SyAAF Mi-17 Destroyed (2017-07-02)

Yesterday, ISIS fighters succeeded to destroy a SyAAF Mi-17 immediately after landing at the area of Al Assad Hospital at the western part of Deir EzZour city by targeting it by an ATGM.
The helo in question is said to be delivering food and medication from Qamishli with four persons on board, all are KIA as reported.

The footage of this VIDEO published by Amaq News shows that the ATGM could be as far as little more than 2km to the east of the target at the outskirt of the city.

SyAAF Mi-17 Crashed (2017-06-18)

On 18th June 2017, a SyAAF Mi-17 carrying the serial 2948 and piloted by Col. Issa Ezzeddin "العقيد عيسى عز الدين" was damaged beyond repair while attempt to land in Qamishli IAP after facing serious technical issues.

It's good to mention that this is the 17th confirmed loss of such type of aircraft since the beginning of the current unrest.

SyAAF Units Photos From Syrian Army 2015 Calendar

SyAAF L-39ZO in Kweres, serial is intentionally blurred

I would like to share with my audiences photos from Syrian Army 2015 calendar, of course I excluded those of SyAF, SyAADF and Navy ;)

SyAAF Mi-25, seems he forgot to blur the serial 2858 written under canopy ;)

SyAAF Mi-17

SyAAF SA 342 Gazelle

Formation of SyAAF Su-24M2, note the different pylons/rails fitted under each Fencer

SyAAF MiG-29S, note the different pylons/rails fitted under each Fulcrum

Syrian Navy Ka-28

Formation of SyAAF MiG-29S

Formation of SyAAF Mi-17 mostly photographed over Damascus in 2011/2012

Formation of SyAAF L-39ZA/ZO

SyAAF Mi-17

SyAAF Mi-25 photographed during the live fire maneuvers in 2012

SyAAF SA 342 Gazelles

SyAAF Mi-17 with serial 2966

Syrian Navy Ka-28

Footage of SyAAF Mi-25 Crash Site

Two days back, a VIDEO was published showing the wreckage of a SyAAF helicopter said to be shot down on 14th July 2016 near Al-Baytariyeh town which is located in the eastern rural of Damascus.

I cannot tell this is a newly shot down helicopter at the above mentioned date because first of all it is a Mi-25 helicopter, so it might be that one shot down on 1st July 2016 and just recently some public discovered the crash site.

Secondly, no footage was published for the interception nor for fighters inspecting the wreckage taking into account that a MANPAD hit will result in bringing down an aircraft no further than 5km from the launch site, so finding and covering the crash site is a piece of cake after all.

Last, I didn't find any pro-regime page/individual talking or mentioning a "martyr" pilot/crew within the last few days but only that pilot of the MiG-21 crashed few days back in Deir EzZour.

Update: Thanks for heads up from Gerard & Milos (ACIG). The rotar blades belong for sure for a Mi-8/17.

Then, I'm not sure of the possibility of mounting such blades to Mi-25 under any circumstances, but providing the boom belongs with no doubts to a Mi-25 this puts us in front of a possibility that the crashed helicopter is truly a Mi-8/17 was transferring components of Mi-25 -boom among them- from an airbase to another.

Talking about a Hind needs maintenance and replacement of specific parts, this reminds me of the incident of intercepting a SyAAF helicopter by JAI SA-8 (Osa) over Eastern Ghouta on 27th June 2016 which forced the hit Mi-25 -as confirmed by my source- to perform an emergency landing at an airport -should be Damascus IAP.

SyAAF Helicopters Deployed to Sfireh

Trying to geo-locate some SyAAF helicopters appeared in many photos over FB SyAA personnel profiles said to be near Aleppo and some clearly mentioned Sfireh where the Military Works is located...it's true, they are in Sfireh and inside that facility; and it's clear SyAAF arranged to pave the area highlighted in Blue to receive more helicopters in this spot.
 
So far, Mi-17s -among them the VIP transport in White/Blue livery- appeared there, that in addition to some Mi-25s such as the ones serialed 2800 and 2856.

Let's await GE to update its imagery there to see the new tarmac.

SyAAF MiGs in Hama AB

I will start this post with a special thank to 'PFC Joker' whom shared this photo which I consider one of the ever greatest stills taken in Hama AB as it discloses a lot of facts here!

At the top, a SyAAF Mi-17 with serial 2972.

Inside the HAS which is located at the furthest north eastern part of the air field, a SyAAF MiG-23ML (MLD) -of the second batch with its Gray radome- housed fitted with what looks to be unguided rockets pods.

To the right hand, a SyAAF MiG-23ML (first batch) with serial 2752 looks stored in this airbase. It's known that this variant did not exist in Hama AB ever in the past, just the MF and the trainer UB. The aircraft carries 'The Factory' emblem just beside the serial under its cockpit and of course, the famous two-toned camo applied to everything has wings in 'The Factory' in the military section at Neyrab AB.

The most important part of this photo is the graveyard; it shows again one of the Ghaddafi's ex-LARAF MiG-23MS (notice the green paint overwrite the LARAF serial under flash at fin tail). It is known that this airbase NEVER used to operate this variant which was only available in Seen and She'irat ABs (before being decommissioned in Abu DhHur AB) at the time the MF and UB variants were deployed in Hama AB.
Also it disclose what I can say the first photo of a MiG-21 -it is UM here- appears almost completely with its Three-Tone camo (Ocre, Olive Green and Chocolate Brown)!! Remember the fin tail of the 2204 MiG-21bis shot down near Sabboura in 2014 HERE

SyAAF Mi-8/17 Shot Down (2015-09-15)

Pilot Manhal Yunes in front of the 2932 Mi-17

Today 15th Sep. 2015, around 00:30 midnight, a SyAAF Mi-8/17 -serial is still unknown- operating from Al-Neyrab AB (Aleppo IAP) and piloted by Col. Manhal Yunes "العقيد الطيار منهل يونس" and Ali Othman "الطيار علي عثمان" was shot down over Al-Neyrab town nearby the airfield resulting in the death of the crew.

The Hip which took off on its way to the besieged Kweres AB was targeted twice by MANPAD fired by Al-Jabha Al-Shamiyah "الجبهة الشامية" personnel when maneuvering low over Sheikh Lutfi area. The first missile lost the target while the second successfully hit the helicopter which crashed over an urban area.

SyAAF Mi-17 Shot Down (2012-11-05)

5th November 2012, a SyAAF Mi-17 carries the serial 2968 was shot down by Al-Farouq Battalions AA fire and crashed inside Tadmor AB.
The fate of the crew is unknown, although some unconfirmed reports stated that 11 units were killed in this incident.

This helicopter was seen flying over Damascus city during the Assad-supporting demonstration took place at the beginning of the Syrian unrest. Upon the fall of Tadmor AB down into the hands of ISIS, the latter published some photos for the airfield where the wreckage of this 2968 Mi-17 appeared at the west of the runway side by side to wreckage of another SyAAF Mi-17 which wasn't reported to be shot down by any party.
The video below which was published on 6th Nov. 2012, showed and for the first time the shot down helicopter.

SyAAF Mi-8/17 Shot Down (2015-06-13)

 

Today, 13th June 2015, around 00:25 morning, a SyAAF Mi-8/17 (serial is still unknown) and piloted by Lieutenant Col. Ahmad Saleh and Lieutenant Col. Muhammad Khaddour, was shot down by ISIS shortly after it took off from Kweres AFB (Aviation Academy).

The crew including a third First Lieutenant Humam Ali are KIA.

Photos of SyAAF Helicopters (Misc)

Syrian Navy Mi-14PS looks to be performing a 'show' near the corniche of Tartous city.

Another shot for a Mi-14PS in Hmemim airbase (Lattakia IAP).

Mi-14PS carrying the serial 1475 flying over Qal'et Al-Hosn after regime forces conquered the area. This was photographed on 18th April 2014.

Closer shot for the same Mi-14PS which was called here to video the Syrian flag formed by volunteers in the Citadel itself.

Again in Lattakia IAP, a press team was transported from/to this airbase to cover an event in Syria infront of a SyAAF Mi-17 with serial 37.
Note behind the boom of a SyAAF Hind Mi-25 and the row of three Mi-14PL's and one Mi-14PS to the right.

Another press reporter standing infront of a SyAAF Hip in Neyrab airbase (Aleppo IAP) on 2nd Feb. 2014. This Mi-8 carries the serial 260 as seen in another video for the same event. 

SyAAF Mi-17 was spotted flying nearby Dummar district in Damascus on 5th Sept. 2012.

A photo for a SyAAF helicopter pilot was taken in an airbase (could be Taftanaz) with an armed Mi-17 and Mi-8 in background.

SyAAF Mi-25 spotted over Hama city on 2nd Mar. 2014 fitted with two FAB's.

SyAAF Helicopter Sorties From Misc AFB's (1st Quarter 2014)

Another survey I prepared for the air raids/transport sorties SyAAF is carrying out with its fleet of Helicopters in a trial to estimate the 'remaining' operational units at least in the northern/western areas of clashes, specifically those are starting from Hama (Hama governorate), Sh'eirat (Homs governorate), Abu Ddhour (Idleb governorate) and Hmemim (Lattakia governorate).

As stipulated above, we can notice that contrary to expectations, Abu Ddhour AFB is 'very' alive and as active as Hama AFB in terms of number of daily sorties.
Hmemim airfield was kinda conservative in number of daily sorties from the beginning of January until the first half of March, while the second half of March till today (as we will see in the updated survey) it becomes one of the main bases for Helicopters to start from.

21st Feb. recorded the maximum number of Helicopters taking off from the four airbases in a single day with a total number of 42 sorties. Of course, we cannot consider all these were attack sorties as helicopters are currently being used for the following:
- Bombing (dropping death barrels)
- Supplies (para-dropping food for besieged SyA units)
- Transportation (units and VIP's)
So, if we consider that each helicopter took off twice a day we may reach a conclusion that there are at least 21 operational/air-worthy Mi-8/17/14/25 in these four airbases.

Talking about the distribution of each type in these four AFB's -relying on available visual records in each base- it is as below:
- Mi-8/17: Hama, Sh'eirat, Abu Ddhour, Hmemim
- Mi-14: Hmemim
- Mi-25: Hama, Sh'eirat, Hmemim

Photos of SyAAF Mil Mi-17s - Updated II

Fistful of Syrian Mi-17 photos I collected to post here. Starting with a photo for three SyAAF Mi-17's flying over Al-Omawyeen roundabout in the capital Damascus in 2012 sometime after the beginning of the Syrian uprising.

Another SyAAF Mi-17 photographed over Damascus in one of the parades showing the strength of the regime.

Mi-17 with serial 36.

Another one with serial 74, this is one of the first batch of Mi-17's delivered to SyAAF.

The SyAAF pushed its Mi-8/17 fleet into action intensively in the current uprising, either to throw the death barrels "Barameel" or for logistic supplies. This Mi-17 with serial 75 was hit with a MANPAD while flying over the northern county of Aleppo to deliver arm supplies to Nubbol and Al-Zahra' Shi'is towns. The pilot managed to land safely.

A view in Mazze airbase to the helicopters tarmac where two Syrian Mi-17's can be seen. Note Darayya in the horizon.

Another shot taken in Mazze airbase showing the same Mi-17 seen in the image above (the one to the right), note that no pylons are fitted to this helicopter.

One of the Mi-17 could be shot down by FSyA near Al-Raqqa on 15 Nov. 2013.

An amazing take for the latest Mi-17 downed over Darayya on 16 Jan. 2014. It is not clear whether it was hit with a MANPAD or with the 'Osa' the FSyA operating, more details can be found in this post prepared by our friend PFC-JOKER