Soviet EW Mil Mi-8s in Syria

Mi-8PPA № 32, 100th Helicopter Detachment at Al Mazze airbase

After the invasion of Israelis to Lebanon in 1982 and got into direct contact with Syrian armed and air forces there, it maintained an air superiority never seen before in any of the Arab-Israeli wars due to the technological supremacy in modern equipments, weaponry and with no doubt to the most important role which was the electronic warfare.
For this reason, the Syrian former president Hafez Al Assad asked help from the Soviets whom in turn agreed and started in July 1982 to form a detachment of EW helicopters with their personnel to Syria.
In October the same year, a formation of EW Mi-8 helicopters of the 208th squadron based in Buyalyk air base (46°53'35.19"N 30°42'6.76"E currently in Ukraine, the pilots and technicians were gathered from different bases (Jelgava, Kobrin, Lutsk and Tskhinvali).

Mi-8PPA № 32, 100th Helicopter Detachment at Al Mazze airbase

The fleet consisted of four Mi-8PPA and four Mi-8SMV, each two were loaded in An-22 and delivered to Damascus international airport where they been assembled and flew to Mazze airbase as the 100th squadron.
Because of the special EW equipments mounted on the fuselage of these Mi's, the SyAAF roundel (which was exactly in the place of the X-shaped antenna) was printed on the engine cover over the cockpit, while the serial number was painted directly on the cover of "Azalia" antenna station.

Mi-8PPA № 35, 100th Helicopter Detachment at Al Mazze airbase

During the regular replacement of staff in 1983, an additional Mi-8MTP -received the number 30- was detached to Syria from Buyalyk air base, another replacement took place in 1985; In 1988 the fleet was sent back to Soviet Union and now is phased out in GORELOVO AFB.
Here, I would like to send special thanks for our anonymous friend who provided a link to the WEBSITE of the above info.

Eye-Catching AFB: GORELOVO (Russia)

Interesting air base in Russia, Gorelovo airport (also known as Annino) which is located around 20km southwest of Saint Petersburg.

Above, a 2009 dated GE shot for the eastern part of this air base which is actually a bone yard for more than -nowadays- 120 phased-out helicopters of various types.

This bone yard includes airframes from MIL and KAMOV as shown above.

From MIL, there was different variants from Mi-8, 17 and 24.

At least 3 to 4 variants of Hinds can be seen here, some are fitted with unusual external carriage (I'll dedicate some other post for them).

This base looks to have some facility (some big building started to be constructed beside this yard from 2008) to uninstall, demount, disassemble and even store the components of withdrawn helicopters either those can be reused for spares or some sensitive elements in these airframes.

The complete photos can be seen HERE

Actually, what made this airbase more and more attractive, is the existence of some EW (Electronic Warfare) Mi-8/17 variants with SyAAF roundel on the fuselage, as the above Mil Mi-8SMV with serial 32 in Arabic digits in white.

Note the over-painted-roundel on the motor cover, also note the camo colors which are similar to those SyAAF units operational these days.

Another shot for the same Mi-8SMV from the left side.

 

Another Mil Mi-8SMV with serial 35 also in Arabic digits.

The second from left is a Mil Mi-8SMV with SyAAF roundel and serial 30, the camo here is more greenish and not seen for any SyAAF Mi-8/17 units.

This one also should be a Mil Mi-17PP variant but over-painted serial and some sand / ocher camo.

The reason why these Mi's with SyAAF roundel are found here in Russia is that these units were strictly operated by Soviets themselves in 1980s and 90s.

It's good to know also that Soviets used to operate around eight EW variant Mil Mi-8/17s, four of them were for sure based in T4 AFB in Syria by Soviets themselves as shown in the above rare photo of a Mi-17SMV reg. 29. 

Another rare photo (belongs to late 1980s) for some Soviet specialists / instructors infront of an EW Mi-17 in some AFB in Syria.

SyAAF Various II

While the Syrian uprising continues, more and more videos come through the media, either the official Syrian TVs or by holders of simple mobile phones doing their best to record any single military stuff their eyes may catch.

Above is a Mig-23ML with over-painted serial, the fuselage of this aircraft looks new and clearly is one of those units overhauled in Krasnodar facility two or three years ago.

Another Mig-23ML (or even the same, but they forgot to hide the serial which is clearly 2799) taxiing, note the camo is exactly like the Mig-23ML spotted in Krasnodar in 2010 HERE

A pilot just got into the cockpit of a Su-22 reg. 25X7, might be an M4 variant (Fitter-K).

What made me assume it's an M4 variant is the display TV on the upper right corner.

This is apparently an old recording of green-tinted radar dome Mig-23MF trio was embedded in one of the recently emerged videos.

The same old recording shows a full Mig family formation served in the SyAAF (sadly without the legendary Mig-17), with Mig-29 in the front, Mig-23MS or MF, Mig-21 (could be a trainer U variant), and the biggest member of Mig family the Mig-25PD.

Here is a video recorded by some civilian in Tadmor, should be standing somewhere near 34°33'44.97"N 38°17'16.89"E, looking between 34°33'30.88"N 38°18'17.86"E and 34°33'31.00"N 38°18'2.58"E.

I just included here the GE coordinates above to prove that it is realy Tadmor airport, not the T4 AFB which is the home base of the Mig-25 (at least PD & PU variants).

In this video we can see a Mig-25PD.

Another Mig-25PD near the double HAS.

And one trainer PU variant in the middle.

This video confirms that the fleet of Mig-25 is not withdrawn from service as few sources claimed.

SyAAF Mig-23BN Shot Down (2012-08-13)

On 13th this month, units from the FSyA (Free Syrian Army) shot down a SyAAF MiG-23BN over MuHassan town in Deir Ezzowr.

MuHassan is a small village, only about 13km to the south east of Deir Ezzour AFB, the Mig-23 as explained was flying towards the airport when it was shot and downed few kilometers from the base.

The pilot ejected safely and tried to escape to the airport but finally caught by the FSyA units.

Abu Allawi (above) standing behind his 14.5mm machine gun, is the hero who could shot that MiG which was flying in low level carrying out bombing mission over MuHassan and adjacent villages as declared later on by the pilot himself.

The first video appeared over YouTube.

Later on another closer and clearer video appeared showing the last moments of this MiG-23BN.

Unfortunately, no video or photos for the remnant of the downed MiG are published yet on the web, also it would be more professional if the FSyA present in a video the personal stuff of the pilot like map, ejected seat, helmet, handgun, ID, parachute..etc.

As mentioned above, FSyA could catch the pilot, the details of the above video are as follow:

- Standing in the Middle: the man who downed the MiG-23BN, his name is Abu Allawi from Othman Ibn Affan Brigade.
- Standing in the Right: 1st lieutenant Abu Abbas AzZar'awi commander of Othman Ibn Affan Brigade.
- Standing in the Left: Abu Ali Al Amri commander of Ahrar Fawati Bu-Arab town battalion whom captured the pilot.
- Speaker: Captain Abu Al Laith commander of Ahfad Mohammad Brigade.
- Pilot: Colonel Mufeed Mohammad Sleyman, he declared that his mission was to bomb MuHassan town.

Turkish F-4 Downed - Updated

Few weeks ago the Turkish Air Force revealed some photos of the downed Phantom by Syrian AAA; Actually this aircraft is an RF-4ETM reg. 77-0314 is a recon. variant.

A map shows the route of this Phantom before it was shot down around 4km far from Syrian coast and the two crew are found dead.

Below are some of the published photos of wreckage...

SyAAF L-39 Albatros - Updated

More photos for Syrian Air Force L-39 Albatros came from the FB page of "Syrian Military Encyclopedia", above a trio flying over Rasm Al Abboud air base during the celebration days of air academy graduation.

Closer photo for the trio and two readable serials 2063 and 2068.

I never expected this peaceful-looking trainer L-39 will become someday a terrifying flying machine when the Syrian regime started to use it intensively over Aleppo and adjacent towns.

The above HD photo (Reuters) shows the daily activity of these aircraft hitting and bombing Aleppo districts, the serial is 2136.

Another shot for the same L-39 fitted with two unguided missiles pods under wings and the underfuselage 23mm cannon pod.

Some sources stated that one of the pilots flying this aircraft over Aleppo is Ukrainian nationality !!

Tens of videos over YouTube are available for SyAAF L-39s seen over Aleppo, Tal Ref'at, Handarat and some other towns in the country and suburbs of Aleppo.

SyAAF Various

Few HD shots of SyAAF units also came to web after the "Live Fire Maneuvers" as mentioned in the previous post, above is An-26 belongs to the Military Transportation Brigade based in Damascus International Airport.

Also an Ilyushin-76 operated by Military Transportation Brigade accompanied by four Mig-21s.

Two Mig-23BNs firing unguided missiles.

This photo of another pair of Mig-23BN is not taken during the latest maneuvers, it was already available on web quite a years ago, some sources state that it was taken during the Lebanon war in 1982 over the Al Buqa'a Valley.

Su-24MK dropping free fall bombs during the last maneuvers.