The Russian Air Campaign in Syria: A Preliminary Analysis

Abstract

In this CNA Occasional Paper, Anton Lavrov, a noted Russian expert on military air operations, examines the successes and failures of Russia's air operation in Syria. He identifies the key structural changes and capability upgrades that made the operation possible. The operation allowed the Russian military to test new equipment and to rotate personnel through the theater of operations in order to gain battle experience. As it continued, the force became more effective, as its leaders learned how to operate in a battle environment for the first time in almost 30 years. The Russian Aerospace Forces actions in the conflict increased the combat effectiveness of Russia's small contingent of forces in Syria and allowed government forces to attain success on the ground. The conduct of the operation can be used as a means of understanding the capabilities and tactics that the force may be expected to use in future operations.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jun 18, 2018
Accession Number
AD1057649

Entities

People

  • Anton Lavrov

Organizations

  • Center for Naval Analyses

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Space
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Defense
  • Air Force
  • Aircraft Equipment
  • Aircraft Industry
  • Aircrafts
  • Anti-Tank Missiles
  • Attack Aircraft
  • Attack Helicopters
  • Defense Systems
  • Fighter Aircraft
  • Guided Bombs
  • Guided Missiles
  • Military Aircraft
  • Military Aviation
  • Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
  • Warfare
  • Weapons Effects

Readers

  • East Asian Political and Security Studies within the Soviet Union
  • Joint Military Operations and Doctrine.
  • Systems Analysis and Design

Technology Areas

  • Space