On February 3, militants shot down a Su-25 warplane of the Russian Aerospace Forces with a man-portable air-defense system (MANPAD) over the village of Khan al-Sabil southwest of the city of Saraqib in the province of Idlib.
Originally, Jaysh al-Nasr, a militant group that had been supplied with US-made TOW anti—tank missiles, claimed that its members had downed the warplane. Later, the media wing of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (formerly Jabhat al-Nusra, the Syrian branch of al-Qaeda) released a video of the MANPAD launch. This confirmed that Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) members were involved in the attack.
The Su-25 pilot ejected, but was killed in a fighting on the ground. The militants were not able to capture him alive.
According to the Russian media, the pilot identified as Major Roman Filippov. He was a former Ukrainian pilot from the city of Simpferopol in what is now the Russian Republic of Crimea. [UPDATE 5.02.2018, 18:33 CET: the Russian media outlet RBC reported that Major Filippov was serving in Russia’s Primorsky Krai, not Crimea]
On the same day, the Russian Aerospace Forces delivered “a series of high-precision weapons strikes” on the area from which the MANPAD was launched and killed at least 30 militants, according to the country’s defense ministry. On February 4, over 70 Russian airstrikes hit positions of HTS and its allies.
According to Russian MP Vikotor Volodarsky, Syrian and Russian forces are working to trace the MANPAD missile and to find how exactly it had appeared in the hands of the militants.
The Idlib incident took place while the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) and other pro-government factions were focusing on combating ISIS in northeastern Hama. Government forces liberated the villages of al-Judaydah, Samiriyah, Umm Hurizah, Tulayhat, Abu Kusur and Ma’saran.
HTS, the Turkistan Islamic Party (TIP) and their allies used the situation to launch a large-scale attack on SAA positions in eastern Idlib on February 4. By February 5, they had entered Tell Sultan, Ras al-Ayn and Baris. The main fighting took place in Tell Sultan where 25 militants were reportedly killed by the Tiger Forces. The situation on the frontline remains tense.
On February 3, 7 soldiers of the Turkish Armed Forces (TAF) were killed in clashes with Kurdish militias. Five soldiers died in near the settlement of Sheikh Haruz northeast of the YPG-held city of Afrin when Kurdish forces targeted a TAF battle tank. One more soldier died in a separate incident in the Afrin area. Another one was killed in the Turkish border province of Kilis.
It is interesting to note that Ankara continues arguing that Turkish forces fight some mysterious ISIS terrorists in the Afrin area. However, for all neutral observers it is clear that there is no ISIS in Afrin.
On February 4, the TAF and the Free Syrian Army entered the villages of Haj Bilal and Shaykh Khurus. YPG/YPJ forces repelled Turkish-led attacks on the villages of Blikah and Shakwarzi where they reportedly destroyed a bulldozer of Turkey-led forces.
Reports also appeared that Faylaq al-Sham, the Free Idlib Army and the Nour al-Din al-Zenki Movement had sent their fighters to participate in Ankara’s Operation Olive Branch in Afrin. If this is confirmed, soon the YPG/YPJ will face an additional pressure on the ground.
A useful graphic presentation displaying the fighting data in the Afrin region:
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DVQNRWsX0AA1CA1.jpg
Vot tak,
That is an sdf propaganda paper.
It may be thruth many of those events, but it is obvious censored _a lot_. (No heavy losses for sdf? All turkish “attacks”, etc).
Russian are experts on MANPADS and Countermeasures.
I wonder why the Russians ignored the basic rules regarding MANPADS as:
Unless you know otherwise always expect manpads in the area. Set a hard deck accordingly. With TGP and smart bombs there’s rarely a need to drop below 15,000ft.
If you have to take out manpads searching for them works best in teams. One plays bait, wingman watches for launches. Between altitude, speed, flares and evasive flying manpads pose only a very limited threat.”
1. Maintain the highest practical airspeed by diving.
2. Keep the incursion into the MANPADS envelope as brief as practical.
3. Have a friendly aircraft observe the area to call out launches.
4. Prepare a flare countermeasure program and consider running it at the most vulnerable phase of the incursion even if no launch is detected.
5. Egress as if a missile has been fired at you.
6. Attack from the direction that requires the least overflight of the MANPADS envelope.
FIM-92 Stinger fires inside a Dome with radius 8km (5mi), with a warhead 3kg High explosive.
Unless Russian sent INTENTIONALY this vulnerable Bomber to fly low behind enemy Lines?!!!
My thoughts too Anonymous. In CAIRS missions you always need to keep your energy up, minimise exposure, have a wingman to cover you and egress aggressively.
Were any flares dispensed by the Su? If not what was the wingman doing?
no way – Russia would never risk a pilot’s life like that
“I wonder why the Russians ignored the basic rules regarding MANPADS”
You are making assumptions that you could not possibly know unless you were there or read the action reports on the incident.
“According to Russian MP Vikotor Volodarsky, Syrian and Russian forces are working to trace the MANPAD missile and to find how exactly it had appeared in the hands of the militants.”
Hint: Look for debris with the phrase “Proudly Made in America.”
Major Roman Filippov behaved like a true hero, a warrior to the bitter end, as if the angels of The Almighty walked in his shadow. May his soul rest in Peace. This young man’s last words and ultimate act are those of dignity and self sacrifice for the greater good.
May his loved ones find confort from their community, and in the knowledge that he did not only helped the nation and people of Syria, he also helped defending the Russian Motherland from those takfiri mercenaries and fanatics, all those killed on Syria’s battlefield will not be exported to the Caucasus by the empire of chaos.
God Willing, all these brave russians, iranians and lebanese who gave their lives in Syria will be avenged in due time and place…
Major Filipov’s last stand: 34yo Russian pilot who detonated grenade not to surrender to terrorists
https://www.rt.com/news/417923-hero-su25-pilot-remembered-russia/
“Major Roman Filipov, who was shot down by terrorists in Syria and then fought to the end detonating a grenade when surrounded, was posthumously awarded a Hero title. Here are the facts known about his service and the last mission.”
From the above RT article:
“The Russian Su-25 jet piloted by Major Filipov was downed Saturday in Syria’s Idlib province during a routine flight over the de-escalation zone. The plane was likely hit by a portable air-defense system (MANPAD).”
Sounds like the aircraft was in transit, not in an actual attack run, when the aircraft was hit. Unlikely the pilot saw the missile launch, and it being an infrared type, his on board sensors probably wouldn’t have registered it, either.
From the description of the incident I’ve seen so far, and the amount of video that just coincidentally was filmed of this shoot down and firefight with the pilot, it seems certain that the sa missile team were getting sophisticated, real time intelligence from a western source, and they may have even been a western special forces team. It looks like professionals had observed Russian flight patterns and then sent in a team, or teams, to try and pick off an aircraft. That there was a sa missile team who just happened to be in the right place at the right time seems too much of a coincidence. These terrorist forces don’t have many of these missiles, or their use would be much more common, given the amount of air activity. Likewise, these manpad missiles are very short ranged. To effectively use one, you have to be in the right place at the right time.
If the experienced Russian Pilot Major Roman Filippov was in transit, above hostile territories, why he would descent below 15000 ft?
If he was in a bombing mission where was his wingman?
“If you have to take out manpads searching for them works best in teams. One plays bait, wingman watches for launches. Between altitude, speed, flares and evasive flying manpads pose only a very limited threat.”
And Russian knows much more than THAT.
Times ago I read the book “Baltiyskoe Nebo” A story about pilots guarding the sky above Leningrad during WWII.
All planes were in pairs Lead and Wing.
Lead and wing work together to protect each other. While lead is in command of the element/flight, he is not necessarily in command of every engagement. Wing may be given tac lead (tactical lead) depending on the specifics of the engagement.
It is hard for me to believe that Russian lost all their experience gained through WWII, Korea War, Vietnam War and more.
It is clear that this jet was ambushed, but with a MANPAD not with a BUK-1.
“If the experienced Russian Pilot Major Roman Filippov was in transit, above hostile territories, why he would descent below 15000 ft?”
I wrote “Sounds like the aircraft was in transit”, none of us know the details of how the incident went, except you, apparently. Since you seem to know all the particulars, why don’t you give us the exact details of went down?
“Since you seem to know all the particulars, why don’t you give us the exact details of went down?”
My answer is:
The Russian Su-25 attack aircraft was shot down in Syria during a standard patrol mission.
“The Russian Su-25 attack aircraft was shot down in Syria during a standard patrol mission. Major Roman Filipov ejected and landed, then took the on the fight and blew himself up with a grenade to avoid captivity. Before this, the pilot shouted: “This is for you, for the guys!” Quote
Source:
It’s official: Roman Filipov, pilot killed in Syria, nominated by Shoigu, today awarded Hero of the Russian Federation by Putin
Sending a single slow flying jet, in a standard patrol, over hostile territories, below 1500ft, it is a one way mission for the Pilot.
Why the Russian did this horrible mistake? Time will tell.
what does sa mean ?
Ann, sa means surface to air.
@vot. Wasn’t there a similar co-ordinated attack some time ago? A Russian plane was jumped by two US planes lying in wait for it to return from a mission, and shot down from behind — if I remember correctly.
Dr.
I remember it, but it was a Syrian plane that was ambushed. There have been a couple other incidents where pindo aircraft harrassed Russian bombers, the pindos then sent scurrying when a Russian escort fighter jumped on their tail.
I have few doubts that the missile attack was carried out as a planned operation and the operatives were not locals. I also have the idea that, like the mortar attack on our hospital last year and the attack on our airbase, the perpetrators are dead and their minions are dying muchly since the event. The days are gone when US/nato could, and did, send in operatives, kill Russians, and leave, laughing all the way.
The days are also gone when US/nato operatives were quietly sent home when captured. With the war in Novorossiya set to explode fairly soon with the objective of splitting the two republiks apart, there will be operatives there in droves and goodly numbers are already there. This time, as in Syria as of yesterday, any foreigners captured will be made public. It’s gonna be a mess but at least in Syria SAA and the Syrian Government are winning this war. I think Novorossiya will have the same results and, like at this time in Syria were west media are screaming ‘Russia is bombing hospitals and clinics and using chemical weapons’, the same screams will be heard in Novorossiya.
Auslander
Author
Sevastopol, The Third Defense. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B079KRPLS4 Book 1, A Premonition, The Move South
Blue Cloud https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0797XJM91 A pleasant little adventure of a young collie, told in her words.
Do you believe that people smart enough, to operate very effectively a manpad, are stupid enough to stay, in the downed airplane area, instead clearing it ASAP?
Do you believe that Mother’s operatives were not in the general area giving targeting and vector info? It’s not difficult to get in just about anyplace, the ticklish part is getting out after you did something unkind to someone, that someone having the ability to instantly unleash hell on your head.
Auslander
Author
Sevastopol, The Third Defense. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B079KRPLS4 Book 1, A Premonition, The Move South
Blue Cloud https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0797XJM91 A pleasant little adventure of a young collie, told in her words.
what is the explanation for why Ankara is doing that ? Saying they’re fighting ISIS and there is no ISIS there ?
They group ypg/ypj as the same entity as ISIS which is unlawful military outfit ruling Afrin. To be fair it’s not really far off since they have a record of indirectly aiding ISIS prior before Russia intervene.
I see no difference between so-called ISIS and the Kurdish militants (oops, loaded language). For example, as the SAA and other resistance forces (loaded language again :D ) advanced down the Euphrates (fighting a real war, to be frank), the Kurdish SDF was simultaneously and magically taking over the ISIS areas on the opposite bank, without firing a shot.
Even the dogs on the street know that the AZE created the ISIS brand as a cover for a whole plethora of armed Western mercenaries, including the Kurdish groups.
ISISYPGAlQAIDAALSHAM…they are all mercenaries serving the AZE.
Body of Pilot From Downed Russian Su-25 Brought to Russia – MoD
https://sputniknews.com/russia/201802061061402971-su-25-pilot-body/
“The Russian military intelligence service has managed to deliver the pilot’s body from Idlib with the help of their Turkish colleagues. He was posthumously awarded the title of the Hero of Russia.”
Other news:
Erdogan: US Presence in Syria’s Manbij Aimed Against Turkey, Russia, Iran
https://sputniknews.com/world/201802061061396052-turkey-syria-manbij-us-troops/
“Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated that the United States should leave Syria’s Manbij in Aleppo province as Ankara plans to return it “to its true owners.” He also added that Washginton had “calculations against Turkey, Iran and maybe Russia” in Syria, claiming that the US military presence there was directed against the aforementioned countries after Daesh’s (ISIS) defeat.
“If the United States says they are sending 5,000 trucks and 2,000 cargo planes with weapons for the fight against Daesh (Islamic State), we don’t believe this. It means you have calculations against Turkey and Iran, and maybe Russia,” Erdogan told members of his ruling AK Party in parliament.”
I wonder how ManPad’s got in the hands of these people. That largely did hot happen in Libya as no new hardware was delivered to the “opposition” then. It must be possible somehow to find out the make of the weapon, anything new, indicates a direct delivery, new versions of these things don’t lie around or are sold at Ebay.
I hope that this will come back to haunt those who delivered them, airlines being perfetcly capable of being downed at land and take off, while cruising height is too high.
I think I will just take my chances on trains for a while.
What I have been trying to work out for some time is why has Russia and Syria given a free pass for the Turks to invaded Syria with their Jihadi boyfriends? they are crawling all over the North like a rash,i believe it was the turks who downed that jet.
And Ironically were the Turks that delivered the body of the Pilot to the Russian.
The Turks are there to squash the Pro Western puppet Kurds. They gave warning to Russia before the operation started. Currently Kurds control a huge band of territory which they have no historic rights to (as a result of massive western support, supposedly to attack their other puppets- ISIS).. As for Jihadism, Russia works with other entities identifying as Islamist, groups such as Hezbullah, Bashir in Sudan and Kadyrov. Because these alliances are geopolitically beneficial. Russians in their pre-communist culture do not have a hatred of Islam actually. Those familiar with Eurasianism and Turko-Slavism know the long game… Which is for Russians, Turkey, Iran and the Central Asian Turkic people to create a economic and social system against the neoliberal westerners.
Funny how the turkey bashing coincides with the aircraft shoot down. A lot of dedicated worker bees trying to put the blame on turkey. This is tied in with the usual “Russians are weak/corrupt/inept” trolling. By some odd coincidence, the exact same thing happened here after the israeloamericans attacked the Russian air base in Syria. A bunch of trolling blaming turkey and denigrating Russians.
It was interesting then how after the Russians said turkey was not responsible for the base attack, the trolling quickly petered out. This time around, despite Russian praise and acknowledgement of Turk help in the shoot down incident, the trolling persists.
It is quite obvious the zionazis are trying to drive a wedge between Russia and turkey here. What that should tell everyone is that israeloamerica was behind the shoot down and this is a planned campaign, full spectrum dominance wise, to do just that.
I find your observations very discerning. There is an immediate jump on Turkey when something like this happens even before the smoke clears. That implies pre-meditating behaviour. Of course one can not be sure in such a mist of interests, but if there is one thing all countries in the region cannot accept is an independent Kurdistan that is pro-west and even friendly with Israel, including Russia. The game is to force the AZE out of the region. It is not insignificant that ISIS as well as the Kurds have a relationship with the AZE. Their significance and their gains are a result of this relationship. Turkey may have played along the Empire’s goals at some point but it sees now that the long term plan was directed at itself. It is now involved in a campaign that could bog it down and even spread into its borders. They were left with little choice to act. They are involved in talks and negotiations with relevant partners and neighbours. The security of the region and therefore it’s own should now be a critical priority. Turkey’s interests from what I see have become clear as a result of this conflict and aggression. It’s economic future as well as its political direction should be with the emerging east and the multipolar realm. This is a decision it needs to make and the wrong one can be catastrophic. It can be a regional power that can play a significant role in this new paradigm shift. Russia would want turkey in its zone of cooperation not least because of its control of the Bosphorus straits in such dangerous times but to weaken NATO and strengthen the alliance against it. However, it isn’t a decision that will be made easy. It will have to be strong and determined and the war it is engaged in right now may only be the start. It isn’t about Erdogan more than it is about Turkey. Erdogan is a tricky individual but seems to have some fight to take on this challenge. The Kurdish militias need to see the folly of their grand objective of Kurdistan, whispered cunningly in their ear. They need to distance themselves from the AZ alliance. They are in a position to negotiate reasonable terms for themselves and made a mistake at the offer of reconciliation that has come there way. This is what they should look at under their current plight. If this reflective approach is discerned they will need the help of their neighbours to help free them from this unholy alliance.
Would be nice to see again the Russian artillery barrage, in Syria this time. How hard it is for Russia to send in Syria, a Russian artillery brigade with 32 X 160mm mortar pieces, or if they want to stay far than 5km, a Russian artillery brigade with 152mm guns. Using the Russian artillery barrage, assisted by Russian drone spotter, the terrorist pocket can be cleared in days instead in months or a Year, and with minimal military casualties.
More details have been released about the Su-25 shoot down.
Slain Russian Pilot’s Wingman: ‘When MANPAD Took Out His Jet, All Bets Were Off’
https://sputniknews.com/world/201802071061425523-russian-pilot-last-stand-syria-manpads-su25/
“The wingman of a Russian pilot who was downed by terrorist forces in Syria fought to the last to protect his commander, strafing terrorist forces converging on the crash site until he had no fuel left.
“I’m hit… The right engine’s ablaze… Heading south… The left one [engine] is stalling as well… Call an search-and-rescue team,” Major Roman Filipov radioed his wingman after the ill-fated pilot’s warplane was hit by a surface-to-air missile, ordering his compatriot to “head for the clouds” to avoid sharing the same fate, according to Krasnaya Zvezda (Red Star), the official newspaper of the Russian Ministry of Defense.
The wingman, however, refused to abandon his commander and, instead of fleeing to safety, engaged the enemy ground forces in a desperate attempt to cover the downed pilot’s escape.
“When a MANPAD took out commander’s aircraft, all bets were off. I’ve always covered him in the air, now it was time to do the same on the ground where he was fighting. So I remained there and made several attack runs against vehicles approaching the grove where Roman was hiding. Took out two cars,” he said.
The wingman also added that he immediately alerted a search and rescue team and kept broadcasting the downed pilot coordinates to the command center.
“I’ve seen the commander’s landing area but not the fight itself as the sun was setting… Had to leave when I was down to the emergency fuel reserves, barely made it to the airfield,” he said.”
The “wingman”, if there was a wingman for sure, failed to observe, watch and call for launches of MANPAD. Probably the “wingman” failed to position in the right altitude and distance from the led aircraft.
If the wingman would call out launches, then the led aircraft would have a chance, because between altitude, speed, flares and evasive flying manpads pose only a very limited threat.
There are many videos of Led aircraft from the moment it was hit until the crush. No wingman has been seen there.
Additional details:
‘Covered commander until out of fuel’: Major Filipov’s wingman recalls last battle of hero pilot
https://www.rt.com/news/418170-russian-pilot-filipov-wingman/
“The pair of Su-25 attack jets had been performing a routine flight over Idlib de-escalation zone on Saturday. While their primary objective was to monitor the area, each such flight is dangerous and considered a true combat sortie, Filipov’s wingman told Krasnaya Zvezda newspaper in an interview.
“That sortie was also a combat one. How else can it be in the warring country, especially in such a troubled province as Idlib?” he said.
“Yes, I see it,” Filipov said when his comrade warned him about militants launching a man-portable anti-aircraft missile at his plane.
“I’ve been hit,” he added calmly just moments later. “It’s a good hit.”
The right engine of Filipov’s Su-25 caught fire, the left one stalled and he ordered his wingman to gain altitude to hide in the clouds and call a search and rescue team.
The wingman, however, disobeyed the last order of his commander, who ejected and landed in the terrorist-controlled area.
“Obviously, I did not leave. Leaving the commander alone is the last thing I’d do,” said the pilot. As Filipov waged his last battle on the ground, his brother-in-arms supported him from the air.
“I’ve always covered my commander in the air and it had to be done on the ground, where he was already engaged in combat. I stayed in the area and made several attacks, targeted the cars which approached the olive grove where Roman was. I destroyed a couple of them,” the pilot said.
“I saw where the commander landed, but I did not see the skirmish itself – it was dusk already. I had to leave on the emergency fuel reserve, only enough to get back to the airfield.”
Former US Air Force Medic Tears Up Recalling Story of Russian Su-25 Hero (VIDEO)
https://sputniknews.com/world/201802081061480260-us-air-force-serviceman-appeal-to-su25-hero/
“Sola, a former aircrew medical technician, wrote a letter addressed to RT, saying that “as a former Enlisted Air Crew Member,” he had “read Major Filipov’s story with great interest and sorrow.”
“If it is possible, is there an honest fund collecting contributions (of Money) for his Widow and Child?” he asked. The retired servicemen later explained to the network what had driven him to write his appeal.
“He knew what his chances were, and he knew what he had to do. And he knew he was never going to be captured. That’s a decision he had to make,” Sola said, visibly tearing up. “A very hard decision to make, but I salute him. He did what he had to do,” he added.
“He knew what could happen to him. He [knew] what could happen to other troops, and what has happened to his comrades,” the former serviceman stressed. “These are very important people to you, and you’d do most anything for them, even risk your life. He had to die like this, and I wonder if I would be brave enough to do what he did.”
“He was a good man. I wish I knew him,” Sola concluded.
RT has asked the Russian military about whether the kind of fund asked about by Sola was being set up, and is awaiting clarification.
Major Roman Filipov was buried in Voronezh Thursday in a memorial service attended by hundreds of people, including his family, colleagues, and former classmates, who gathered to pay their final respects to the military pilot, husband and father.”