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By Fox Van Allen
/ CBS NEWS
Russian President Vladimir Putin recently signed a deal with the Syrian regime of Bashar al-Assad to maintain Russia’s access to a Syrian air base for the next 49 years. While Russia says it will use the base to fight terrorists, it has been widely condemned for targeting civilians in the war-torn nation.
Here’s a look at the warplanes that Russia has sent to Syria since ramping up its military involvement in 2015.
Affectionately called the White Swan by Russian airmen, the Tu-160 is the final strategic bomber designed for the Soviet Union.
It made its first flight in 1981. A modernized version, with improved electronics and avionics, the Tu-160M, took to the skies in December 2014.
Russian President Vladimir Putin poses inside a Tu-160 before taking a supersonic flight in 2005. With a top speed of Mach 2.05 (1,573 mph), it’s the fastest bomber currently in use.
The Tu-160 bomber, or “Blackjack” as it’s called by NATO, has a crew of four (pilot, co-pilot, bombardier, defensive systems officer) and can carry up to 88,200 pounds of ordnance.
Here, a Tu-160 flies over Moscow’s Red Square during a 2015 Victory Day parade.
Russia has made no secret about its use of the Tu-160M strategic bomber against Syrian rebels.
Notably, during a 2015 run, one of the Russian bombers flew near British airspace in what The Telegraph reported as a show of strength.
The Sukhoi Su-35 is a twin-engine, super-maneuverable, multirole fighter that seats one. National Interest’s defense editor Dave Majumdar called it the “top Russian air-superiority fighter in service today.”
Making its first flight in 2008, the Su-35S is an upgraded version of Russia’s Su-27. It was given the name “Flanker-T” by NATO.
According to Russia’s Rossiyskaya Gazeta, the government’s daily newspaper of record, four Su-35 planes were sent to the Khmeimim Air Base in Syria for combat missions in January 2016.
On June 27, 2017, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad tweeted this photo of the leader inspecting a Russian Su-35 at Khmeimim.
The Su-35 can reach a top speed of Mach 2.25 (1,726 mph) at altitude. It carries up to 17,600 pounds of ordnance.
The Sukhoi Su-30, nicknamed “Flanker-C” by NATO, is is a twin-engine, super-maneuverable, multirole Russian fighter that seats two. It is most similar to the U.S. F-15E Strike Eagle.
Su-30 planes have a range of 1,860 miles at altitude. This can be extended much further with the use of mid-air refueling via a Russian II-78 plane.
Servicemen prepare a Sukhoi Su-30SM fighter jet at a Russian military base in northwest Syria in December 2015.
The planes conducted air strikes against a range of anti-regime armed groups, including U.S.-backed rebels and jihadist groups.
Each Su-30 has 12 external hardpoints for carrying up to 17,600 pounds of armaments. It can fly at speeds of Mach 2 (1,535 mph) at altitude.
Russia doesn’t just manufacture planes for its own military. India has purchased 230 Su-30MKI variants from Russia (one of which is seen here).
China has been another major purchaser of Su-30 fighters.
Called the “single most effective Russian aircraft deployed to Syria” by National Interest foreign policy magazine, the Su-25SM is a single-seat, twin-engine attack plane designed to provide close air support.
Here a Russian Air Force Su-25 SM attack plane takes off from a Syrian airfield in 2015.
Andrew Galkin, commander of Russia’s Southern Military District, detailed his country’s use of Su-25SM attack planes to Russian news agency TASS.
Over a six month period in 2015-6, the planes “dropped about 6,000 bombs on the terrorists,” he said.
The Su-25SM can carry up to 9,700 pounds of ordnance, but it’s not very fast. Its top speed is Mach 0.79 (606 mph), making it about as speedy as a commercial airliner.
The Su-25, known as “Frogfoot” by NATO, made its first test flight in 1975. Russia will continue upgrading the planes to Su-25SMs through 2020 to provide better attack precision and navigation, as well as the ability to launch newer air-to-air missiles.
The Sukhoi Su-24, codenamed “Fencer” by NATO, is a supersonic, twin-engine, all-weather attack aircraft. It carries a crew of two: the pilot and a weapons system operator.
The Su-24 has 8 hardpoints capable of holding up to 17,600 pounds of air-to-air and air-to-surface missiles. Its main weapon, however, is a 23 mm rotary cannon with 500 rounds.
Russian servicemen prepare one of 12 Su-24 fighter jets in northwest Syria in 2016.
Though the original plane design dates back to 1967 (T-6), the Su-24 has received a number of high-tech upgrades. The cockpit has been outfitted with multi-function displays and helmet-mounted sights, and can carry the latest guided weapons.
Managing editor Fox Van Allen is an expert in tech, laptops and computers, toys and video games for CBS Essentials. When he’s not writing about (or playing) the Nintendo Switch and PS5, Fox’s hobbies include reality TV podcasting, designing board games and hanging out in his favorite warehouse stores.
First published on August 2, 2017 / 6:00 PM
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