'Syria MiGs lack offensive capabilities'

Jerusalem Post ^ | 9/8/09 | HERB KEINON AND YAAKOV KATZ

[Nachum]

The four MiG-31E fighter jets that Russia will deliver to Syria will be without offensive capabilities and used for intelligence gathering alone, according to reports that reached Jerusalem from Moscow this week.

According to these reports, Russia did not sell more planes to the Syrians for the simple reason that Damascus does not have the ability to pay for any more. The reports said that two of the planes would be operational, and the other two would be purchased for "cannibalization" purposes, amid a Syrian realization that Russia would not provide effective "after-sale service," and that these planes would be used for "spare parts."

[lmr]

Syria could use paper and cardboard cutouts to give the illusion of a much larger air force, no?

I suppose they've got a few magic carpeteers that can fly this thing, but they aren't even half as good as the Israeli fly boys, I'm sure.

[Dan Middleton]

"The MiG-31, officials explained, mainly serves today as an intelligence-gathering plane. The plane is a newer version of the MiG-29, which is already operated by Syria and is also used for intelligence purposes."

Sigh...

[papasmurf]

ROFLMAO! Jay Leno couldn’t have had a funnier script written than this.

[3IDVET]

More target practice for the IAF

[bruinbirdman]

" Russia did not sell more planes to the Syrians for the simple reason that Damascus does not have the ability to pay for any more."

Hey, Nancy, I hear there's still some stimulus left over.

yitbos

[Daniel II]

That’s funny. They buy two working planes and two hangar queens. What a way to spend your money. How much you wanna bet that before too long, all they have are four museum pieces and nothing in the air?

[JasonC]

Um, boys, they are lying. They want nuclear delivery systems, they don't care about air to air combat.

[tlb]

>>>That’s funny. They buy two working planes and two hangar queens. What a way to spend your money.

Actually I did that once with a Renault. Sort of a rare edition stateside and happened to hear of another one wrecked and stored locally. It was useful.

>>>They want nuclear delivery systems, they don’t care about air to air combat.

For that they already have Scuds. And the chances of one of a flock of Scuds getting through Israeli missile defense is better then for two jets getting past the IAF plus the SAM Defenses.

Using very high altitude fighters for recon is old Syrian practice.

[17th Miss Regt]

Using very high altitude fighters for recon is old Syrian practice.

Yep. Back in the early 70's they sent a recon Mig 25 Foxbat over Israel going at about Mach 3. It made it across Israel and all the way to Egypt with the recon data intact. When they landed they found that the engines had been pretty much ruined by the high speed run.

[DemforBush]

"The MiG-31, officials explained, mainly serves today as an intelligence-gathering plane. The plane is a newer version of the MiG-29".

I'm almost positive that is incorrect. IIRC, The Foxhound is the successor to the MiG-25 Foxbat, not the Mig-29 Fulcrum.

MiG-31

MiG-25

MiG-29

[JasonC]

Scuds can only carry about 500 lbs. Early nukes aren't small, it takes significantly more tech to make them missile warhead sized. Israel has Arrow and Patriot. Low altitude surprise entry is a significantly more serious threat. Of course, so is smuggling, but that is another kettle of fish.

[JasonC]

Ah - if these are merely updated MiG-25s, then yes they are only useful for photo-recon.

[Oztrich Boy]

More likely AEW using the SBI-16 Zaslon “FlashDance” phased array radar