Russian Air Force to Test Modern Weapons in War on Terrorists in Syria

TEHRAN (defapress)- The Russian Air Force plans to test new weapons systems mounted on its Mikoyan MiG-29SMT fighter jets to hit terrorists' positions in Syria, Chief Designer of the United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) Sergei Korotkov said.

News ID: 67354

Date: 09 December 2017 - 14:43

"The program of developing MiG-29SMT planes will be continued, including for the purpose of checking effective destruction by new and promising weapons systems. The experience gained in Syria will be taken into account during the operation of these aircraft, and will also be introduced as part of the work to develop new MiG aviation platforms, including the MiG-35," the chief designer said on Thursday.

A batch of MiG-29SMT aircraft was sent to the Humeimim air base in Syria in September for testing, the chief designer said.

Korotkov is heading the UAC’s delegation at the Humeimim air base to analyze the results of using these aviation complexes in the Russian air task force’s operation in Syria.

"The participation of new aviation complexes in sorties makes it possible to confirm their reliability and efficiency and assess the operation of onboard radio-electronic equipment and armament," the chief designer said.

"The MiG-29SMTs have carried out over 140 sorties, accomplishing the missions of destroying terrorists’ infrastructure," the UAC chief designer said, adding that MiG-29SMT aircraft "performed the combat assignments of hitting terrorists’ bases autonomously and also jointly with Su-34 and Su-35 planes.

He added that MiG-29SMT had also accomplished missions to escort Tupolev Tu-22M3 strategic missile bombers.

"The MiG-29SMT has shown mobility and simplicity in operation while demonstrating high combat efficiency. The check of combat capabilities of the modernized MiG-29SMT frontline fighter has confirmed the workability of the regimes of using aircraft bombs, smart bombs and air-to-surface missiles with the accuracies complying with the technical specifications for the aviation complex and also surpassing them," the chief designer said.

A Russian media outlet reported in November that the Modern Russia-made Mi-28 OB attack helicopters would be dispatched to Syria to be utilized by Russian forces in war on terrorists across the country.

The Arabic-language website of Russia's state news agency, Sputnik, reported that Mi-28 OB all-weather attack choppers were transferred to the Russian forces.

It said that the helicopters were updated based on war experiences in Syria, adding that the Mi-28 OB choppers would be forwarded to Syria soon.