Russian Bombers Tu 160, Tu 95 Combat debut in Syria

Russian Bombers Tu 160, Tu 95 Combat debut in Syria

Tu 160 Black Jack Closely escorted by two Su 27 Flankers

    The Russian air force unleashed the Syrian air space by flying long range strategic bombers and long range cruise missiles from Bombers and Submarines. This is the third segment of Russian cruise missile strike since the tactical Russian air force deployed in Syria. This time it's a huge number of cruise missiles varying from Kh 555, Kaliber and Kh 101. Many of those cruise missiles and Bombers credited with combat debut.

    The Russian Defense ministry confirmed there were total of five Tu 160 Black Jack Strategic Bombers, six Tu 95 MS Bears and another fourteen Tu 22 M3 Bombers closely escorted by eight Su 34 Fullback and four Su 30 SM Flankers. All the fighter jets comes directly from Russian mainland by flying more than 6,500 kilometers. Bomber like Tu 160 and Tu 95 MS bear saw their first operational combat since their deployment in Russian fleet. Even the Tu 95 MS deployed in 1965 saw his first combat debut after fifty years.

    This time not only bombers, Submarine from unknown location in Mediterranean sea also fired salvo of four long range Kaliber class cruise missile, Kaliber is a variant of Klub class cruise missile with increased range of some 1500 km, which is primarily used by the Russian Navy. The Missile can fly at the speed of Supersonic in mid course. The Kaliber Missile can be guided by nearby ground forces or UAV in terminal phase for high precision.

    The Kaliber used for third time in a row, at first Russian Navy's Caspian flotilla fired salvo of Cruise missiles over Rebel controlled position in Syrian Aleppo Homs and Idlib provenance, In second time Russian fleet in Mediterranean sea fired the Kaliber cruise missiles over rebel controlled positions. The third time they fired the same missile from an submarine hits targets in Aleppo and Idlib suburbs.

    The Syrian battleground is a perfect place for Russians to test fire their newest missiles, The recent Strike involves a very low observable cruise missile dubbed by  Kh 101 which is a variant of Kh 55 missile, The Kh 101 is very long range low visible missile, Primarily used for nuclear strike from the Black Jack Bombers. Sources close to Russian intelligence expects the new Kh 101 has range of upto some 3000 kilo meters while Kh 102 is Nuclear armed cruise missile. Both are intended to replace the older Kh 55 from Russian Bombers fleet.

   The Kh 101 can fly at the height of upto 45,000 feet at the speed of some 0.7 mach, During the terminal phase the missile can descend 90 to 200 feet before striking the target. The Kh 101 can carry 450 kilograms of conventional warhead, while the Kh 102 can carry 250 kilo tons of Nuclear warhead. The missile use the Russian GLONASS navigation with terrain matching for guidance. In the Terminal phase missile can use the IR seeker for target lock. It's clearly looking that Russia evaluating his combat readiness along with the new missiles.

    The Syrian Air space is well protected and safe for Russian air operation. The Cruise missiles are effective in contested air space only. Russia can strike anywhere in Syria with his fighter jets with guided and dumb bombs ranging from 250 kg to 1000 kg, That can make damage to enemies more than the air launched cruise missiles. Most reports along with Russian defense ministry reports confirmed that targets are pointed at Aleppo and Homs, where a three side fight is ongoing between ISIS vs SAA vs FSA.

Tu 95 MS seen with 8x Kh 101 cruise missile

  

  On the other side Russia used the Tu 22 M3 for carpet bombing. The Tu 22 M3 dropped metal storm over unknown location in Syria. This could be more effective way of bombing, The dumb bombs carried by Tu 23 M varies from some 250 Kg to 2 Tons. Which means the fleet of 14 Tu 22 may drop more than 100 tons of ammunition's over the Syrian land in one day.

    The Strategic Russian Bomber fleets are actually a cruise missile carriers, which can carry long range cruise missiles from Stand off Ranges, Primarily designed to strike US Navy Aircraft's, US Airbases and American mainland outside from the US Air defense umbrella. The Russians almost tested all kind of Strategic cruise missiles in Syria. However Russian Defense ministry confirms that they were informed the Coalition Air groups before conducting the strike.

   Photos appeared in Social media confirmed the wreckage's of missiles inside Syria, There is a confirmed report of one or two cruise missiles malfunctioned and crashed in Syria. One of the crashed cruise missile identified as Kh 555 possibly launched from Russian Tu 95 bears. The pop up engine is recovered from Syrian deserts confirms it.

   The Russian Ministry also confirmed that The temporary deployment of additional eight Su 34 and four Su 30 SM in Russian Tactical air operation base in Syria. The Russians said the punishment to the ISIS is because of the Russian airliner downed in Sinai weeks ago.

Kh 555 Cruise Missile

Tu 22 M3 seen with FAB dumb Bombs

Once again Gripen, now the Electronic attack variant

Once again Gripen, now the Electronic Attack variant

    It's the IAF's wish to acquire a fleet of electronic attack jet similar to the American Growler. Since ages the IAF keep trying to insists the ministry to acquire a fleet of such electronic attack variants. So far  US and the Australians are the one who operates such dedicated jamming fleet, and now Chinese modifying the JH 7 for such duties and Russians also started working on the Su 34 by converting into Jamming aircraft. The Brazil is another country who makes contract with Swedish company for possible electronic attack variant based on the Gripen NG platform.

    The Gripen also proposed the IAF officials to jointly produce the EA variant of Gripen NG along with Brazil and Sweden. The IAF yet to respond the offer, Since the Gripen has not capable to combat in much longer missions, since it comes with single engine and smaller in size, compared to  other fighter jets in it's variant.

    SAAB's aeronautics executive vice president  Sindahl said in a interview " If you look into future combat scenarios, if you have a high-end air force with a broad threat situation, something like a ‘Growler Gripen’ would make a real difference,That‘s what we’re looking into, and that’s why it’s so good to have Brazil on board with the F-model ".

    The future combat air battle involves much complex condition include denial of modern combat system in the fighter jets by using dedicated jammers to disrupt the frequencies. US is the master in such technologies using such jamming planes since decades. By checking their combat loses in air warfare is very minimal compared to other air forces. And they almost capable to shoot down any hostile aircraft with the powerful support jets before the enemy found the presence of foreign aircraft's. Even in the F 117 shoot down in Serbia, the US post mission brief reported that the lack of support system like EA 6B prowler's absence makes the SA 125 successfully intercept the F 117. Interestingly later days almost all US offensive combat fleet comes with dedicated electronic jamming jets.

    In the Iraqi invasions US flown as much as 100,000 sorties over the Iraqi air space. That time Iraq has much better air force and surface to air missile batteries. In that combat US lost only 44 fighter jets in combat missions, and another 40 in Accidents. The EF 111 Raven is used to provide electronic support to the collation aircraft and there is no Coalition aircraft were lost to a radar-guided missile during Desert Storm while an EF-111 Raven was on station. EF 111 Raven later replaced by the EA 6B prowler, then the same was replaced by the EA 18G growler.

     The US uses the long range twin engine fighter jets for such missions. The same goes for China and Russia too. The JH 7 is a twin engine long range heavy fighter and the same goes to Su 34, which is  also a long range low flying heavy fighter. The IAF must choose either the Su 34 based EA or the Growler. unlike the Gripen which comes in shorter range and not capable for long range stand off Jamming support.

Su 34 with center line and wingtip jammers

    For jamming each jamming pods requires much power to generate high frequency radio waves, which require high energy means more fuel. The Growler comes with five dedicated AN ALQ 99 pods, which needs high power to emit much powerful radiation to jam ground based radars and airborne radar guided missiles. The emitting power should be greater than the enemy missiles electronic guidance for successful jamming. Those jamming pods in the EA 18 G produce more than 60 kW of energy in all bands in desired speed and altitude for successful jamming.

     Self protection jamming pods like SAP 315 in Sukhoi's can provide jamming support to own fighter jets and will not support other or friendly forces nearby. The Russian KRET who producing SAP jammer's are to be fitted in the center line or wingtips of the Su 34 and other Flanker variants for self protection to fight and operate inside the communication denied air spaces.  They comes with the idea of converting a Su 34 by adding multiple SAP pods for dedicated stand off jamming capability for safe operations and provide jamming support to the friendly jets for operating under a safe umbrella . It may be available for exports too and it's a good choice of choosing the Su 34 for IAF's dedicated jammer fleet.

Krakusha EW system

  Another one is the ground based Jammer systems. The same KRET who manufactured SAP jamming pods also manufactures ground based jammers for communication and signal denial. They almost completed a bigger sized jamming antenna's in occupied Crimea to stop NATO aircraft's misadventures in future conflict. Another mobile jammer is the Krasukha EW system comes in a 4x4 wheel for battlefield jamming. The Russians already deployed the systems in Syrian Latakia base to stop any foreign fighters air space activities. Comparison between the airborne jamming and ground based jamming is, one is offensive and another is defensive.

    However Indian Air force uses the self protection jammers only for self defense. It comprises Israeli and french EW pods for Su 30 and Mirage fleet's respectively. And there is no ground based or air borne based dedicated stand off jamming systems, except those AEWCS systems. which can also works like a Jammer. It's high time that Ministry should clear the IAF proposal of buying such dedicated Jamming fleet.

Should India need the Su 34 for long range strike

Should India need the Su 34 for long range strike

      

       As talking emerges in the media and defense Analysts, Most of them prefer to buy one or two squadron of Su 34 Light Bomber Jet from the Russians, while India's Nuclear strategy based on the Ballistic missiles, but precesion striking is the most important term in today's and future warfare, If China never uses the Nuclear missiles during the war India also forced to not use the Ballistic missile, even Ballistic missiles can be armed with conventional warheads, But anyone easily thinks it's a Nuclear if they identified a Ballistic missile launched from Enemy territory. that's is based on the deterrence, mainly India uses the Ballistic missiles for Nuclear deterrence, the same goes for almost all other  countries.

     The Rafale game almost shifted the Indian Strike policy and rewritten, IAF has enough number of Deep strike attack aircrafts to strike deep in Pakistan, even their strategic places deep behind the Border, even locations like Quetta and Gwadar is easily target able using Conventional missiles like Brahmos and Airborne PGM's and Stand off missiles like Popeye and crystal mazes, even those situated more than 500 km outside the Indian Borders, so in future warfare the IAF can take complete control of Pakistan in an minutes, but the same is not regarding to China, 

     The Chinese has the capability to strike anywhere in India with their vintage era H6 Bomber, even they can be easily targeted by IAF fighter jets, if H6 comes with the Escort fighters like Su 27 clones, it's hard to intercept the cargo, even the H6 comes with Cruise missiles, so Chinese don't hesitate to carryout a suicidal missions. also China in big plans to build a new generation bomber to break heavily defended Indian Air space.

       Most of the Chinese Strategic buildings deep inside China, which is far more than 1000 kilometers from the Indian Borders, so the IAF has only one option using the Nirbhay Cruise missiles, even those Nirbhay's needs to be transported near to the Borders in order to launch the Strike, but during the war time the Borders become more sensitive, intense fighting will happen only in the borders, both of the Amry will fight each other face to face. so it's not a good option to move the Nirbhay Batteries near to the Borders,

     So India lacks of light bombers to strike deep in the Chinese hearts, no Su 30 or the Rafale can go deep inside the Chinese Strategic locations situated far from the Borders. The Russians have similar flights the Tu 22 and the Su 34 is the best choice for attacking long range targets, while Tu 22 almost outdated in modern technology, the New generation Su 34/32 Full back is the good Light bomber for such attacks.

    The Russians designed the Su 34 to penetrate the European missile shield and attacks the targets deep inside Europe, with cruise missiles and Precession guided munitions, for that The Russians added several kind of state of art electronic attack suites  and counter measures, not only with the wingtip Khibiney even with podded EW suites to defeat the European Target acquisition Radars, so it's clear it can also penetrate the Chinese air defense systems too,  also the Su 34 comes with incredible long range combat radius, the actual combat radius is not officially released, but the Su 34 can fly more than 1000 km and strike the target and return to the Home base. even in very low flying mode means lo lo lo mode, which means the Su 34 fly very low in all it's flight time with the Help of Terrain hugging and Mapping Radar, so it's hard to detect low flying aircrafts from the radars.

     The Su 34 comes with good payload, the official figures states nearly 12 tons of payload, the main weapon pylons can capable to hold 4 tons of Weapons, usually to carry heavy ordinance like FAB 1000, 2000 general purpose bombs,  those or not guided but can devastate the targeted buildings, they can be dropped like free falls, using visual guidance, A good option to Destroy strategic concrete buildings deep inside enemy targets, but the same option will be costlier and in effective if we compared to the missiles, a 300 kg warhead in the Brahmos is can be outperformed by the 1000 g free fall bombs, even one Su 34 can drop five such bombs. makes that good option for Startegic bombings.

       Even also the Su 34 can guide any missiles at the distance of 250 kilometers, the Su 34 comes with a Big Radar that can be switched into Air to Air, Air to ground and Air to Sea modes, ranging more than 200 kilometers.  so even if the Su 34 armed with three or five cruise missiles the Su 34 can guide them to strike the target. the Su 34 comes with plenty of Defensive options to evade from enemy interception, the Su 34 has a Radar in it's tail, which can guide R 73 heat Seeking IR guided Missiles, allows the Su 34 can fire the missiles with out taking a U turn, also with the EW systems and low flying characteristics, it's easy to escape from enemy without getting any damages.

      The Su 34 is a dream for the Air force, while many of them suggest the IAF to buy some pieces, earlier the E/A 18 Growler also discussed for special mission, now It's the Su 34,