“Starting from last week, super-maneuverable Su-35S fighter jets started performing combat missions at Hmeimim airbase," Russian defense ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov told the TASS news agency on February 1.
The addition of the Su-35 provides Russia with more fighter escorts for its fleet of Su-24 Fencer and Su-25 Frogfoot strike aircraft that are operating from the Hmeimim air base, which is located in Syria’s northwestern Latakia province.
Those aircraft have minimal air-to-air self-defense capability and are reliant on the Sukhoi Su-30SM and Su-27SM3 Flankers currently in theater for protection.
Russia has also deployed fourteen Su-34 Fullback bombers to Syria, but those warplanes have a significant air-to-air self-defense capability.
It’s not clear how many air superiority aircraft Russia currently has deployed to Syria. Prior to the arrival of the Su-35s, the most capable Russian air superiority fighters in the region were four Su-30SM Flanker-H aircraft.
While not quite as sprightly due to their greater weight, drag, less powerful engines and somewhat less capable avionics, the Su-30SM is nonetheless an overall more capable system compared to the Su-35 due to the presence of a second crew member. The addition of the weapons system officer helps to ease crew workload during complex air operations.
While there are four Su-30SMs at Latakia, Russia has not disclosed how many Su-27SM3 aircraft are present in Syria.
The Russian defense ministry has generally described the number alternatively as a “flight” or squadron, but it has not given a precise number. Nonetheless, the upgraded Su-27SM3 is a formidable warplane—roughly comparable to an upgraded Boeing F-15C Eagle.
While the Su-30SM and Su-27SM3 are capable warplanes, the Su-35 incorporates the latest Russian technology in the field.
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