SyAAF MiG-23MLD Shot Down (2017-06-05)

Yesterday, 5th June 2017, a SyAAF MiG-23MLD (23-22B) carrying the serial 2797 operating from Dmeyr AB and piloted by Brig. General Kamil Ahmad Smita "العميد كميل أحمد سميطة" was shot down by insurgents and crashed in Tal Dakwa area (around 30km to the south east of Dmeyr AB).
The footage of the crash site can be seen HERE. The available photos of the corpse of the pilot explains he ejected but too late.
 

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 Units Photos by MoD (Part I)

MiG-29S

Mi-25

Su-24M2

MiG-23MLD

Good Morning from Dmeir AB

Shortly after RT's report from She'irat AB, another great report -this time from SANA- from inside Dmeir AB. The report was mainly taken at the attack squadrons in the west side of the airfield represented by the MiG-23BN and Su-22M-2/3.

I wonder why did they start this report with a view taken on SANA team's way back out of the airbase, this still shows a withdrawn Su-22M-(2?) at the back of another Su-22 inside the HAS

Looking at the maintenance hangar of the Su-22s with the first time to see a SyAAF Su-22UM-2 sadly phased out

Double HAS houses a pair of MiG-23BNs

Two Mi-25 deployed to this airbase

The short visit to the fighters squadron to the east of the airbase showed only MiG-23MLDs in HAS

General view to the western attack squadron HASs shows 2 MiG-23BNs inside their HASs

Another look but this time at the Su-22's

When you report from an airbase of your country, you shouldn't show that much scraped aircraft MAN!!

Su-22M-(2?) in front of one of the double HASs at the south western end of the airfield

MiG-23BN armed with FABs

2410 MiG-23BN armed with FABs taxiing out of HAS

No one would even dream of a better side view of a SyAAF aircraft! Congratulations artists ;)

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-23s in Hama AB

I'm sorry for being away for a while, I just love to share with you one of the most fabulous photos I put my hands on, a shot from Hama AB for a SyAAF MiG-23ML (serialed 2771) and the more modern MiG-23MLD (serialed 4000).
Sadly the ML is fitted with dumb bombs performing ground attack sorties...like the Libyan ones.

SyAAF MiGs in Hama AB

Finally, SyAAF made it and released a considerably wide report for some of its air power in Hama AB. 
In my opinion, this was a reaction for the increasing calls -I noticed from pro-regime Facebook pages- for the SyAAF to publish in media its power similarly to the Russians they did in Lattakia airport.

The aged 2306 MiG-21bis was there piloted by Col. Wisam Juneid and fitted with four FABs. 

At tarmac of the MiG maintenance yard, two MiG-21UM's are stored; one of them carries the serial 2366.

MiG-23MF with serial 2657 fitted with rusty FAB's for ground attack missions.

I think this 2771 MiG-23ML is deployed from Dmeyr AB temporarily to Hama AB, that's because of the shortage of Jets in this base which suffered a big loss since the beginning of the Syrian Civil War, not to talk about the increasing number of decommissioned airframes thrown here and there all around the base.

The same applies for the 4000 MiG-23MLD which was based with its 4005 sister in Shei'rat AB as seen previously, especially that Hama AB doesn't need interceptors now. 

The 4005 MiG-23MLD is seen in a HAS while the 4000 was stationed at tarmac.

SyAAF MiG-23MLD Hit by TOW ATGM in Neyrab Airbase

For the third time, Haraket Hazm 'Hazm Movement' succeed to surprise the 'calm' Neyrab Airbase (Aleppo IAP) in these snowing days and hit one of its ex-Belorussian MiG-23MLDs as can be seen in the footage in the video below.

Previously, Hazm Mov. succeed to damage two L-39ZA on 21st Oct. 2014: one of them received direct hit, while the other is damaged due to the shrapnel of the explosion. After that and on 7th Nov. 2014, Hazm hit a MiG-23MLD which beside another MiG-23UB is stationed and damaged due to the shrapnel as well.

The MiG-23MLD our case this post is the one serialed '07' as can be seen intact in this photo below prior to its damage.

SyAAF MiG-23MLD in Service (Part II)

 
Again thanks to our Syrian singer Mr. Kaz'our and special thanks to our 'Anonymous' friend for providing this photo shows wider view of the SyAAF MiG-23 which still confirms itself as an MLD variant.

 
The 'Vortex Generator' is truly not that easy to distinguish here in this shot as it goes perpendicular on the beam of the camera target point, anyway, I line it here above in red to understand its edges.
The serial looks to me x400, but I would respect erased24 (from ACIG) point of view it may read 4000.
I studied the location as well and came to a conclusion that this MLD is no doubt deployed at Sh'eirat AFB at the eastern tarmac as stipulated below.

The visible landmarks in the newly revealed photo showing the suspected location of the MiG-23MLD (Green dot) in addition to the location and direction of the camera just beside.

Another rear view for the same MLD with our hero whom I wish he could make more shots inside SyAAF airbases ;)

SyAAF MiG-23MLD in Service (Part I)

 
While the conflict is going on in Syria, a Syrian singer's -Rami Kaz'our رامي كزعور- Facebook page has revealed his photo in front of a MiG-23 in unidentified airbase. This is not any MiG-23, it's the most advanced and latest to join the SyAAF, the MLD!!! The serial is hardly reads x400 and could be 1400.
Before the conflict, the MLD's were partially distributed in not a single AFB, as some were deployed at Sh'eirat, Khelkhleh, Dmeyr and Seen.

Crop by LuftwaffeAS

 I left the Chaff/Flares dispenser colored here above, to enable our audiences understand the 'landmark' which enabled me identify this Flogger.

Source: Internet

This is the closest shot I could find over web for an MLD taken at similar angle but little further back, in which we can see the location of the Chaff/Flares dispensers comparing to the AA missile pylon mounted below. 
 

Source: ACIG.org

The newly revealed photo confirms that the ex-Belarusian Floggers were not left in their original camo or even repainted as the MiG-23ML's those were overhauled in Russia sometime between 2008 and 2010 -3 Colors Camo-, instead, they received the 'Typical' Syrian colors as shown in the above crop, as applied on any MiG-21, MiG-23 and even Su-22M those entered the overhaul facility at Neyrab airbase which is known as the 'Factory'.

SyAAF L-39 Albatros - Updated IV

The most beautiful still for SyAAF units ever! The aerobatic team represented by L-39's passing over Rasm Al Abboud (Kweres) AFB sometime in early 2000's. 

It's abnormal to see a Syrian Albatros had its fin tip tinted in Red. This armed L-39ZO carries the number 2052.

A 2007 dated 'Selfie' taken in Kshesh (Jarrah) AFB shows an L-39ZO with serial 2060.

A still in Kweres airbase shows row of L-39ZO's on the secondary western tarmac, one of which carries the serial 2096.

Again in Kweres airbase, a still shows an L-39ZA carries the serial 2127 and fitted with FAB-100 bombs.

This looks as well in Kweres AFB.

Row of L-39's in Neyrab airbase on tarmac infront of the overhaul facility, these Albatroses carried out extensive sorties over Aleppo area last year. Note the fin of the MiG-23MLD to the far left of the photo.