Tango01 | 19 Jun 2017 10:58 a.m. PST |
"Gen. Jack Keane (Ret.) expressed skepticism over Russia's threat to shoot down U.S. aircraft in Syria. Russia's defense ministry said planes flying in Syria, west of the Euphrates River, would be considered targets after the U.S. Navy shot down a Syrian warplane. The Syrian SU-22 had just attacked U.S. partner forces battling ISIS and was shot down by a U.S. F-18 Super Hornet…" Main page link Amicalement Armand |
VVV reply | 19 Jun 2017 11:09 a.m. PST |
I doubt it. Starting war with the US is beyond Putins plans. Of course Assad and Russia like to continue the fiction that Assad is the government of Syria, so they have to make a noise. Now the Iranians might shoot at Americans (they have done so before). |
USAFpilot | 19 Jun 2017 11:14 a.m. PST |
Neither the US nor Russia want war with each other, but accidents are bound to happen in the confined battle-space of Syria. Lots of people with their fingers on triggers way down the chain of command. |
Stryderg | 19 Jun 2017 11:20 a.m. PST |
Sure, why not? What's the worst that could happen? Wait, let me think a bit… |
VVV reply | 19 Jun 2017 11:31 a.m. PST |
Well lets see, we know that US and Turkey will shoot down Assad/Russian aircraft. So thats a given. Easiest of course if Assad/Russian planes stayed on the ground – to avoid being shot down. And of course the Turks have 245 F16's. So its the Turks Assad/Russia should worry about. |
nsolomon99 | 19 Jun 2017 8:38 p.m. PST |
And just over the horizon to the west is the Israeli Air Force. We all know how well that worked for the Russians the last time they flew against modern western aircraft with experienced pilots. What was the score over the Bekaa Valley … 92 to zip or something. And the 92 included some Russian pilots in Russian planes. Its not like the Israeli's are just itching for an excuse to get stuck into Assad's air force again … and any stray Russians that might get in the way. |
piper909 | 19 Jun 2017 11:13 p.m. PST |
It seems fairly reckless for anyone to be shooting down planes in that region unless they are prepared to face the consequences. |
VVV reply | 19 Jun 2017 11:56 p.m. PST |
I think the Israelis are just sticking to retaliation/preemptive strikes, to avoid getting sucked into Syria. Israel fighting Assad could help rally support for Assad in the Arab world. |
Jcfrog | 20 Jun 2017 2:05 a.m. PST |
Turks shot a Russian plane, Us shot repeatedly sovereign nations planes in their home country without war nor UN backing. Why could not the Russians shoot encroaching planes, as they are the only force legally under international law, in country? Yes international laws, we set them up and use them when they suit us.;) The comedy of western fighting ( ok US a bit less) is apalling. French air force report for a week: 31 sorties, 4 attacks, 4 targets "neutralized" ( don't say killed it looks too nasty). Probably two second hand toyotas that had broken down in a place with no chance of "collateral damage". And we are "fighting" a concept ( terrorism) instead of naming the enemy, its philosophy, the origin of it, its fundings etc. a sad comedy. Yes the Russians ( way differnt from the soviets, some seem to not have changed the old program code) have their own aims, and so does everyone else, if not just words and show for home politics. What can one expect from a civil war with say 5+ sides, supported by at least 5 diverging aims foreign countries? |
cosmicbank | 20 Jun 2017 5:08 a.m. PST |
It WILL happen it is only a matter of time the Russians have no trouble shooting down planes over territory they protect. As a side note almost any nation will shoot planes down. |
VVV reply | 20 Jun 2017 8:41 a.m. PST |
Why could not the Russians shoot encroaching planes, as they are the only force legally under international law, in country? Well its simple, no one is running Syria at the moment. Just a bunch of factions making a grab for power. Assad would like to pretend that he is the government of Syria but he lost control probably back in 2014. I don't think Putin is willing to risk the retaliation of the world if he shoots down a NATO plane, on the rather thin excuse that his forces are in Syria 'legitimately'. Remember Russian planes getting kicked out of Iran when Russia boasted that they had set up a base in Iran – the Iranian constitution forbids foreign military bases on its soil (article 146) BTW. So no, things not going well in Syria for Putin, and he knows it. |
ScoutJock | 20 Jun 2017 9:44 a.m. PST |
Unlike the Syrians and apparently the Russians, US planes seldom operate individually. Try and shoot down one, and a world of hurt will come to the shooter. So yeah, they could try but it would be at their peril. |
15mm and 28mm Fanatik | 20 Jun 2017 10:56 a.m. PST |
Here's an interesting theory. The US and Russian-backed factions (i.e. kurds and Assad) are fighting over Deir al-Zoar. The US wants the kurds to possess the city (a key oil hub) so that they can afford their own independent air force. A kurdish air force? Really? link Other than this tomfoolery it's actually not a bad article. |
Tango01 | 20 Jun 2017 11:18 a.m. PST |
Not bad at all!. Thanks! Amicalement Armand |
VVV reply | 20 Jun 2017 2:16 p.m. PST |
Unlike the Syrians and apparently the Russians, US planes seldom operate individually. Try and shoot down one, and a world of hurt will come to the shooter. So yeah, they could try but it would be at their peril. Don't expect any shooting down of NATO planes to come from aircraft. Most likely would be S300. |
ScoutJock | 20 Jun 2017 6:32 p.m. PST |
I doubt the Russians want to waste an S300 system to make their point. |
Lion in the Stars | 20 Jun 2017 11:05 p.m. PST |
Because an S300 system shooting down a US plane would get destroyed in retaliation. |
VVV reply | 21 Jun 2017 5:32 a.m. PST |
Because an S300 system shooting down a US plane would get destroyed in retaliation. The Russians say not.They say that the S300 can resist fire from anti-radiation missiles. Of course the US air force says that they cannot. |
ScoutJock | 21 Jun 2017 6:16 a.m. PST |
There is a big difference between shooting down an airliner at altitude versus shooting down a fighter that is part of a strike package… Trust me, it would be more than HARMs in retaliation. |
VVV reply | 21 Jun 2017 10:07 a.m. PST |
There is a big difference between shooting down an airliner at altitude versus shooting down a fighter that is part of a strike package… Oh the S300 is designed to shoot down everything It was designed to form the top tier army air defence system, providing a defence against ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and aircraft, replacing the SA-4 Ganef. Its also fairly mobile, so where it was does not have to be where it now is. link |
15mm and 28mm Fanatik | 21 Jun 2017 12:11 p.m. PST |
If S-300's and S-400's are used the US may have to employ F-22's and F-35's to take them out. At minimum their radars will have to be jammed by Growlers and other jamming platforms or non-stealthy aircraft like the Superhornet will be blown out of the sky. It won't go that far though. |
piper909 | 21 Jun 2017 1:52 p.m. PST |
Certain interested parties on all sides seem to be determined to find out exactly who's going to blink in these games of chicken. |
VVV reply | 21 Jun 2017 2:00 p.m. PST |
OK I looked that up. The S-300 is supposed to be able to detect stealthy aircraft. The Russians also have missiles designed to home in on the emissions of ECM equipment and fighter radars. Bottom line, Russians have the capability to destroy American aircraft. Its just a question of whether they want to or not. Americans probably have a better idea than I do what would be Americas reaction would be to having a US plane or two shot down. |
Lion in the Stars | 21 Jun 2017 3:05 p.m. PST |
The Russians say not.They say that the S300 can resist fire from anti-radiation missiles. Of course the US air force says that they cannot. The traditional US AAA/SAM removal tool is a 500+lb bomb. HARM just makes the AAA/SAM turn off it's radars. HARMs also now have an inertial guidance system, so even if you turn off the radar, there's a good chance you will still lose the antenna. |
15mm and 28mm Fanatik | 21 Jun 2017 3:40 p.m. PST |
Maybe it's time to revive this weapon: link |
VVV reply | 22 Jun 2017 2:31 a.m. PST |
Best strategy against Russian SAMs is to send in the drones, eventually the Russians will run out of missiles. Israelis operated a similar strategy in 1982 link |