Unmanned aerial vehicles of the Kalashnikov Concern were successfully employed during hostilities in Syria, the head of the Russian state corporation “Rostec” Sergey Chemezov said.
“Kalashnikov drones took part in the fighting in Syria. They have proven themselves well, the Defense Ministry is happy to acquire them,” TASS quoted Chemezov as saying.
The Russian official clarified that he was talking not only about reconnaissance unmanned aerial vehicles, but also about combat ones.
The statement of Chemezov became the first official confirmation of the usage of the KUB-BLA loitering munition in the conflict. At the same time, this fact itself is an open secret and Syrian militants regularly report strikes on their positions and vehicles by some ‘mysterious suicide drones’.
Click to see the full-size image
The analysis below was originally released by SouthFront in February 2019 (source):
A Russian defense contractor, Kalashnikov Concern, named after one of the most famous small-arms designers of all time, is now producing kamikaze drones designed to destroy remote ground targets.
The “high-precision unmanned aerial system” KUB-BLA was for the first time showcased at the International Exhibition of Arms and Military Equipment 2019 in Abu Dhabi. The drone delivers an explosive charge on the coordinates of the target, which are set manually or can be acquired automatically by uploading image of the target into the guidance system.
The KUB-BLA has a 3-kilogram payload, a flying time of 30 minutes, and a 80-130-kilometer-per-hour speed. It measures 1210mm wide by 950mm long and 165mm high. Typically, the payload is apparently a high-explosive charge. Kalashnikov Concern says that the advantages of the system are “hidden launch, high accuracy of the shot, noiselessness and ease of handling”.
Furthermore, it seems that the KUB-BLA has already been battle-tested in Syria.
On October 19, 2015, a swarm of five mysterious suicide drones attacked a military position of the Ahrar al-Sham Movement near the town of Maar Shamarin in the Syrian province of Idlib. A few hours after the attack, the local SMART News Agency interviewed the fighters who survived the attack. They all seemed to be shocked and terrified by the “Wunderwaffe” that killed one of their comrades and destroyed most of their equipment.
Back then, nobody was able to identify these drones. Some sources suggested that these were the ZALA 421-16E. However, this drone has no offensive capabilities and the vestiges of the employed suicide UAVs showed little match with its design.
In turn, the design of the KUB-BLA appeared to be similar, even in small details, to the mysterious suicide drones, which hit the Ahrar al-Sham position. Another factor is the location of the attack. Maar Shamarin is 27km north of Morek, the stronghold of Syrian government forces back in 2015. Taking into account the declared characteristics of the KUB-BLA, the kamikaze drone should be capable of hitting targets in the range of about 40km. This range was more than enough to reach the Ahrar al-Sham position even if the drone was launched from the area behind the frontline.
This was not the first time when the Russians Defense Ministry used Syria as a test-ground for its modern weapons and equipment. According to official data, Russia tested over 300 types of weapons and equipment, including the Su-57 fifth generation fighter jet, the Uran-9 unmanned combat ground vehicle and the Terminator-2 armored fighting vehicle, in Syrian since the start of its anti-terrorist operation in the war-torn county in 2015. However, the October 19 event is the first case ever when it is reasonable to assume with a high probability that the Russian side employed an attack drone of any kind during the conflict.
Most excellent ?
CIAisis and hasbarats will cry and rage…
I can’t say I’m that impressed but they do look good.
To be honest with a flight range of only 40km and a payload of only 3kg wouldn’t the Russians be better off using top end surveillance drones to relay target data to accurate long range artillery [50km range max], I’ll bet none of the terrorists would’ve survived that type of attack.
And I keep wondering why Russia seems to be so far behind all the other big player when it comes to drone technology, are they putting all their eggs in another basket we’re not aware of yet, some new technology that will surpass what modern drones are capable of, if they’re not they better start catching up to everyone else, drones seem to be the favored weapon of the modern era and have proven to be very effective on 2 battlegrounds now.
The 2 battlegrounds you are referring to provided no layered air defense system against drones or any significant measure of EW.
Russia is working on drones, their needs and objectives are part of their overall tactical and strategic needs. Notably a 20 ton stealth drone with supersonic speed a weapon payload of several thousand kgs.
Are you kidding, Russia employed EW capabilities in Aleppo but they weren’t that effective, they slowed down the Turks for a few hours and then the Turks went back to business as usual, so obviously the Turks found a way to negate the Russia’s EW countermeasures.
I’ll agree they need to improve their drone capabilities, but I’m not so sure they have to be supersonic, they just need heavier payloads, longer range, and loitering capabilities, if they get that part right then they’ll be up to speed with Israel, the US and Turkey.
A supersonic drone would have to use jet engines and that would mean no loitering capabilities, less stealth due to noise, and no low altitude capabilities, so I’m not sure going supersonic is the answer for drones, leave that capability to the manned aircraft I think.
My friend, EW krasukha plarform is far more superior than Turkish Koral.
Krasukha denied situational awareness the F22 and AC 130 gunships in Syria.
Why would Turkey need drone activity in Aleppo when Russian fighters controlled the skies?
What is so great about US and Turkish drones? Iran shot down a stealth US drone, and from a dollar standpoint the Pantsirs crewed by none Russians destroyed drones worth hundreds of millions.
I have no idea who’s EW platforms are better but earlier this year the Turks managed to disable Syrian choppers in Aleppo and forced them to return to base.
“Reports that SyAF helicopters are jammed after taking off from Nairab airport near Aleppo, which prevented them from carrying out the bombardment.”
https://syria.liveuamap.com/en/2020/2-february-reports-that-syaf-helicopters-are-jammed-after
Maybe Russian jets did rule the skies over Idlib and Aleppo but the Turks gave as good as they got as far as I could see.
“A Turkish drone targeted a meeting of government forces officers southwest of Aleppo. The site was completely destroyed”
https://syria.liveuamap.com/en/2020/28-february-a-turkish-drone-targeted-a-meeting-of-government
And I’ve watched heaps of videos of Panstir’s being destroyed in Syria and Libya by Israeli and Turkish drones. A Pantsir costs 13.5 mill US, Bayraktar TB-2 drone costs 5 mill US, so a pantsir has to stop at least 3 drones before it pays it’s way.
Krasukha was deployed in Syria around the time S400 was brought in. The only time Turks were able to do anything with drones in Idlib was when Putin called some sort of cease fire to appease Erdo after a Russian Suk 34 dropped a 1000kgs bomb on a Turkish column.
If you have no idea whose EW is better, I will tell you, Russia by a significant margin against NATO.
There were no heaps of Pantsirs in Syria, there were more losses in Libya because of Turkish jamming and insufficient Russian deployment of EW, added together possibly 13.
The numbers of drones shot down albeit non confirmed, is over 100
The ceasefire was only called after the Turks did all the damage with their drones.
There were only 3 Pantsir systems in Idlib and Aleppo during that time when there should’ve been 30.
I have no idea what to believe anymore, Russia has become too loose with the truth lately for me to believe anything they say.
100 drones shot down, is that for Libya, Syria, and Azerbaijan, if it is that may be correct, but if you’re just referring to Syria I doubt that number is right.
You are mistaken, there was no cease fire called, Turkish drones caused the damage on Syrian forces because Putin tried to appease Erdo for Turks killed by an air strike, by limiting EW in northern Syria for a few days.
The drones shot down include all regions where they were employed.
Pre march 5 agreement the Turks were using their drones to attack the SAA, after that date not one drone strike.
The rebels captured Saraqib on the 27 feb and the day after that drones are spotted in Idlib, the 29th of feb the drones start their onslaught and it doesn’t stop until the 3rd or 4th of feb, and then Putin and Erdogan announced the ceasefire and M4 highway agreement on march 5, no more drone assault after that date.
Wrong again, Saraqib was captured because of drones and guided artillery that exacted a toll on Syrian spearheads.
I’m not wrong at all, I’m 100% accurate with every single thing I’ve said, and you like to play with words don’t you.
” Saraqib was captured because of drones and guided artillery that exacted a toll on Syrian spearheads.”
LOL, are you kidding, you’re totally wrong about one of those assertions and you’re way too vague on another.
The only Turkish drones used in that operation [27th march] were the TAI Anka surveillance drones, no combat drones were used at all, and they only assisted with surveillance data, NO COMBAT SORTIES AT ALL, NONE. Just making that perfectly clear because you failed to.
The Syrian spearheads had already moved south west of Saraqib by the 23rd of feb, they began an artillery and air assault just to the west of Maarrat al Numan and started a massive ground assault on the 24th of feb, so that’s where the bulk of the SAA spearhead was located on the 27th of Feb, not anywhere near Saraqib.
Saraqib only fell because the bulk of the SAA forces had been relocated to act as a spearhead in the southwest of Idlib, so you’re assertion the drone assault on the SAA spearhead was the cause for the loss of Saraqib is totally incorrect, the relocation of the bulk of the SAA was the real reason Saraqib was recaptured so quickly.
Turkish combat drones weren’t used until the 28th or 29th of Feb, that’s when they started doing all the damage to the SAA, not before then, get your facts straight.
Turks died in a Russian air strike on Feb 27, Russia cooled off their military activity for a short period of time during which Turkish drones attacked SAA forces in Idlib.
The discussion was not about Saraqib, it was about the effectiveness of Turkish drones against Russian EW.
The Turkish drones operated effectively because Russian EW was turned off.
You’re original comment tried to tell me there was no multi layered defense to repel the Turkish drones but that’s just nonsense, you actually said this,
“The 2 battlegrounds you are referring to provided no layered air defense system against drones or any significant measure of EW.”
But Syria did have a multi layered air defense system in place, they have E-war units, MANPAD, Pantsir, anti air guns, S-200/S-300/S-400’s, multiple radar units with both long and short range targeting capabilities, and all of them would’ve been active and operational during that campaign, as I said the Russian general who went into an important battle without using all those available capabilities would be derelict in his duty.
edit,
I didn’t hear that the E-war units were turned off at any time, link an article to confirm that assertion please.
On Feb 27 a Russian air strike killed about 50 Turks, Putin appeased Erdo by standing down his air force and EW.
Turks took advantage of this development to attack Syrian forces with drones and guided artillery.
On March 5th a peace accord between Russia and Turkey regarding the separation lines in Idlib.
I have not found a link, most of the media boasted the “prowess” of Turkish drones.
However there are links where Russian EW put out of action AC 130 gunships by neutralizing their targeting system, and overall, made situational awareness of F22 a big issue as Suk 35 sneaked behind it in a mock air battle.
I’m not sure you know what you’re talking about,
23/Feb, – Turkish Ministry of Defense: 1 Turkish soldier killed in tank shelling in Idlib
Reports of another Turkish soldier killed in artillery shelling by Syrian army.
24/Feb, – A number of Turkish forces soldiers were injured due to artillery and missile shelling from pro-Asaad forcescamps, which directly targeted a Turkish military convoy in the town of Al-Barah in Idlib countryside.
25/Feb, – The Syrian Observatory: multiple Turkish casualties due to targeting of a Turkish military post in Idlib countryside.
26/Feb, no reports of Turkish deaths.
27/Feb, – 2 Turkish soldiers killed as a result of the attack by the Syrian government in the Idlib region of Syria today.
No reports of 50 Turkish deaths before or on the 27th, maybe you’re confused with the Russian airstrike that killed 22 Turkish soldiers on the 28th, or the Russian airstrikes that killed 2 more on the 29th.
Russian air strikes actually stopped on the 8th of march and didn’t recommence until mid June, but before 8th of march the Russians were going gangbusters with their air force, so you’re totally wrong about the Russians standing down their aircraft on the 27th, that didn’t happen until the next week, 10 days after the date you claim they did.
This is what happened on the 25th of Feb,
Turkey is expecting a Russian delegation to visit on Wednesday for talks to ease tensions in the northwestern Syrian province of Idlib, where 16 Turkish soldiers have been killed by Syrian government shelling this month, President Erdoğan said
This is what happened on the 26th of Feb,
Erdogan: We will not retreat in Idlib, and we will work to return the displaced people back
Erdogan promises to “liberate sieged Turkish observation points in Idlib”
Erdogan: Russia and United States have not fulfilled their promise to confront militants
Erdogan: Washington has not yet supported Ankara regarding Idlib and I will talk to Trump again.
Turkish Foreign Minister Çavuşoğlu: President Erdoğan and Putin agreed to hold bilateral meeting.
Turkish Foreign Minister: The Russian delegation arrives today in Ankara and begins its meetings this evening with the Turkish side.
This is the truth about the 27th of February,
Erdogan: Russia and United States have not fulfilled their promise to confront militants. Justice and Development Party: All preparations have been completed in Idlib. When the government’s withdrawal period is over, the TAF will fulfill its duty.
Erdogan: Bashar al-Assad cannot be our friend and we are in Syria according to the Adana agreement.
Erdogan: We have 3 dead in Idlib, but we killed many members of the government.
Erdogan: The course of events in Idlib is beginning to change in our favor.
Erdogan just does whatever Erdogan wants to.
2020 Balyun airstrikes
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to navigationJump to search
2020 Balyun airstrikes
Part of the Northwestern Syria offensive (December 2019–March 2020)
Location Balyun, Idlib Governorate, Syria
Target Turkish Armed Forces
Date 27 February 2020
Executed by Russia Russian Air Force
(denied by Russia)[1]
Syria Syrian Air Force
Casualties Turkey 33–34 soldiers killed
(per Turkey)[2][3]
Turkey 34 soldiers killed
(per SOHR)[4]
Turkey 50–100 soldiers killed
(per other sources)[5][6][7]
showvte
Turkish involvement in
the Syrian Civil War
On 27 February 2020, during the peak of Operation Dawn of Idlib 2, the Russian Air Force and the Syrian Air
Use syrialiveuamaps if you need information, they have a timeline feature that allows you to look back at prior events and match events with dates.
Turkey says agreed with Russia on details of Idlib ceasefire
By Reuters Staff
3 MIN READ
ANKARA (Reuters) – Turkey and Russia have agreed on the details of a ceasefire in Syria’s Idlib region after four days of talks in Ankara, Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said on Friday, adding that joint patrols along a key highway will begin on Sunday as planned.
Turkey and Russia, which back opposing sides in Syria’s war, agreed on March 5 to halt hostilities in the country’s northwest after a recent escalation of violence displaced nearly a million people and brought the two sides close to confrontation.
That’s exactly what I told you and you said I was wrong, you said this in your comment,
“You are mistaken, there was no cease fire called, Turkish drones caused the damage on Syrian forces because Putin tried to appease Erdo for Turks killed by an air strike, by limiting EW in northern Syria for a few days.
The drones shot down include all regions where they were employed.”
And I said this in my reply,
“Pre march 5 agreement the Turks were using their drones to attack the SAA, after that date not one drone strike.
The rebels captured Saraqib on the 27 feb and the day after that drones are spotted in Idlib, the 29th of feb the drones start their onslaught and it doesn’t stop until the 3rd or 4th of feb, and then Putin and Erdogan announced the ceasefire and M4 highway agreement on march 5, no more drone assault after that date.”
So you just confirmed what I originally told you, thanks. :]
I know what I am talking about.
Krasukha 4 renders Turkish drones useless, on Eurasia website 9 Turkish drones were disabled when coming close to the Russian base in Armenia .
“”” Erdogan: The course of events in Idlib is beginning to change in our favor.”””
In his delusions.
What has that got to do with the dates the drones started and stopped attacking the SAA, or explain when the ceasefire was announced?
I’ll remind you again, this is what you said,
“You are mistaken, there was no cease fire called, Turkish drones caused the damage on Syrian forces because Putin tried to appease Erdo for Turks killed by an air strike, by limiting EW in northern Syria for a few days.”
You’re starting to ramble on now.
Yea right, the same Krasukha that was deployed in Syria was deployed in the Caucasus and took out 9 Bayaktars that got close to the Russian airbase in Armenia.
EW operates on different frequency bandwidth’s, so if you want to jam or control the communications systems of a target you have to operate on the same frequency bandwidth as your target does.
So the Russians probably learnt from their first encounters in Syria and adjusted their equipment to operate on the right frequency bandwidth to counter the Turkish communications links in Azerbaijan.
The S-400’s are never actively operational for the same reasons, they only ever operate in passive mode and only switch to active mode when another radar or their own passive radars pick up a threat, then they switch to active mode for as short a time as possible to avoid the enemy fixing their operational frequencies and countering them, or using the frequency signal itself to lock onto the target and destroy it.
So the E war units have to either know the right frequency they need to disrupt/control, or they have to scan through the entire bandwidth to find out what it is, and that can take more time than it does for the enemy unit to leave the field.
On top of that no single E war unit has the capability of controlling/jamming all available frequencies, some only operate on one or 2 bandwidth and the best only 3 or 4, and I think there’s about 7 different bandwidths to cover, maybe 8.
“””Mobile electronic warfare systems “Krasuha-4” suppress spy satellites, ground-based radars and airborne systems AWACS (Airborne Warning and Control System). The Krasukha-4 system works by creating powerful jamming at the fundamental radar frequencies and other radio-emitting sources. Krasukha-4 is able to effectively shield objects on the ground against radio-locating surveillance satellites, ground-based radars, or aircraft-installed Airborne Warning and Control Systems (AWACS), according the manufacturer. Interference caused by Krasukha-4 will render radio-controlled missile attacks ineffective. The system has been designed to counter attacks from enemies possessing advanced technologies.“””
The S400 relies on Nebo M radar system capable of operating by taking multiple bands and fusing the information for acquiring a lock on the target…..stealth and very small drones included.
The Krasuha-4 is known to operate on at least 3 different frequency bandwidths, S-band, X-band, and J-band, and that’s not even a quarter of the available bandwidths that different communications/radar systems use.
Here’s 2 articles you may find interesting,
Radar bandwidth,
https://www.radartutorial.eu/07.waves/Waves%20and%20Frequency%20Ranges.en.html#:~:text=The%20frequencies%20of%20radar%20sets,and%20including%20the%20D%2Dband.
E war units,
http://www.indiandefencereview.com/news/terrestrial-electronic-warfare-the-iafs-unexplored-option/
https://eurasiantimes.com/r…
I read it the first time you sent it and then I used to to quote to you remember.
“”” Are you kidding, Russia employed EW capabilities in Aleppo but they weren’t that effective, they slowed down the Turks for a few hours and then the Turks went back to business as usual, so obviously the Turks found a way to negate the Russia’s EW countermeasures.”””
Maybe you can enlighten us when such events took place?
On Oct 26 the Eurasia website stated the Russians disabled 9 Bayrakhtar drones when they got close to their airbase in Armenia.
The Turkish propaganda is bs.
I’m not going by Turkish propaganda, I’m using my own brain.
The Russians have been using the Krasukha-4 in Syria all year and last year they were using an older piece of equipment to do the job less effectively before that.
This piece form the article you may have been quoting from also says this.
“The Russians reportedly used the highly advanced Krasukha-4 for the first time in Syria early this year against hostile drones launched by terrorists at its Hmeymim airbase in Syria.
The electronic warfare systems stopped a cluster of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) launched from the militant-controlled territory of the Idlib de-escalation zone, taking over the control of the UAVs and deactivating their control systems.”
https://eurasiantimes.com/russia-shot-down-a-total-of-nine-turkish-bayraktar-drones-near-its-armenia-military-base-russian-media-reports/
Now do you mean to tell me that the Russian’s didn’t use one of their Krasukha-4 systems or an older equivalent during the campaign to take back Aleppo and Idlib, knowing full well the terrorist were using the same cheap drones to attack their naval base, and also knowing their Turkish supporters had even better high end drones they could possibly throw into the fight as well, because if they didn’t have E war capabilities available during that campaign they should sack the incompetent General who led the campaign, or better still take him out the back and shoot him, and you should be the one shooting him if you’re really pro Russian.
And I say that because the Russian General who doesn’t take all the necessary equipment into battle is not a Russian general at all, he’s an idiot, and I’m pretty sure the Russian’s don’t put idiots in charge of their military, do you.
As I said, Krasukha was deployed about the same time the S400 was deployed in Syria, it comes in different versions, all versions are highly capable.
I’m pretty sure that’s the older variant as the new model was only deployed earlier on this year.
You are wrong.
Yes you’re right, 2015 is when they were first deployed to Syria.
Looks like you think that EU and USA military are stupid because they still procure F-22 and F-35 instead of producing thousands of drones.
Does it look like that does it, I wonder why you think that, I in fact don’t think anyone’s stupid for using aircraft and drones, completely the opposite, I think they’re not too clever if they don’t.
don’t know much about drones—this resembles Israeli drone Azeris used in artahsk
even ukraine produces drones. I am suspicious of the various claims made…defeat of incompetent armenia advertised drones only because they were unprepared