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Fight against Islamic state

Russia's military grouping in Syria

The Russian aviation grouping in Syria comprises several dozen advanced aircraft and helicopters, including Su-35S, Su-30SM, Su-34 and Su-24M, Su-25 aircraft, Mi-8 and Mi-24 helicopters

Photo {{sliderIndex+1}} from 16

Russia's Sukhoi Su-35S fighters have been redeployed to Syria to provide additional air support to the air grouping fighting against the Islamic State. Photo: Sukhoi Su-35S fighter (archive)

© Yuri Smityuk/TASS

Russia's Sukhoi Su-30SM aircraft in the sky above Syria's Latakia

© Vadim Savitsky/TASS

Sukhoi Su-30SM fighter aircraft at the Hmeymim airbase

Moscow has also redeployed S-400 air defense systems for protection of the air grouping and the air base

© Russian Defense Ministry/TASS

Aerospace Force's Sukhoi Su-34 bomber in Syria

© Vadim Savitsky/TASS

Aerospace Force's Sukhoi Su-34 bomber in Syria

© Alexander Yelistratov/TASS

Su 24M jet taking off from the Hmeymim airbase

Su-25SM aircraft at the Syrian Hmeymim airbase

Sukhoi Su-25SM warplane

Russian serviceman loading an R-73 missile

Sukhoi Su-24M at Hmeymim airbase

Mi-24 combat helicopter at the Hmeymim airbase

Mi-24 combat helicopters

Mil Mi-35 helicopter

Russian servicemen at the Hmeymim airbase

Russian warplanes in Syria

© Vadim Savitsky/Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP

The Russian Aerospace Force military grouping in Syria has been reinforced with the advanced Sukhoi Su-35S fighter jets.

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Russia’s advanced Su-35S fighter jet: premier performance over Syrian skies

The air group initially comprised over 50 aircraft and helicopters, including Sukhoi Su-24M, Su-25SM and state-of-the-art Su-34 aircraft. They were redeployed to the Khmeimim airbase in the province of Latakia. On October 7, Moscow also involved the Russian Navy in the military operation. Four missile ships of the Caspian Flotilla fired 26 Kalibr cruise missiles (NATO codename Sizzler) at militants’ facilities in Syria. Sukhoi Su-30SM fighters were redeployed in mid-October to provide air support to the military grouping.

In mid-November, after an alleged terrorist attack on a Russian passenger jet that fell in Egypt killing 224 people on board, Moscow increased the number of aircraft taking part in the operation in Syria by several dozen and involved strategic bombers in the strikes as well.

On November 24, a Turkish F-16 fighter brought down a Russian Sukhoi Su-24M bomber involved in Moscow’s military operation. The Russian president referred to the attack as a “stab in Russia’s back” and promised that the move would cause response action from Russia. Moscow deployed new S-400 air defense systems in Syria in order to protect the warplanes involved in the military operation and started arming the fighters intended to provide air support to bombers and attack aircraft in Syria with air-to-air missiles.

Russia’s Aerospace Force military grouping in Syria in this photo gallery by TASS.

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Russia’s long-range strategic bombers in action over Syria

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