Air Strikes by VKS & SyAAF, 30 April 2017

The VKS run a wave of 50 air strikes in period 00.00–0215hrs. Once again, this is a clear indication for the number of tactical combat…

The VKS run a wave of 50 air strikes in period 00.00–0215hrs. Once again, this is a clear indication for the number of tactical combat aircraft deployed by the Russians in Syria.

Majority of remaining sorties was flown during the day, principally between 08.15hrs, and 16.00hrs.

The SyAAF flew relatively little — except for Su-22s, all of which flew three sorties.

A transport was also observed while passing high in the sky above Latamina in southern direction, around 15.52hrs local time. The type was clearly identified, but my guess is that it was either an IRIAF C-130 or a SyAAF Il-76 returning from Nayrab to Damascus IAP.

VKS

fighter-bombers: 115

helicopters: 10

UAVs: 9

recce: 1

SyAAF

helicopters: 12

L-39s: 1

MiG-21s: 0

MiG-23s: 4

Su-22s: 13

Su-24s: 10

***

With this, and until further notice (i.e. until there is a major operation on the ground, no matter what side launched it), I’ll stop my daily reporting to this topic, and come back ‘as and when necessary’. We’ve now got data for almost a month-and-a-half: while this still needs lots of additional research and cross-examination in order to fully establish what was going on in what case, thanks to such monitoring we now know the VKS has significantly reinforced its contingent in Syria in response to the insurgent offensive in northern Hama, we know how the SyAAF reacted to that offensive too, and we know what effects the US strike on Shayrat AB had.

I would like to thank everybody for their attention: hope, this was of some value, and… well, after monitoring this carnage since February 2011, I can’t really say I’m looking forward for more.