On February 23, two more advanced Su-57 stealth fighter jets were deployed by the Russian Aerospace Forces at their Hmeimim airbase, near the Syrian coastal city of Jableh, according to photos published by Syrian pro-government activists.
The photos showed the two stealth fighter jets approaching Hmeimim. The Su-57 warplanes were escorted by a Su-30SM multirole fighter jet.
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The activists also revealed that the Russian Aerospace Forces had deployed a second A-50U airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) plane at the Hmeimim airbase. The second A-50U has the serial number (41 Red), according to the released photos.
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The Russian Aerospace Forces deployed two Su-57 stealth fighter jets, four Su-35 warplanes, four Su-25 warplanes and an A-50U AEW&C plane at the Hmeimim airbase on February 21.
Experts believe that the advanced Su-57 stealth fighter jets were deployed in Syria in order to conduct several tests in a real battlefield environment. These tests may include testing of advance guided air to ground weapons. Russia has previously tested several modern weapon systems, including the state of the art Iskander missile system, in Syria.
So far, the Ministry of Defense of Russia has not commented on the deployment of the Su-57 stealth fighters in Syria. Nonetheless, the U.S. Department of Defense stated on February 23 that the deployment of these advances jets don’t pose any threats to the US-led coalition in Syria.
