SyAAF MiG-23 Crashed (2016-12-10)

Today, a SyAAF MiG-23 operating from Sh'eirat AB and piloted by Col. Thabet Ismail  (العقيد ثابت اسماعيل) is reported crashed in Hayyan field in eastern rural of Homs governorate; the pilot ejected and was recovered. Pro-regime media refers the incident to a "Technical Failure" while ISIS are claiming the shot down. 

It's good to mention the aircraft in question should be either MLD (23-18) or MLD (23-22) as both variants operate from this airfield.

SyAAF MiG-23 Shot Down (2016-09-21)

On 21st this month, a SyAAF aircraft -announced a MiG-23 but variant is still a mystery- is reported shot down by ISIS fighters in Qalamoun in Batra area.
The pilot -as named Ltnt. Col. Ya'rob "المقدم يعرب"- is reported ejected safely but para-dropped over ISIS held territory whom in turn returned him back to regime by an exchange of truck of ammo; referring to the crash area, this aircraft could be operating from both Nasrieyh AB or Dmeir AB. ...this is as reported by pro-regime sources.

From the insurgents side, it's said the aircraft in question is a MiG-23BN operating from No. 697 sqdn from Seen AB and the exchanged pilot is Lt. Col Ehab Soleiman "المقدم ايهاب سليمان" whom was handed over to regime by JAI not ISIS.


Anyway, this incident IMO lacks many details and need further verification.

SyAAF MiG-23BN Crashed (2016-06-27)

On 27th July, a MiG-23 operating from Seen AB and piloted by Lt. Colonel Nader Ramadan "المقدم نادر رمضان" is reported crashed in Qalamoun mounts area resulting in the death of the pilot.

It's good to mention that Seen AB and in addition to the MiG-29 and Su-24M2, it houses a squadron of MiG-23BN which made me conclude the crashed MiG is a BN bomber/attack variant.

SyAAF MiG-23ML Shot Down (2016-04-22)

Yesterday 22nd April 2016, a SyAAF MiG-23ML of No. 67 squadron piloted by Capt. Azzam Eid and operating from Dmeyr AB crashed to the east of Dakwa mounts in the eastern countryside of Damascus due to an engine failure.

The visible digits of the serial of this MiG read 754, since it is an ML then the first digit should be 2 making the full serial 2754.

The footage of the wreck can be seen HERE while pilot whom ejected safely is more likely to be caught a POW.

Good Morning from She'irat AB

Good job RT! Another report emerges this time from She'irat AB located to the south east of Homs which is one of the most active ABs during the current unrest.

Sadly only two types of aircraft appears in this report which are the MiG-23MLD with serial 2771 and the Su-22M-4 with serial 3211.
It's known that this AB home also the ex-Belorussian MiG-23MLD, Su-22M-3 and Su-22UM-3.

SyAAF MiG-23 Shot Down (2015-11-04)

On 4th Nov. 2015 pro-regime sources reported the loss of a SyAAF MiG-23 -variant and serials are yet unknown- and piloted by lieutenant colonel Muhammad Musa'ed Kheleh near Sqelbiyeh town in Sahl Al-Ghab (Hama governorate) after being hit with insurgents AA fire.

The lost Flogger is supposedly homed in Hama AB.

Photos from SyAAF ABU DhHOUR AFB

On 9th Sep. 2015, Jaish Al-Fateh "جيش الفتح" led by Jabhat Al-Nusra "جبهة النصرة" overran Abu DhHour airbase and took control of the whole airfield. I'm not going to talk here about the operation in details as this was the fruit of more than two years of besieging the airbase with uncountable trials to penetrate the defensive lines to take over this base which a lot of towns around suffered from.
It's just important to mention the sand storm which rebels prefer to call "Gift from Heaven" which provided a cover from the SyAAF aircraft used to bombard the advanced rebels upon calls from the airbase itself.

The aircraft left in the airfield are just scraps and useless, most of them are the first generation of MiG-23MS which were delivered to SyAAF on 1974 just after the 73 war. The other MiG-21s are non airworthy anymore as the regime -and especially after downing two MiG-21bis sometime in 2012- worked to flee whatever operational out to Hama AFB.

I collected a lot of photos -with special thanks to all those allowed me to use their photos here in my blog- and watched hours of videos and came to prepare the below key-maps for the eastern and western sides of the airfield in order to understand the type/variant and location of each seen aircraft, I recommend to download them here with full resolution:
- KEY-MAP (EAST)
- KEY-MAP (WEST)

As can be seen, the aircraft inventory in this air force base is as below:

MiG-21 (5 in total):
- MF 1518
- MF 1942
- bis (unknown serial)
- UM 2369
- F-13 (unknown serial at the gate guard)

MiG-23 (17 in total)
- MS 1602
- MS 1605 (first SyAAF aircraft to be hit by ATGM at the beginning of the unrest)
- MS 1612
- MS 1619
- MS 1620
- MS (unknown serial 8 nos.)
- MF 2677
- UB 1750
- UB 1752
- UB 1795

Mi-8 (3 in total)
- T 1282
- T 2904 (knocked out when shelling the airfield by mortars)
- T (unknown serial, hit by ATGM on 8th Sep. 2014)

I will update this list in case more photos come to public: last updated 13th Sep. 2015

SyAAF 1282 (82) Mi-8, notice the rail fitted from inside the cabin back to the bottom of boom, this is for laying anti-tanks land mines

Knocked out SyAAF 2904 Mi-8 apparently by mortar hit when the rebels shelled the airfield

SyAAF MiG-21bis decommissioned inside a HAS (serial could be 2319)

SyAAF 1518 MiG-21MF

SyAAF 1942 MiG-21MF

SyAAF 2369 MiG-21UM inside one of the double HAS

There is large bone yard of MiG-23s at the western side of the airfield distributed on two groups

The western group of phased out MiG-23s is to the far west of the airfield include MS & UB Floggers

The second group is to the east of the first one and consists of MS Floggers only

The most recent aircraft phased out in this airfield is the on on the right of the photo which is the 1750 MiG-23UB

Inside a HAS the single MiG-23MF with serial 2677 decommissioned

R-60 and R-23/24 missiles are thrown beside this Flogger, they are not bombs finally and 'useless' for SyAAF in this civil war!

I tried a lot trying to read the serial of this MiG-23MS but did not come to an accurate conclusion, I just think it can read 1600

One of the most interesting photos here is for the 1620 MiG-23MS with its Sapphir PR-21 radar exposed

The 1750 MiG-23UB

Stunning bird's eye shot for the first group of phased out Floggers, the closest one is the 1620 MiG-23MS while the one next to it is the 1752 MiG-23UB

R-60 Air-to-Air missiles inside the HAS houses the 2677 MiG-23MF

R-23/24 Air-to-Air missiles also

First Photos from Abu DhHour AFB

Today, 9th Sep. 2015, a bunch of great photos came to public from Abu DhHour air force base after units from Jabhat Al-Nusra succeeded to penetrate the defenders and hold the gate and the western side of the airfield. We will expect more in the coming hours.
Above is units pose in front of phased out SyAAF MiG-23s (MS and UB).

Tail fin of a SyAAF MiG-23UB carries the serial 1754.

Could be the same UB here.

Bone yard of SyAAF MiG-23MS/MF/UB near the north eastern HAS's.

SyAAF MiG-23MF -sadly the serial is incomplete- decommissioned inside a HAS.

Remnants of R-23/24 air-to-air missiles.

Hope someone there is -as interested in serials as me- would make a photo tour recording all serials of those Syrian Floggers. 

What I'm still looking for is some photos for the MiG-21's at the furthest south eastern HAS's in the airfield in addition to clearer photo for the damaged 2904 Mi-17 there.

Spotted Aircraft/Aerial Vehicles over Syria: April 2015

Below is the list of spotted 'Aircraft and Aerial Vehicles' over Syria during the month April 2015:

PROVINCE	CITY/TOWN	DATE	AIRCRAFT	LINK
Dar'a	Um Al-Mayathen	01-04-2015	Unknown	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ceU_iyEQrAk
Idleb	Idleb	02-04-2015	Su-24M2	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=muwLNUi7PA8
Homs	Northern County	04-04-2015	Su-22M	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8npt84v-Yxs
Idleb	Idleb	05-04-2015	Su-24M2	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vRnDRXLJTA8
Idleb	Idleb	05-04-2015	Su-24M2	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1SjMHP2Tilo
Idleb	Idleb	05-04-2015	Su-24M2	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EpvjQc20LMA
Dar'a	Enkhul	06-04-2015	MiG-23BN	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vVU4r84KEHI
Dar'a	Kafar Shams	06-04-2015	MiG-23	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k1CVS8OoZQo
Deir EzZour	County	07-04-2015	B-1B	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2x2vfDDYN5w
Idleb	Idleb	07-04-2015	Su-22M	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHv3Y52TPTQ
Idleb	Jabal Azzawiyeh	07-04-2015	MiG-21	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qLeok6bXSrM
Homs	Homs	07-04-2015	Su-22M	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXXbN920pE0
Dar'a	Naseeb	08-04-2015	MiG-23ML	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6pZMY-Ysazk
Homs	Homs	14-04-2015	Su-22M	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZWyQrirAXsc
Homs	Northern County	15-04-2015	Unknown	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bGYlTqV1g8I
Homs	Northern County	19-04-2015	Su-24M2	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2E0EIj-R0Y
Dar'a	Busr Al-Harir	20-04-2015	MiG-23BN	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFYYD-coRGY
Hama	Sahl Al-Ghab	24-04-2015	Su-24M2	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1hKPzV2Ekh8
Idleb	Jisr AsShughoor	26-04-2015	Su-24M2	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGi-zkHSCn4
Hama	Sahl Al-Ghab	27-04-2015	MiG-21	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KGY0OHQGaK8
Idleb	Jabal Azzawiyeh	27-04-2015	UAV	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwhfOl3XhPU
Idleb	County	27-04-2015	Su-24M2	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yuhy36NHYik
Idleb	Failoon	27-04-2015	Su-22M-4	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4frviRPOXQ&feature=youtu.be
Hama	Sahl Al-Ghab	30-04-2015	Unknown	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9GissPEpbs

Spotted Aircraft/Aerial Vehicles over Syria: March 2015

Below is the list of spotted 'Aircraft and Aerial Vehicles' over Syria during the month March 2015:

PROVINCE	CITY/TOWN	DATE	AIRCRAFT	LINK
Lattakia	Salma	05-03-2015	Mi-14	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L7g3eDKx8Gs
Idleb	Jabal Azzawiyeh	06-03-2015	Su-22M	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hyXwArJ21mw
Aleppo	Northern County	07-03-2015	Su-22M	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YjeClqPb2QI
Damascus	Beit Sehem	07-03-2015	MiG-23BN	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z8atTpGonxE
Idleb	Taftanaz	07-03-2015	MiG-23MF	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gEuqKozkK2Q
Idleb	Taftanaz	08-03-2015	MiG-23MF	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wEEzEdhMfgg
Idleb	Mar'eyan	08-03-2015	MiG-23MF	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H6j_iSe8tuU
Damascus	Joubar	08-03-2015	MiG-23BN	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWsOnvqLLO8
Homs	Northern County	09-03-2015	Su-22M	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5oHQSVM7Z2U
Homs	Houle	09-03-2015	Su-22M	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wie98zwEc3U
Homs	Housh Hajjo	09-03-2015	Su-22M	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GidLrWKlOgE
Homs	Talbeeseh	09-03-2015	Su-22M	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tCOT7qG8YN4&feature=youtu.be
Aleppo	Handarat	09-03-2015	Su-22M-4	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kE27OBQeXUA
Idleb	Ma'arret Annu'man	09-03-2015	Mi-25	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-PTpZ38zgGo
Idleb	Albara	09-03-2015	Mi-14	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0H1dwU1Qz2Y
Idleb	Albara	09-03-2015	Mi-14	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4dpuElZFsMA
Idleb	Jabal Al-Akrad	10-03-2015	Mi-14	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UefjofP7EBg
Hama	Sahl Al-Ghab	10-03-2015	Mi-14	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5tMIu0ePMw
Damascus	Deir El-Asafeer	10-03-2015	Unknown	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V--qBhj24EE
Aleppo	Unknown	10-03-2015	Unknown	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GTXA9IAp5xE
Idleb	Jisr AsShughoor	10-03-2015	UAV	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_gnTV5jb68
Damascus	Eastern Ghouta	15-03-2015	MiG-23BN	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k1lhLD7kUb0
Idleb	Kafrenbel	16-03-2015	MiG-21	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4aCufQiFKmE
Damascus	Eastern Ghouta	17-03-2015	Unknown	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8nRI406-f28
Damascus	Eastern Ghouta	18-03-2015	MiG-23BN	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AExALrt1zc4
Idleb	Saraqeb	18-03-2015	Su-24M2	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GbLdQ03VeXM
Idleb	Saraqeb	19-03-2015	Su-24M2	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sRaOUMaryzg
Idleb	Bennesh	19-03-2015	Su-24M2	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8oB2f6RvvSY
Aleppo	Handarat	19-03-2015	Su-22M	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O37i3oeZwAE
Idleb	Mantef	20-03-2015	Su-24M2	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEw2qqlrVhA
Idleb	Hantooteen	22-03-2015	Su-22M-4	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rdrDUqKZpTY
Idleb	Hantooteen	22-03-2015	Su-22M-4	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e6za-ISPlF0
Idleb	Ma'arret Annu'man	22-03-2015	Unknown	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ra_3ukV9iWM
Idleb	County	22-03-2015	Unknown	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5V8O44p-Yic
Idleb	Sarmin	23-03-2015	Unknown	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=baNevXuZZI4
Lattakia	County	23-03-2015	Ka-28	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Guu4oOh7Pjo
Dar'a	Al-Jaidoor	25-03-2015	UAV	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nuuqsWeF0Ig
Dar'a	Enkhul	25-03-2015	UAV	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSjZrR75s8I
Idleb	Jabal Azzawiyeh	25-03-2015	Su-24M2	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4MLu7BeXVY
Idleb	Jabal Azzawiyeh	25-03-2015	Unknown	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7s0g3hs3Do
Idleb	Jabal Azzawiyeh	25-03-2015	Su-24M2	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tl6DaC5YRJM
Idleb	Idleb	25-03-2015	Su-24M2	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZomwucU4-yg
Idleb	Idleb	25-03-2015	Su-24M2	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AApo1wrPlP4
Idleb	County	26-03-2015	Su-22M	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MUnrEYX7TLM
Idleb	County	26-03-2015	Su-22M	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qCgNswOb7o
Idleb	County	26-03-2015	Su-24M2	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nLOsT25uHAE
Dar'a	County	26-03-2015	MiG-23	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VHNgWzgb7iU
Homs	Northern County	26-03-2015	Su-22M	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fbz6WeJh78k
Idleb	County	27-03-2015	Su-22M	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guDNdjBKQh8
Idleb	County	27-03-2015	Su-22M	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OkVQLU_Fz4a
Idleb	County	27-03-2015	Su-22M	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HGA9Vwg8LeQ
Idleb	County	27-03-2015	Su-24M2	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HGA9Vwg8LeQ
Damascus	Harasta Al-Qantara	27-03-2015	MiG-23BN	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TygGGUSau8Y
Idleb	Jisr AsShughoor	28-03-2015	UAV	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07-7B6TOM1o
Idleb	Idleb	28-03-2015	Su-24M2	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjgmDc9VSVM
Homs	County	30-03-2015	Su-22M-4	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1W1U9MHkbs4