Russia in Syria

The Russian adventure in Syria has not been cheap.  See this article.  Given the sad state of the Russian economy, the cost of these airplanes and helicopters, the Russians can ill-afford their Syrian adventure, which is all the more reason for the US to look for ways to suck them in further.

Syria heating up

I noted here the Russian and Syrian aircraft and helicopter losses in the Syrian civil war.  Well, in a timely addition to that information, it appears that someone shot down a Turkish drone/UAV which allegedly led Turkish F-16s to down two Syrian Su-24s as well as destroy a SAM site.

UPDATE: And apparently the Turkish Air Force has now downed a Syrian L-39.

Russian aircraft and helicopter losses in Syria

This is fascinating.  Given Russian budgetary problems these losses have to be hurting.

More details

On the US special forces strike in Syria on ISIS.

Making the world a better place

By removing one terrorist at a time.  Glad these guys are on the case.

So many hot spots

It is hard to keep track of them all.  Here it seems that Syrian and Russian a/c are attacking either Turkish units inside Syria or Turkish surrogates with Turkish supplied armor.  Great.  Just frikkin’ great.

Oops

Looks like one of the Syrian SAMs might have gotten a little lost.  Luckily no one got hurt.  I can easily see one of these either hitting an airliner or impacting in a populated area.

USMC F-35s in combat

Looks like the USMC’s F-35s have been used in combat off of one of the LHA “baby carriers”. This is a good demonstration of the value of the B version of the F-35s, allowing lower intensity missions using the small carriers instead of a CVBG.

Own goal

Looks like the Syrians might have some explaining to do to the Russians.

Middle East air combat

Looks like the Israelis just shot down a Syrian warplane.  The article doesn’t say it but I am guessing it was an Su-25.