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Russian Air Force has delivered massive air strike in Syria with bomber aircraft Tupolev Tu-22M3 TASS 10912151

The conflict in Syria

Russian Air Force has delivered massive air strike in Syria with bomber aircraft Tupolev Tu-22M3.

Russian aircraft have ramped up their air strikes against the Russia-banned Islamic State terrorist group and other extremist organizations in Syria since December 5, the Russian Defense Ministry’ press office said in a news release on Wednesday, December 9, 2015. A massive air strike has been delivered by Tupolev Tu-22M3 (NATO reporting name: Backfire-C) long-range bombers operating out of Mozdok Air Force Base in Russia, the air task force out of Hmeimim air base and a submarine from the Mediterranean.

A Russian Air Force Tu-22M3 strategic bomber aircraft

Over the past four days, "the Tu-22M3 long-range bombers have flown from Mozdok AFB 60 sorties against 30 terrorist targets in the provinces of al-Raqqa and Deir al-Zor", the press office said in the news release.

"The tactical and Army Aviation aircraft deployed in Hmeimim air base have conducted 238 sorties, attacking 699 targets," the press office carried on.

Sukhoi Su-30SM (Flanker-H) fighters flying combat air patrols were providing air defense for the strike aircraft during the massive air attack.

"With the mission accomplished, all of the aircraft made it safely back to base," the press release stressed.
"In all, 1,920 bombs of various types have been delivered over the last four days, destroying 70 command posts, 21 terrorist training bases, six ammunition and high-explosive factories, 43 dumps, six oil storage facilities and refineries, etc.," the defense Ministry added in its news release.

"Several Kalibr submarine-based cruise missiles were launched in salvo by the Rostov-on-Don submarine for the first time. The strike eliminated two command posts of the IS terrorist organization in al-Raqqa province," the press office reported.

The Defense Ministry said the strikes had paved the way for a further advance of the Syrian Army in conjunction with other armed groups near Aleppo and Idlib, in the mountainous area of Latakia and in Palmira.

The Tu-22M3 supersonic long-range bomber is designed to attack surface targets with missiles and bombs, including the Kh-22 (AS-4 Kitchen) antiship missiles. The Tu-22M3 is a swing-wing aircraft with a maximum takeoff weight of 124 tons, a length of 42.46 m, a maximums peed of 2,000 km/h, a combat radius of 2,200 km and a service ceiling of 14,000 m. The Tu-22MR reconnaissance aircraft was derived from the Tu-22M3. According to US publication Military Balance, the Russian Air Force operates 63 Tu-22M3s and Tu-22MRs.

Russian air force Su-30SM fighter aircraft

The Su-30SM (SM standing for ‘production, modernized’ in Russian) fighter is an air superiority fighter dual-hatted as a strike aircraft effective against surface targets. It is equipped with canards and thrust-vectoring engines, with these solutions making it supermaneuverable. The Su-30SM carries the Bars multirole fire control radar. The fighter’s weapons suite includes a wide array of munitions, including air-to-air missiles and precision-guided air-to-ground weapons. The Su-30SM can be used as a trainer for pilots earmarked for future single-seat fighters. The type has been built for the Russian Air Force since 2012.

The B-237 Rostov-on-Don (Improved Kilo-class) submarine is the second one in the six-ship Project 636.6 diesel-electric family designed for the Russian Navy. It was laid down in 2011 by the Admiralty Wharves Shipyard (a subsidiary of the United Shipbuilding Corporation) and launched in 2014. The Rostov-on-Don was commissioned for service with the Russian Navy in December 2014.

The Project 636.6 diesel-electric submarines are third-generation boats derived from the Project 636 diesel-electric design. They have a low acoustic signature, a submerged speed of 20 knots, a 45-day self-contained operation capability, a submerged displacement of about 4,000 tons, and a crew of over 50. The Project 636.6 submarines feature the Kalibr precision-guided missile system with the 3M-54 and 3M-541 antiship and 3M-14 land-attack cruise missiles and upgraded radio electronics.