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Russian Defense Minister: Moscow Tested over 320 Developed Weapons in Syria

Russian Defense Minister: Moscow Tested over 320 Developed Weapons in Syria

Friday, 16 July, 2021 - 07:15
Russian soldiers near a MiG-31K aircraft in Hmeimim base in western Syria carrying (Russia Today)

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu revealed that the Russian army tested more than 320 types of various advanced weapons during the military operations in Syria.


"We checked more than 320 types of different weapons, including, by the way, your helicopters," Shoigu said at a meeting with employees of the Russian helicopter manufacturer Rostvertol.


"One of the helicopters we saw today is the result of the Syria operation," he said, adding, "now we have such weapons, thanks to the operation in Syria."


Notably, Shoigu's comments revealed that Moscow continues to test weapons on Syrian soil even after the declaration of the ceasefire. A few months ago, Moscow discussed testing about 231 advanced weapons on Syrian soil, despite ending hostilities more than a year ago.


Last March, media reports claimed that Moscow tested over 200 types of its most advanced weapons in Syria since 2015.


An initial report was first published by the Military Files website, which also described arming various Sukhoi fighters and the strategic aircraft of the Tu-95 and Tu-160 models.


Earlier this year, Russia's most advanced aircraft, Sukhoi 57, was sent to Syria. Helicopters "Mi-28" and "Ka-52" have also actively participated in combat, as well as unmanned aircraft "Orlan-10".


The report indicated that the forces used S-300, S-400, Pantsir, and Buk missile systems in protecting vital installations, most notably the Hmeimim and Tartus bases.


Russian forces in Syria used the latest portable radar and electronic warfare systems on a large scale.


In total, the report revealed that the Russian army tested 231 models of new and modern weapons in military operations in Syria. Russian engineers corrected the malfunctions following the test results.


According to the data, military operations in Syria revealed significant flaws in several other models that were put out of service, bringing the total number of military technologies that have been permanently removed from military manufacturing to 12.


A few months ago, a report also indicated that Russian experts believe the Uran 9 tanks were among the most important weapons that failed during the war in Syria. It proved its failure in fighting in densely forested areas such as the mountains of the Syrian coast.


The "Uran" armored vehicle that Russia sent for trial in Syria, which was considered one of the best remote-controlled minesweepers, showed severe flaws.


Laser guidance became one of the latest military technologies used in smart weapons, and the global army market requires this technology for such weapons.


Russia claimed its laser-guided weapons were unparalleled "except in science fiction," but they were later recalled from production and replaced by other models.


Various media outlets quoted Syrian opposition military experts as saying that some of the abandoned weapons after their testing and development in Syria are useless.


According to the experts, they are weapons launched without a special guidance system, adding that these missiles and artilleries were only destructive, so they were abandoned, and their technology was dispensed with.


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