Russia and Poland deploy ISR platforms to Syria

Both Russia and Poland are deploying aircraft to the Syria region for ISR missions. Russia has sent one of their Tu-214R platforms, and Poland is sending several F-16s to perform the mission.

The Tu-214R is the most advanced platform in the Russian Air Force. It's not clear if this aircraft has been delivered or not, it went through Iran and Iraq on the way to Syria, after passing over the Caspian.

The Tu-214R is a Russian ISR (Intelligence Surveillance Reconnaissance) aircraft. In other words, a quite advanced spyplane.

As we have already explained here in the past, it is a special mission aircraft equipped with all-weather radar systems and electro optical sensors that produce photo-like imagery of a large parts of the ground: these images are then used to identify and map the position of the enemy forces, even if these are camouflaged or hidden.

The aircraft is known to carry sensor packages to perform ELINT (Electronic Intelligence) and SIGINT (Signal Intelligence) missions: the antennae of the Tu-214R can intercept the signals emitted by the enemy systems (radars, aircraft, radios, combat vehicles, mobile phones etc) so as it can build the EOB (Electronic Order of Battle) of the enemy forces: where the enemy forces are operating, what kind of equipment they are using and, by eavesdropping into their radio/phone communications, what they are doing and what will be their next move.

theaviationist.com...

The Polish F-16s will use the Goodrich DB110 reconnaissance pods to perform standoff recon missions, as well as armed overwatch of strick packages. It's not clear if they will perform any strike missions as well, or where they will operate from.

According to the Polish President and the Polish Minister of Defense, Poland is going deploy a “small number of F-16 fighters” to Syria, in order to “support the observation missions in the region,” local media outlets confirmed on Feb. 15.

Antoni Macierewicz, Polish Defense Minister had already made a statement suggesting that Poland could get involved in the operations against ISIS last Wednesday but President Duda said that “some statements may have been misinterpreted,” since no similar plans have been made and potential Syrian deployment still remains an open issue to be discussed with the NATO allies.

Anyway, some details must have been sorted out and the Polish Vipers may soon operate in the Middle East in a “reconnaissance” (or armed overwatch) role. It’s still unclear where the aircraft will be based.

When it comes to the reconnaissance equipment used by the Polish Fighting Falcons, the F-16 jets of the Polish Air Force use the Goodrich DB110 recce pod, allowing the carrier platform to carry out the reconnaissance task using a stand-off method, staying away from the airspace that could be potentially infested with the enemy SAMs. At least from some of the medium and short-range anti-aircraft fire.

theaviationist.com...

a reply to: Zaphod58

Seems like there are lots of movement towards Syria .

Saudi media said some 350,000 forces from the Persian Gulf Arab states and a number of other countries will take part in the Saudi-led military maneuver in the area of Hafer al-Batin in northern Saudi Arabia.
Some 2,540 warplanes, 20,000 tanks and 460 helicopters will also participate in the exercise, dubbed "Northern Thunder.” In 18 days of maneuvers, the airspace over northern Saudi Arabia will be closed.

Media reports say the maneuver will be the largest throughout the history of the region. Egypt, Sudan, Pakistan and Persian Gulf Arab states are among the 25 countries that will take part in the military exercises.

The maneuver comes at a sensitive time after Saudi Arabia announced readiness to participate in any ground incursion in Syria if the US-led coalition decides to start such an operation.

Cant assess the Press TV piece for that but .

Ahmed Assadi, the spokesman for Iraq's formation of Shiite militia groups, named Popular Mobilization Units, said that Iraq's border will be a graveyard for anyone who tries to approach it or touches the Iraqi land.

Read more: sputniknews.com...

a reply to: the2ofusr1

Saudi Arabia is deploying aircraft to Turkey to assist with airstrikes. They're sending F-15s, so they're probably going to be used to carry recon pods, and escort missions, since they can't hit ground targets.

a reply to: Zaphod58

Zaph, may i just say. I think I may love you. You're knowledge and wisdom are exceptional.

I love reading your stuff. Big fan

a reply to: Zaphod58

And Turkey has the big air base in Qutar they have activated . You almost need a computer to keep track of all of this .

a reply to: the2ofusr1

And the whole time everyone is sucking in every electron they can to develop counters to weapon systems in use by everyone involved. That's one big reason that Russia has sent the S400, Pantsir S2 bidirectional radar, and the Tu-214 to the area. This is the first time the F-22 has flown in combat, and they know they're not going to be attacked, so they're testing them against advanced stealth systems.

And yes, a computer, or a notebook with copious notes definitely helps.

originally posted by: Zaphod58
a reply to: the2ofusr1

Saudi Arabia is deploying aircraft to Turkey to assist with airstrikes. They're sending F-15s, so they're probably going to be used to carry recon pods, and escort missions, since they can't hit ground targets.

They are going to .... or are upgrading thier F-15s now arent they?

Saudi Arabia will upgrade its US-built F-15 Eagle fighter jets, defense contractor Lockheed Martin with the sensor suite that includes Sniper Advanced Targeting Pods (ATP), LANTIRN Extended Range (ER) navigation pods and Infrared Search and Track (IRST) systems.

sputniknews.com...

a reply to: spy66

Saudi Arabia has confirmed that it has sent aircraft to Turkey's Incirlik air base in a bid to step up operations against the jihadist "Islamic State" (IS) group in Syria, a senior Saudi defense official said late on Saturday.
"The Saudi kingdom now has a presence at Incirlik air base in Turkey. Saudi warplanes are present with their crews to intensify aerial operations along with missions launched from bases in Saudi Arabia," Brigadier General Ahmed al-Assiri told pan-Arab Al Arabiya television.

www.dw.com...

Only a few aircraft are upgraded at a time. Usually when they go in for other routine maintenance to keep their time on the ground to a minimum.

This is all looking like the preparations for a ground invasion at some date not too far away.....
With the allies practicing the whole thing in the Saudi desert......the assets are being placed on the board where they
await the coming of the storm....

a reply to: bandersnatch

The allies practicing in Saudi are also fighting in Yemen, so the question becomes where they're planning on sending troops, if anywhere. All of these nations have been talking the last several years of creating an alliance similar to NATO, to replace the Gulf Cooperative Council, which has proven to be somewhat ineffective in recent years. So the "practice" may be nothing more than learning to work together in that role.

Notice the date of formation:

Islamic Military Alliance

a reply to: Zaphod58

HAHA you have no idea of the geopolitics in the region.

wiadomosci.wp.pl...
wiadomosci.onet.pl...

Nm.

a reply to: Zaphod58

Secretary of State in the Chancellery of the President of the Republic of Poland pointed out that the same applies to the land forces. He recalled that such a decision would require, among others, the consent of the president and the formation of a quota. - There's no question about it, in any way, Poland will not interfere in the war - he finished.

Google doesn't translate so well.

a reply to: bandersnatch

I read 2 very interesting proposals just this morning about the possible escalation of the conflict in Syria and it discusses the logistics and opposing forces involved. If they are correct this mess could go hot, hot very quickly now.

www.moonofalabama.org...
The Race To Raqqa Is On - To Keep Its Unity Syria Must Win

thesaker.is...
Week Eighteen of the Russian Intervention in Syria: a dramatic escalation appears imminent

If these folks are spot on, look out!

a reply to: ConnekAnchi

Either they will, or they won't. The sources all say that at some point they will, if they don't, it won't be the first time sources have been wrong.

Ahmed Assadi, the spokesman for Iraq's formation of Shiite militia groups, named Popular Mobilization Units, said that Iraq's border will be a graveyard for anyone who tries to approach it or touches the Iraqi land.

I though Comical Ali was dead?

Poland has been a fairly important ally for us behind the scenes.