An S-400 air defence missile system is deployed for a combat duty at the Hmeymim airbase to provide security of the Russian air group's flights in Syria. © Dmitriy Vinogradov / Sputnik
Michael Peck, National Interest: Russia Says Its S-300 Missiles Tracked "Nervous" U.S. Pilots Over Syria
Moscow says that U.S. bombers and reconnaissance aircraft "reacted nervously" when tracked by Russian anti-aircraft missile batteries over Syria.
U.S. pilots allegedly got the shakes when Russia's advanced S-300V4 air defense systems tracked them at ranges of 200 to 300 kilometers (125 to 186 miles), Lt. Gen. Alexander Leonov, chief of Russia's air defense forces, told Izvestia (Google translation here). The aircraft types were not specified, though the United States has flown multiple models over Syria, including the F-22, F-15, F-18 and drones.
Leonov said the S-300V4 was deployed to Syria in 2016 to expand control of the airspace over eastern Syria, as well as to prevent enemy attacks on the Khmeimim airfield and the supply base at the port of Tartus. Leonov did not specify which enemies the missile batteries were supposed to defend against: the Syrian rebels lack aircraft, while U.S. and Israeli planes operate over Syria.
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Update: A top Russian pilot took a big shot at US forces flying over Syria in ongoing war of words (Business Insider/Aviationist)
WNU Editor: I would also be nervous if a Russian air defense system was tracking me over a war-zone.
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