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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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