Russia is going to expand Khmeimim airbase in Syria
Aviation A group from the Russian Air Force Air Force appeared in Syria on September 30, 2015. This temporary military formation was used to conduct operations in the Syrian Arab Republic and support government forces in their fight against the Islamic State. The group deployed in Syria had a mixed composition. It presented both Su-30SM and Su-35 fighters, as well as Su-24 and Su-34 front-line bombers, as well as Su-25SM attack aircraft. In addition, almost all modern Russian helicopters were presented at the base: Mi-8, Mi-24/35, Mi-28N, and also Ka-52.
At present, Khmeimim airbase in Syria is a typical Russian military town, with its streamlined life and life, where lunch, breakfast and dinner are strictly according to schedule. According to many Russian military journalists, they had never seen such a level of comfort in combat conditions before. In order to ensure the effective actions of the Russian Aerospace Forces in Syria, a well-established logistics system, as well as an aerodrome-technical, aerodrome engineering and special types of support, were created and operated smoothly at the air base.
In Syria, Russian experts have deployed dozens of types of modern infrastructure: warehouses (including storage of ammunition and fuel), equipment refueling points, modern field outlets, bath-and-laundry complexes and bakeries. At the same time, the base personnel are housed in special comfortable container units, which are modular, allowing you to create various configurations from them. The rooms in these units were equipped with the necessary set of furniture, as well as air conditioning, which is especially important in the hot climate of Syria. In terms of capacity, the units at the air base are designed for two-, four-person accommodation for military personnel.
There is also a mobile bakery on the airbase. PCB-04 bakes all types of bread: wheat, rye-wheat and rye in field conditions: 400 kilograms of rye bread and 300 kilograms of wheat every day. For cooking hot food at an air base in Syria, the field kitchens KP-130 and PAK-200 are used. All types of fuel are suitable for these kitchens - coal, diesel fuel, ordinary firewood.
When arranging the base, much attention was paid to the comfortable placement of military personnel who have to be away from their homeland. Many of the Russian soldiers who go on a business trip to Syria at the Khmeymim airbase come here for three months. At first glance, this is not such a long time. However, being in unusual conditions, abroad, in a country that is mired in a civil war and in the fight against terrorists of all stripes, leaves its mark on them. The Russian Defense Ministry tried to maximally reduce the psychological burden on military personnel who serve in the Syrian Arab Republic. For example, at the Russian airbase from 8 hours of the morning until 10 hours of the evening a “Psychological Work Point” was opened, which is a relatively small tent. Inside the soldiers are waiting for easy chairs, quiet music, paintings with traditional Russian landscapes, including winter ones. But, most importantly, professional psychologists work here who are ready to provide the necessary assistance to the military.
In February, the 2016 of the year at the air base opened the Center for reconciliation of the warring parties, which operates on a permanent basis. Perhaps someone had the impression that this is a fairly large complex, stuffed with the most advanced equipment. But in reality this is a small room that accommodates approximately 15 employees. The center collects and processes information, as well as its subsequent transfer to interested parties. At the same time, a significant amount of work is being done not at the airbase itself, but in various provinces of Syria, where special groups are collecting information on violations of the cease-fire regime and the existing truce.
As noted in an interview with the Izvestia newspaper, Senator Franz Klintsevich, the legal development of the future status of the Russian Hmeimim airbase in Syria is still ongoing, but in the near future it can become a full-fledged Russian military base.
“After coordination of the legal status, Khmeimim’s air base will become the base of the Russian armed forces, the corresponding infrastructure will be built on the ground, and Russian military personnel will live in decent conditions on a permanent basis,” Franz Klintsevich noted. - The grouping of the Russian Aerospace Forces in this case can be increased taking into account bilateral agreements, but so far the available forces and means are sufficient in terms of solving the tasks set for them. Nuclear weapon and heavy bombers will not be permanently deployed at the air base, since this is contrary to international agreements and can cause very serious irritation in many countries.
An informed source at the Russian Defense Ministry told Izvestia that it was planned to expand the existing infrastructure at Khmeimim airbase at the end of 2015, but the issue of the status of this military facility was not resolved then.
“In particular, it is planned to expand parking for various aviation equipment, since on peak days there were problems with the placement of the aircraft, it is also planned to protect the equipment with shafts in case of possible shelling or bombardment,” the Izvestia interlocutor noted. - Probably, to increase the level of security, a separate basing of squadrons will be introduced at the base, whereas now there is one big “parking” there. Also at the Russian base in Syria will be installed new radio equipment, including air traffic control systems.
According to a source in the Ministry of Defense, the project to improve the air base in Syria also provided for a place in which the heavy transport aircraft An-124 Ruslan could safely load and unload, and the ground staff of the base could deal with their maintenance without interfering with this airfield job.
“Also, stationary objects will be built on the base: high-grade barracks, a hospital, canteens, and, in addition, positions will be equipped for the Pantsir anti-aircraft missile and cannon systems covering the airfield,” the source added.
The transformation of the Khmeimim airbase into the permanent base of the Russian Aerospace Forces is intended to solve the task of both supporting an ally and ensuring the security of the Russian Federation. 14 August Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu in an interview with the program "Vesti" explained that the Russian air base in Syria is necessary to fight the terrorists still "on distant approaches", noting that today in Syria there are a large number of our compatriots among the terrorists from Russia , and from the CIS countries or the former USSR.
“At the time of entry of the Russian Aerospace Force into the Syrian Arab Republic, the armed forces of this state were seriously demoralized, but Russian support allowed them to restore their fighting capacity,” stressed Frants Klintsevich. - Fire and reconnaissance support from the Russian Aerospace Forces allows us to more successfully accomplish the tasks facing the Syrian army. The Russian Federation understands that if the necessary measures are not taken in this region, a large-scale terrorist threat may reach our borders. It is necessary to do something, and it is not possible to agree on joint actions with the countries of the West, so it was decided to take the path of strengthening relations with regional players - Syria, Iran and Iraq.
Professor of the Cairo University, member of the Egyptian Council on International Affairs (ECFA), expert of the Valdai Club Nurhan El-Sheikh believes that the expansion of Russia's presence in the Middle East will have a positive impact on the situation in this region.
“Russia today is the only international player who is waging a serious fight against terrorism,” the expert noted. - The United States and other Western countries are playing the show, but they have no real achievements on the ground. Therefore, the continued presence of the Russian Federation in the Middle East is in the interests of not only Syria, but also other Arab states.
According to the political analyst, the presence of the Russian military has already changed a lot in Syria compared to what happened in the country a year ago.
“In many parts of the country, the situation has been changed, but the situation around Aleppo is especially worth noting; this city is an extremely important place for Islamists,” Nurhan El-Sheikh emphasized. - The defeat of the Islamists under Aleppo is a serious Russian success, a victory for the entire region and a defeat for the forces of the Islamists.
The expert also noted that Saudi Arabia and a number of other Gulf States will be unhappy with Moscow’s decision to maintain a military presence in Syria, since they have their own vision of the future of this state, and the Russian Federation is violating their plans.
“The disagreements of these states with Russia today concern not only cooperation with Iran, but also which groups in Syria should be considered terrorist,” said the professor. - Finally, the third most significant difference is in the assessment of the figure of Bashar Assad. In Saudi Arabia, they believe that Moscow today supports Bashar al-Assad specifically, but this is not true: Russia primarily supports Syria and the balance of power in the region.
Information sources:
http://izvestia.ru/news/626524#ixzz4HChR7ync
http://izvestia.ru/news/612693
http://sdelanounas.ru/blogs/74813
http://www.rbc.ru/rbcfreenews/57abe8a79a7947fb6d25c26a
Information