAAF Mil Mi-4


As always, Luftwaffe A.S blog has the pleasure to bring to public the first photos of SyAAF units either the present or the historical ones.
In addition to the first photo of the Syrian Mil Mi-2 helicopter I published in 2012, I come to close the photos of every helicopter SyAAF has operated with this very first photo of a Syrian Mil Mi-4 which was photographed during an athletic event over a stadium in Damascus in 1967.
It is good to know that Syria has received around 10 Mi-4 helicopters in 1967 (some of them were damaged on ground in the six-days war). Later on those were replaced with the Mi-8's when they started to be delivered in 1971. 


I included this profile of an Egyptian Mi-4 to understand the comparison of the spotted Syrian Mi-4 which allow us to notice that the door (over the rear landing gear) was opened, may be for the cameraman.

The Syrian Mi-4 looks to wear a two-tones camo similar to the Egyptian one -if the rendering was correct- with Green tinting to the bottom of the fuselage and boom. In other words, it was not in a military-style camo.

2014-05-28

CORONA Atlas of the Middle East



Amazing aerial imagery published for the first time those captured by Cold War-era spy satellites for the Middle East countries covering entire Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, Cyprus, most of Iraq, Egypt and parts of Iran, Turkey and Saudi Arabia.
Of course we will make use of this unique atlas to take stills for the Air Force Bases in these countries to understand their history of development since the time these imagery were taken for and namely between 1967-1972.

I have extracted takes for the AFB's in Syria which most of them were photographed in 1967 to 1969. Sadly this atlas's aerial images ends before the 1973 war which prevents us to know the exact years Syrians started to build HAS's for their aircrafts.

Above is Aleppo IAP (Neyrab) in which we can see some aircraft in the main tarmac of the military base.


Damascus IAP.


Deir EzZour AFB.


Dhab'a AFB (Qsair).


Hama AFB.


Hmemim air base. Note that the short runway was E/W oriented, dislike now (N/S).


Khelkhleh air field.


Kshesh air base.


Kweres AFB. We can see some 12 units on the tarmac infront of the maintenance hangars, and one relatively big aircraft on the Eastern secondary tarmac.
The shades of phased-out Meteors can be seen as well.


Mennegh air base.


T4 AFB.


Tadmor AFB.


Taftanaz air field...You will notice that Abu DhHour, Tabqa and She'irat air force bases were not constructed yet that time, while the atlas does not provide clear view for Dhmair, Nasriyeh and Blai.

You can see and discover other countries thought the online CORONA Atlas.

2014-05-22

New Pahpad UAV Downed In Mleha


 
A video published yesterday shows the wreckage of Iranian made Pahpad UAV downed in Mleha town in Damascus countryside carrying the serial R-1003, and raising the number of downed UAV's of this type to five at least (according to solid data).
 
The rebels stated that the UAV was downed by itself due to a technical failure which forced it to fall down over their territory.

2014-05-12

EXCLUSIVE: SyAAF MiG-25PD Fires R-40 Missiles as AGM!!


On 25th March 2014, the Syrian mighty MiG-25 recorded its first appearance since years, in action over the eastern countryside of Hama governorate, exactly over Eqeirbat town. After that, the SyAAF kept sending this interceptor to that area as recorded on 28th March, 2nd April and 4th April.

On 4th April, remnant of R-40 Air-to-Air missile -as can be seen above- was found unexploded in the suburbs of Eqeirbat confirming the incident which was witnessed by a local, reporting the aircraft launched pair of missiles which were 'the time they left the aircraft' slower than those usually fired from pods (unguided rockets).
 

Here above, I publish this EXCLUSIVE video which is considered the proof of that incident took place on 2nd April showing the twin-tailed jet firing a pair of R-40 missiles against ground targets in an action could be registered a unique of its type in the whole air combat history!!

P.S This post is preferably to be read in conjunction with Oryx's POST about the same incident.

2014-05-09

UAV's In The Syrian Sky


By the beginning of the current Syrian unrest in 2011, the SyAAF was suffering the limited reconnaissance capability with her MiG-21R/25R/RB fleet almost grounded and left for high demanding recon. sorties.
That, and in addition to the requirements of daily recon. over hot spots like in Homs and Eastern Ghouta and later on in most of areas  of clashes, the Syrian Army was in need for Iranians to deploy their light and long-endurance UAV's.

Referring to my records, the first UAV spotted in the Syrian sky was the Iranian made Pahpad UAV over Kafar Batna town in the Eastern Ghouta of Damascus city on 6th Feb. 2012, followed by another Pahpad spotted over Homs on 14th April 2012 (of course the use of these UAV's was earlier than these dates, but that is what I can refer to from a solid reference)


The two photos above are for an Iranian Pahpad UAV -which looks a copy from the South African Denel Dynamics Seeker UAV- spotted flying over Aqraba town to the south of Damascus on 9th May 2013.


The second type of UAV's appeared in the Syrian sky is the Iranian made Mohajer UAV which was first seen -again referring to my videos- flying over Mu'addamiyet AsSham in the Ghouta of Damascus on 13th April 2013.


The two photos above as well are for a Mohajer UAV spotted also over Aqraba town on 7th May 2013.


Mohajer UAV flying over Eastern Ghouta of Damascus on 14th May 2013.


Mohajer UAV is known with its four variants, the upgraded one 'Mohajer-4' was first seen flying over Erbeen town near Damascus on 24th Jun. 2013.
The photo above is for a Mohajer UAV spotted also over Eastern Ghouta recently.


The third type of UAV is also an Iranian made, the Yasir UAV which was first seen flying over Qalamoun mounts in Nov. 2013.


The two still above are for a Yasir UAV spotted flying over Eastern Ghouta villages on 19th Apr. 2014.


The fourth type and the newest UCAV (Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle) referring to its capabilities to carry weapons, is Shahed-129 which recorded its first appearance over Syria on 10th Apr. 2014 as can be seen in the photo above.


The UAV's did not fly peacefully over Syria as the rebels could bring down many of them. he first incident was happened on 22nd May. 2013 when they could shot down a Pahpad UAV was flying over Mleha of Damascus as can be seen in this VIDEO.
The photo above is for another Pahpad with serial 3-2-R0105 brought down over Eastern Ghouta on 12th Jun. 2013 as can be seen in this VIDEO
The third and fourth Pahpad were downed over Eastern Ghouta on 2nd Oct. and 8th Oct. 2013 respectively as can be seen HERE and HERE.


The Yasir UAV was first downed somewhere in Qalamoun mounts on 7th Dec. 2013 as can be seen in this VIDEO, while the SECOND was downed on 9th Apr. 2014 also in Qalamoun area.


Away from Damascus area the first UAV was downed on 19th Dec. 2013 over Al-Ghanto town in Homs county, should be Pahpad type as can be seen HERE and HERE.

Finally, I would recommend to have a glance over Oryx's posts about YASIR and SHAHED-129 UAV's in order to know more about capabilities and development of each.

2014-05-08

Syrian GLA Air Force


Few days ago, Al-Arabia has published a video report about the 'Jaish Al-Islam' captured L-39 aircraft in Kshesh AFB as can be seen HERE.


This video looks the same one recorded by the team who edited the first promo of Jaish Al-Ismal operations published on Nov. 2013.


The colors and pattern of the camo are totally new, especially with the black accents to the fin and nose. 


The videos show two L-39 operational could successfully start their engines and taxi. Whether they took off or not, if Jaish Al-Islam could bring another L-39 operational...all these are still unknown as the AFB is tightly secured.


Jaish Al-Islam relied on the defected pilots and technicians to fix the intact aircrafts which service is not as complicated as other MiG/Su jets.


This L-39 is carrying its original serial 2111 as we could see in one of the stills which showed the aircraft in its SyAAF camo.


As stated above, the two airframes could successfully taxi on tarmac but never seen flying.


The second intact L-39 could be brought into service is this one with serial 2141 (this shot was taken before it wore its new camo).


Another unit technicians were working on is this Albatros with serial 2074.


More details can be found in Oryx's wonderful post HERE.

2014-05-01

Spotted Aircraft/Aerial Vehicles over Syria: April 2014

List of spotted 'Aircraft and Aerial Vehicles' over Syria during the month April 2014.

PROVINCE CITY/TOWN DATE AIRCRAFT LINK
Damascus Eastern Ghouta 01-04-0214 MiG-21 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qmfPZTdkh2Y
Idleb Jabal Azzawiyeh 01-04-0214 Su-24MK https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jc5HIj0YQkc
Hama Hama 03-04-0214 An-26 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UAYwcrRIFPU
Idleb Kourin 03-04-0214 Su-24MK https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XI-BM-yPPTk
Damascus Mleha 04-04-0214 MiG-21 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3zcy_rp5HQ
Damascus Mleha 04-04-0214 MiG-21 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svxKplh96T0
Idleb Khan Sheikhoun 04-04-0214 Su-22M https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3kXuKa-MMJc
Damascus Eastern Ghouta 05-04-0214 Unknown https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5D3y9kQImR4
Homs Homs 05-04-0214 Su-24MK https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L__FDi4U9p4
Idleb County 05-04-0214 MiG-23 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NyP-eDs37rE
Damascus Mleha 06-04-0214 MiG-23BN http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vi1z4T7PSVI
Damascus Eastern Ghouta 06-04-0214 MiG-21 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDRqrOUo9ng
Idleb Ma'arret Annu'man 06-04-0214 MiG-23MF http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yaWmBnehJTk
Idleb Heesh 06-04-0214 MiG-23MF http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VL1NmSDfewE
Damascus Eastern Ghouta 07-04-0214 MiG-23BN https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_h4qxIB8a8
Damascus Mleha 07-04-0214 Unknown https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHZ-9KVuOqk
Idleb Mourek 08-04-0214 MiG-23 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Su7EISHTC-0
Dar'a Al-Mre'eiyeh 09-04-0214 MiG-21 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VzmNwbAw8Uw
Damascus Eastern Ghouta 09-04-0214 MiG-23BN https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5vNu0e3OKLU
Aleppo Hreytan 10-04-0214 Su-22M http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ld_CUJL9lZw
Idleb Katyan 10-04-0214 Su-24MK http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VLp2qalg9Xk
Damascus Eastern Ghouta 10-04-0214 MiG-23BN https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=utrhwYoJ4-g
Damascus Yalda 10-04-0214 MiG-23BN http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-MXEL9DN1Q
Damascus Eastern Ghouta 10-04-0214 UAV https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKZg6xuUwKI
Damascus Eastern Ghouta 10-04-0214 UAV https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NGOYnkcTHA4
Damascus Mleha 10-04-0214 UAV https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_wrwpFdAUvI
Homs County 11-04-0214 Unknown https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QLA3Sym9voo
Deir EzZour Deir EzZour 11-04-0214 MiG-21 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wcohWz5HhoM
Dar'a Na'eimeh 11-04-0214 Su-24MK http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=POfMRLTz_bs
Idleb Sarjeh 11-04-0214 Su-24MK http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45adZlt-eys
Damascus Eastern Ghouta 11-04-0214 MiG-23BN http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l12s_hb9oG8
Damascus Eastern Ghouta 11-04-0214 MiG-23BN http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9yKwcD1vFPE
Damascus Eastern Ghouta 11-04-0214 MiG-23BN https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9yKwcD1vFPE
Damascus Mleha 11-04-0214 MiG-23BN http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tIb4WdiWKPc
Damascus Kafar Batna 11-04-0214 MiG-23BN https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0MFdjvgcwFk
Idleb Sarmin 12-04-0214 MiG-23MF https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X8Pi4AIad94
Idleb Sarmin 12-04-0214 MiG-23MF https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96Fj_dMbGvA
Aleppo Byanoun 12-04-0214 Su-22M https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3OeJwN2rlS4
Aleppo Byanoun 12-04-0214 Su-22M https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T76J12gNEwY
Aleppo Hreytan 12-04-0214 Su-22M https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dmEg046w8hM
Aleppo Anadan 12-04-0214 Su-22M https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KdDUlHBxv2o
Dar'a Dar'a 12-04-0214 MiG-21 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kVXiwSMmVds
Hama Kafar Zeita 12-04-0214 Unknown https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MqzCmA_fZ7M
Hama Mourek 13-04-0214 Su-22M https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TNWTe-zgKLg
Hama Hama 13-04-0214 MiG-21 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rcBVVsMYV4I
Aleppo Aleppo 13-04-0214 Su-22M https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TeD3oExjzDQ
Damascus Eastern Ghouta 13-04-0214 MiG-23BN https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-sxAc46hGw
Homs Talbeeseh 13-04-0214 Su-24MK https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=26JX0etHUok
Dar'a Ebtaa' 14-04-0214 Su-24MK https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_LwYR35GPsA
Dar'a Na'eimeh 14-04-0214 Su-24MK https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFSsXd_WFkE
Qunaitira County 14-04-0214 Su-24MK https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eEqSJv34hpA
Homs Talbeeseh 14-04-0214 Su-22M-4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VPh5LtQimH8
Damascus IAP 14-04-0214 Airliner https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lyH6ytPois4
Damascus Eastern Ghouta 14-04-0214 MiG-21 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sm0Wa3YbZhI
Damascus Eastern Ghouta 14-04-0214 MiG-21 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BnvzQGfU5t8
Damascus Yalda 14-04-0214 MiG-21 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MVjvrPa6Npg
Damascus Douma 14-04-0214 MiG-23BN https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKNMA_1rLB4
Homs Al-Ghanto 15-04-0214 Su-22M https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_6GnES3P8u0
Aleppo Aleppo 15-04-0214 Su-24MK http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vgpwiLOFy3g
Idleb Saraqeb 17-04-0214 Su-22M https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J1whGC6uMxg
Homs Homs 17-04-0214 Su-24MK https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xi0FZZzjsts
Homs Talbeeseh 17-04-0214 Su-24MK https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CKXOeyDnKrg
Homs Talbeeseh 17-04-0214 Su-22M https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CONawjxUYjI
Damascus Mleha 18-04-0214 MiG-21 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpUjC3dJ_HM
Damascus Mleha 18-04-0214 MiG-23BN https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EGwb9pmxxpk
Damascus Mleha 18-04-0214 Unknown https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hR0L3kxjj1Q
Homs Al-Ghanto 19-04-0214 Su-24MK https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-EwPDSfhGno
Homs Homs 19-04-0214 Su-24MK http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5GAqQIab-EE
Idleb Khan Sheikhoun 19-04-0214 MiG-23MF https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQjjyBaHCI4
Qunaitira Grgis 19-04-0214 MiG-23BN https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FamnPecu-ng
Damascus Yalda 19-04-0214 MiG-23BN https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2DzeSXh_src
Damascus Eastern Ghouta 19-04-0214 MiG-23BN https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FHQA4up8E5Q
Damascus Eastern Ghouta 19-04-0214 MiG-21 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_wNK3ozuKyA
Damascus Eastern Ghouta 19-04-0214 UAV http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UvWdBJWQQQQ
Raqqa Tabqa 19-04-0214 MiG-21 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1lzGg8SnnE
Hama Kafar Zeita 19-04-0214 MiG-23MF http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5lKLo6QsK84
Idleb Jabal Azzawiyeh 20-04-0214 Su-24MK https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3twkAbzn2GI
Idleb Jabal Azzawiyeh 20-04-0214 Su-24MK https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O0scDlLWjLY
Damascus Joubar 21-04-0214 MiG-23BN https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdP2Uz-tiv0
Damascus Dhmair 21-04-0214 Il-76 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cCj02t9R3pE
Idleb Taftanaz 21-04-0214 Su-22M http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MysM4dqeXTU
Homs Homs 21-04-0214 Su-24MK http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7ZSBitYZpM
Homs Homs 21-04-0214 Su-24MK http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y5pCmTu1e10
Lattakia County 21-04-0214 Unknown http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s27SbX4_3cM
Qunaitira Grgis 21-04-0214 Su-24MK http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mt2ezN4OwJ8
Damascus Jisreen 22-04-0214 MiG-21 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xq5mZ-LlIVc
Aleppo Al-Atareb 22-04-0214 Su-22M http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qUOAfLPP4f0
Idleb Heesh 23-04-0214 MiG-21 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fi-AaXIUV8s
Damascus Mleha 23-04-0214 MiG-23BN https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDJ0g9ofJdA
Unknown Unknown 23-04-0214 Unknown http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5EUsJjPZMBw
Aleppo County 24-04-0214 Airliner http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H60NsRpBQ9w
Idleb County 24-04-0214 Su-22M http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S4T49tg64lo
Idleb Jabal Azzawiyeh 24-04-0214 Su-24MK http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G5Yg54BEYIU
Idleb Jabal Azzawiyeh 24-04-0214 Su-24MK http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A9N2Nwf0xkQ
Damascus Mleha 24-04-0214 UAV http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7-nNhajlcg
Damascus Douma 24-04-0214 Su-24MK http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G339_kB0c3g
Damascus Yalda 24-04-0214 Su-24MK http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JCLcZGbzG-8
Damascus Kafar Batna 24-04-0214 MiG-23BN http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6SfC6vKsr50
Damascus Kafar Batna 24-04-0214 MiG-23BN http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xyF9lbXBtEk
Damascus Saqba 24-04-0214 MiG-21 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2SYMAg51Ow
Damascus Qalamoun 24-04-0214 MiG-29 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SA1Y4_SlhEM
Damascus Qalamoun 24-04-0214 MiG-29 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=swjp6vuj8l4
Dar'a Nawa 25-04-0214 MiG-21 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s3AMxUcvSBo
Damascus Saqba 25-04-0214 MiG-21 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7wamAMeAhA
Damascus Mleha 25-04-0214 MiG-23BN https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gXHEl8Xl_g
Damascus Douma 25-04-0214 Su-24MK https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4crmgU9U0Is
Homs County 26-04-0214 Su-24MK https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W97N6OKjoic
Aleppo Mare' 26-04-0214 Su-24MK https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LsiaN8AIgy4
Damascus Ein Tarma 27-04-0214 MiG-21 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NfSw80s3xG8
Aleppo Anadan 28-04-0214 Su-22M https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MCbrCDBhx6Q
Lattakia County 28-04-0214 Mi-14 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9LCG4w1IujU
Idleb Jabal Azzawiyeh 29-04-0214 MiG-21 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVWGzh_tbzE&feature=youtu.be
Idleb Jabal Azzawiyeh 29-04-0214 Unknown https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2Lik4ZeHH4
Aleppo Anadan 30-04-0214 Su-22M http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kv2UelV70tM
Aleppo Northern County 30-04-0214 Su-22M-4 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5AFrS_U8KE
Idleb Taftanaz 30-04-0214 Su-24MK http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tkLg3qviZag
Idleb Taftanaz 30-04-0214 Su-24MK https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=logLu7lDjXQ
Lattakia County 30-04-0214 Su-24MK http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fDkoZAYc7-8
Aleppo Kafar Hamra 30-04-0214 Su-24MK https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xnCHH0L05nQ