As Russia’s Tactical Jets Leave Syria, Its Most Advanced Attack Helicopters Arrive

Sponsored

The arrival of Russia’s two most advanced attack helicopters is predictable on many levels.

First off, there is still a clear mission for Russian combat helicopters in Syria. The Kremlin has said that it will be leaving a residual force to keep its new base secure. This could likely even mean going on combat missions nearby in order to keep a safe buffer zone in the region. Attack and utility helicopters are the perfect tool for such a mission.

http://foxtrotalpha.jalopnik.com/terrifying-vid…

Then there is the fact that sending empty transports to pick up swathes of Russian gear and helicopters is a waste. Instead, Russia could fill those cargo holds during the first leg of their round-and-back trips with fresh helicopters. Swapping out some of the helicopters that have been in-theatre for six months months or more just makes economic and logistical sense.

http://foxtrotalpha.jalopnik.com/meet-russias-n…

Th job of protecting a large base in what is basically a war zone, or at least nearby a war zone, is an ever more risky task once forces deployed to the base thin out drastically. More potent attack helicopters, especially those that are optimized for nighttime operations, can act as force multipliers for security services still guarding the base. Not only do they have the most advanced visual surveillance systems available, but they can also pick up the slack for some of the fixed-wing aircraft’s attack capabilities that are being lost, at least for closer-in defensive and pinpoint strike operations.

http://foxtrotalpha.jalopnik.com/how-putins-str…

These helicopters are key players in Russia’s present and future military arsenal, and like pretty much everything else in Russia’s inventory, they are for sale. Using the Syrian conflict as a big showroom and test track for Russia’s arms export business has been a nearly comical component of their whole excursion in Syria. Now, after all the other hardware has had their turn in the spotlight, it is now the Havoc and Alligator’s turn.

Finally, I have to return to my thoughts on the potential increasing presence of shoulder fired anti-aircraft missiles in the Syrian conflict.

http://foxtrotalpha.jalopnik.com/putin-orders-i…

None of the Russian aircraft that had been flying in the conflict had modern defensive aid suites that protect against man-portable air defense systems (MANPADS). Now, after a shoot-down of a Syrian MiG-21 by one of these weapons, and after Saudi Arabia’s top foreign minister stated that introducing shoulder-fired surface-to-air missiles into the conflict may be necessary to counter-balance Russian air power, these aircraft have rapidly exited the war zone.

What have arrived at least partially in their place are aircraft that are known to have more modern missile launch detection and infrared countermeasures suites that can be optionally installed. In other words, these high-end attack helicopters, when properly equipped, are far more suited for a battlefield with a MANPADS threat present than their predecessors.

Russia’s involvement in Syria may be winding down, but it’s not over yet.

Contact the author Tyler@Jalopnik.com