Russia claims it can detect Israeli fighters right on the runway
Russian officials claim that the electronic warfare systems to be deployed in Syria are capable of monitoring the activities of all Israeli fighter jets.
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Israeli Air Force F-16 fighter. Photo: AFP. |
"Not only do we know everything that happens in Syrian airspace, we also know which planes are operating on runways in Israel, Saudi Arabia or even in Europe,"NewsweekOn September 28, Vladimir Mikheyev, deputy director of the Russian Radio-Electronic Technologies Corporation, mentioned the electronic warfare systems that the country is about to deploy in Syria.
According to Mikheyev, Russia is trying to strengthen its electronic warfare systems to monitor Syrian airspace, after the Il-20 reconnaissance aircraft of the Russian Air Force was shot down over the Mediterranean on September 17.
"Systems capable of countering precision-guided weapons such as bombs and guided missiles, like the ones Israel uses in air strikes, will be added to conventional radar protection complexes," Mikheyev said.
The official confirmed that the electronic warfare complex that will be deployed in Syria after detecting the target aircraft will have a number of options, including radio-electronic reconnaissance, electronic jamming or suppression, or even opening fire if it feels the situation is serious.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov confirmed today that Russia has begun delivering S-300 missiles to Syria. The Russian Defense Ministry also pledged to equip Syria's air defenses with modern jamming systems to counter any threats.
Russia's statement was made after an Il-20 reconnaissance plane carrying 15 Russian soldiers was shot down by a Syrian S-200 missile on September 17. The Russian military later announced the results of an investigation, accusing the Israeli F-16 fighter jet of deliberately "hiding" in the shadow of a Russian plane when attacking a target in Syria, causing the country's air defense to mistakenly target and fire at its ally.
