Russian military expert explains how US could destroy Russian S-300 missile systems in Syria
The S-300 anti-air missile systems sent to Syria by Russia could be taken out by American F-22 Raptors using electronic warfare and strikes targeting the radars specifically, Professor Sergey Sudakov of the Academy of Military Science told RIA Novosti.
In the expert’s opinion, a possible scenario of F-22 Raptors being used against anti-air systems in Syria would involve one or more such fighters coming into range of the enemy’s radar installations, accompanied by their own electronic countermeasure systems. The American planes would jam the hostile detection and guidance systems, while simultaneously firing at the radars, launchers and command points. This would be followed by a second wave of attack by fighters and bombers.
The Russian professor believes that this is how the US Air Force plans to paralyze the Syrian anti-air defense. “But such operations only look smooth on paper,” Sudakov observes wryly.
The expert believes that, even if the radars of the ground-based anti-air defense do not see the F-22, the fighter will be detected once it activates its on-board electronic countermeasure system. According to Sudakov, the ground control systems can locate the source of radiation, and thus the aircraft’s location, and rapidly launch a surface-to-air missile against it.
In October, the American news outlet the Drive conjectured that, now that Russia has sent S-300 missile systems to Syria, the US may begin using 5th generation F-22 Raptor stealth fighters and 4th generation F-16CJ Vipers for air operations over Syria.
The same month, Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoygu reported to Russian President Vladimir Putin that Russia had delivered four S-300 launch systems to Syria. The delivery included 49 items of equipment: locators, backlights, basic identification systems, guidance vehicles and four launchers.
The shipment of S-300 systems to Syria is Russia’s response to an incident which took place in September, when a Russian Il-20 reconnaissance plane was accidentally shot down by Syrian anti-air defense systems. The Syrian systems were trying to destroy an attacking Israeli F-16 Fighting Falcon. Russia believes that the S-300s will strengthen Syria’s defense.