Air Strikes by VKS & SyAAF, 11 June 2017

It could be said that 11 June began the way it actually should: with a take-off of a Russian reconnaissance aircraft from Hmemmem AB, at…

It could be said that 11 June began the way it actually should: with a take-off of a Russian reconnaissance aircraft from Hmemmem AB, at 02.40. About ten minutes later, this overflew Latamina in direction of Sarqib. However, the rest of the night was quiet.

Tiyas opened its ‘office hours’ at 09.04, launching a single Su-22 in northern direction. This was followed by another Su-22 at 10.28.

At 12.40, Marj Ruhayyil and Khelkhleh launched two helicopters each into attacks on Dera’a. Additional helicopter-take-offs were registered at 13.14, 13.16, 13.23, 13.27,

Meanwhile, the Russians at Hmemmem AB woke up and launched a pair of fighters in south-eastern direction, at 12.50, and then another at 14.24.

Shayrat then got one Su-22 airborne at 14.55, Dmeyr one Su-24 at 16.56 and another at 17.09. Some of these deployed napalm bombs on Dera’a.

Additional helicopter strikes on Dera’a were launched at 17.10 — including one by a Ka-28 and another by (ex-Russian) Mi-24P (for a few close-up photos of one of such helicopters see here). Furthermore, Russian fighter-bombers approaching Dera’a were reported at 17.26, 18.05, and 18.44.

The Russian reconnaissance aircraft, however, returned to its orbit over Sarqib around 20.30hrs… It was followed by three fighter-bombers that got airborne by 21.07 — all of which flew in direction of Dera’a too.

The rest of evening activity included a single L-39 from Kweres at 20.55, two Su-24s from Dmeyr at 22.15 and 22.24, and Russian fighter-bombers taking-off from Hmemmem AB at 23.36 and 23.50.

Totals

VKS

fighter-bombers: 10

helicopters: 0

UAVs: 7–8

recce: 2

SyAAF

L-39s: 1

helicopters: 6

MiG-21s: 0

MiG-23s: 0

Su-22s: 3

Su-24s: 4

Ah yes… of interest is also this ISI-released sat photo showing a new hangar at Hmemmem AB, apparently used for UAVs. However, the same photo is also showing about 40 tactical combat aircraft (not ‘less than 30’ as back in March), including (roughly) 7–8 Su-24s, at least 6, possibly 10 Su-25s, 4 Su-30s, 4 Su-34s, 6 Su-35s, and that A-50. Additional tactical aircraft can be seen on the part of that photo covered by the yellow ‘arrow’ pointing at the new hangar…

With other words: I was right when concluding the Russians have much more aircraft deployed in Syria than they lied they have, back in April this year.

…and here something for ‘arms freaks’, in form of a ‘dramatic’ report by Zvezda TV (Russian military channel) from Syria, showing Su-25s, various helicopters, UAVs, observation-blimps, Pantsyrs etc.: