Frag Out! Magazine
Issue link: https://fragout.uberflip.com/i/693549
financial costs of the Russian operation in Syria were revealed which were 464 million USD. According to the costs, we should focus on the words spoken by Putin in his speech, that operation in Syria proved a high quality of the Russian armament in the most challenging com- bat environment. Those words can be understood as a direct reference to the fact that Russian officials treat that military operation in Syria not only as a training ground but also as a marketing action what shouldn't be a surprise because it is quite common practice among leading defense industry companies through- out the world. We must also say that those marketing actions might be successful. According to the Russian media, the fact of use ofa new armament in Syria will directly or indirectly influence on the signing an export contracts with a potential worth of 6-7 billion USD. Mi-28N & Ka-52 iN Syria Withdrawing to the Russia some of tactical aircrafts didn't stop the whole operation of reducing Russian military force. To be honest, there were officially an- nounced information, before departing of aircraft, that 720th Material-technical Support Base in Tartus port and base in Chmeimim are supposed to function at the same routine as earlier, so without withdrawing secu- rity forces or – in case of Chmeimim base – without withdrawing anti-aircraft units with S-400 systems and Pantsir S1/S1. On the other hand, starting from about 23th March, Russian air transport units began to freight of attack helicopters used in Syria back to Russia. Number and type of helicopters being trans- ported isn't possible to set because a real number and types have never been revealed. They were conducting combat missions in Syria from 30th September 2015 to 15th March 2016. It must be highlighted that those helicopters were conducting operations not only from the Chmeimim base in Latakia Province but also from bases in Shairat and Tijas in Hims Province. Operation of transporting a helicopters is a perfect illustration of what the withdrawal of the "main forces" really is - a propaganda move for Russian but also an international public opinion. Even on 16th March, a videos made in base in Chmeimim in occasion to withdrawing next batch of aircraft back to Russia, capture a presence of new Mi- 28N and Ka-52N attack helicopters. First helicopters of this type were deployed to Chmeimim base at most few days earlier because Ka-52 (side number "red 79) was seen during assembly after the transport, before the technical flight. Fact of deploying such modern at- tack helicopters was simultaneously surprising and… predictable. Surprising, because Russian analysis on www.fragoutmag.com