The Pentagon says one takeaway from last weekend’s missile strike in Syria is that Russian-made air defenses operated by Syrian crews were completely useless. And Turkey, which plans to buy the system from Russia, should take note.
“The Russian manufactured air defense systems were totally ineffective,” Dana White, the Pentagon’s chief spokesperson, said Thursday.
“Russia and the regime demonstrated the ineffectiveness of their systems again two days later, when those systems engaged accidentally,” she said.
Russia has deployed one of its most advanced anti-aircraft systems to Syria, the S-400. But U.S. military officials say while its radars were active, that system did not attempt to engage any of the 105 incoming cruise missiles launched from U.S., British and French warplanes and ships.
And the numerous Syrian air defense sites, using older systems that are also Russian-built, failed to get any of their own missiles in the air until after the attack was over.
“The rest of Syrian air defense capability, which is completely Russian-made, Russian-designed, Russian-supported, engaged extensively and comprehensively failed,” said Lt. Gen. Kenneth McKenzie, director for the Joint Staff. “The Russians didn’t do anything, although they’re very closely allied to all the systems that the Syrians deployed to no effect.”
The Pentagon made a point of underscoring the poor performance of the Russian hardware as Turkey, a NATO ally, has contracted to buy the Russian S-400 system over the objections of the United States.
Not only would the purchase cement closer ties with the Russians, it would mean Turkey would be operating a system that is incompatible with NATO air defenses.
“We have talked to the Turks about the issue of interoperability,” White said. “But ultimately the Turks have to decide what’s in their best strategic interest.”
At a House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing Wednesday, a State Department official warned that the coziness between Ankara and Moscow could lead to sanctions and jeopardize Turkey’s participation in the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program.
“The ease with which Turkey brokered arrangements with the Russian military to facilitate the launch of its Operation Olive Branch in Afrin District, arrangements to which America was not privy, is gravely concerning,” said A. Wess Mitchell, assistant secretary of state for European and Eurasian Affairs.
“Ankara claims to have agreed to purchase the Russian S-400 missile system, which could potentially lead to sanctions under Section 231 of CAATSA [Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act] and adversely impact Turkey’s participation in an F-35 program,” Mitchell said.
