Russia redeploys Su-30SMs and Il-78Ms to Syria for drills over Mediterranean.

Multirole Su-30SM (Flanker by NATO classification) fighter jets of the naval aviation and Il-78M (Midas) air tankers were redeployed to Humaymim airbase in Syria for an exercise over the Mediterranean held on September 1-8, the Zvezda and Russia Today broadcasters said.

Russian Navy's Su-30SM fighter jets at Humaymim airbase
(Credit: Ruptly)

The footage featured at least seven multirole Su-30SM and four Il-78M. The Russian media outlets also showed the takeoff of Il-20 (Coot-A) electronic reconnaissance aircraft in the Syrian province of Latakia. There is also footage of Su-30SM escorting long-range antisubmarine Tu-142M3 (Bear-F mod. 4) in the Syrian sky.

According to Zvezda and RT footage, Su-30SM participate in the exercise with guided air-to-air medium-range missiles R-27R (AA-10 Alamo), the latest medium-range R-77-1 (AA-12 Adder) and short-range R-73 (AA-11 Archer) missiles. At least one of the fighter jets carried Kh-31 (AS-17 Krypton) missiles. As their construction is similar, it is impossible to use the footage to determine the specific type of weapons - antiship Kh-31A or antiradar Kh-31P. Su-30SM were likely carrying Kh-31A due to the character of the exercise.

Navy Commander-in-Chief Vladimir Korolev earlier said Russian warships and aircraft will hold missile and artillery fire at the Mediterranean exercise which will engage 26 warships and vessels, including two submarines, and 34 flying craft. The Marshal Ustinov missile cruiser of project 1164 of the Northern fleet is the flagship. Tu-160 (Blackjack) strategic bombers, Tu-142MK antisubmarine aircraft (Bear-F), Il-38 (May), shipborne Su-33 (Flanker-D), and multirole Su-30SM are also to be engaged.

Russian Air Force's Il-78M tankers at Humaymim airbase
(Credit: Ruptly)

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