DefenceTalkThe Russian Air Force has being employing a wide spectrum of precision-guided munitions in Syria as part of the operation against the Islamic State (IS) terrorist group banned in Russia, Konstantin Sivkov, Ph.D., writes in the Military Industrial Courier weekly. “The Kh-29 (NATO reporting name: AS-14 Kedge) and Kh-25 (AS-10 Karen) air-to-surface missiles – both […]https://www.defencetalk.com/russian-aircraft-using-wide-range-of-guided-weapons-in-syria-65724/

DefenceTalkRussian Sukhoi Su-34 (NATO reporting name: Fullback) frontline bombers are using KAB-1500L guided air bombs to attack the Islamic State terrorist organization’s most important facilities in Syria, a source in the defense and industrial sector told TASS on Thursday. The Su-34 frontline bombers are operating in Syria within the Russian Aerospace Force’s aviation grouping. The […]https://www.defencetalk.com/russia-uses-kab-1500l-guided-bombs-to-attack-terrorist-facilities-in-syria-65721/

DefenceTalkA small contingent of US special forces will be sent as part of an “advise and assist” mission to the Syrian rebels fighting against Islamic State militants, Reuters reported citing unnamed US officials. President Barack Obama is expected to make a full announcement Friday. Unnamed US officials told Reuters that 20-30 special forces operatives will […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-special-forces-to-deploy-to-syria-65716/

DefenceTalkBeirut: Russia launched a campaign of air strikes in Syria in support of President Bashar al-Assad on September 30, providing air cover for government offensives in several provinces. One month into the campaign, here are answers to some key questions: Q: Where has Russia carried out raids? A: Russia has conducted air strikes in 10 […]https://www.defencetalk.com/month-into-russias-syria-strikes-what-has-changed-65711/

DefenceTalkThe US Air Force recently lost control of two armed Predator drones in separate incidents in Turkey and Iraq, a US military official said Wednesday. The Predators were both carrying air-to-surface Hellfire missiles when they crashed, but these were safely recovered along with the aircraft. In the first case on October 17, a Predator crew […]https://www.defencetalk.com/two-armed-us-predator-drones-crash-in-iraq-turkey-65677/

DefenceTalkOttawa: Canada’s prime minister-elect Justin Trudeau said Tuesday he told US President Barack Obama that Canadian fighter jets would withdraw from fighting the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria. But he gave no timeline. “About an hour ago I spoke with President Obama,” Trudeau told a press conference. While Canada remains “a strong member […]https://www.defencetalk.com/canada-withdrawing-fighter-jets-from-iraq-syria-trudeau-obama-65671/

DefenceTalkBeirut: Russia said Thursday its warplanes had eased back on air strikes in Syria as regime forces press a widening ground offensive, while President Vladimir Putin criticized Washington for not cooperating over the conflict. As Moscow and Washington neared agreement on measures to avoid confrontation over Syria, Russia announced that a hotline had been set […]https://www.defencetalk.com/syria-regime-in-new-offensive-as-putin-blasts-us-65642/

DefenceTalkAmerican-made anti-tank missiles are turning the tide against the Syrian regime and allied forces in a major battle in the country’s centre and northwest, rebel groups said Tuesday. Non-Islamist opposition factions say they are using the US-made TOW missiles to halt a Syrian army advance that is backed by Russian air strikes in the provinces […]https://www.defencetalk.com/rebels-say-us-made-missiles-turning-tide-against-regime-65635/

DefenceTalkSyrian government troops advanced under cover of Russian airstrikes Monday as the United States airdropped 50 tons of small arms ammunition to rebels in northern Syria. In the heaviest fighting in weeks, government forces battled rebels in a strategic area in the central province of Hama, hoping to regain the Sahl al-Ghab plain. The fighting […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-airdrops-50-tons-of-munitions-to-syrian-rebels-65624/

DefenceTalkRough estimates suggest that Moscow has spent at least $87 million for air and cruise-missile strikes in the first two weeks of its bombing campaign in Syria that began September 30. With that relatively modest investment, the Kremlin has made itself a player that cannot be ignored in the Syrian conflict as it backs ally […]https://www.defencetalk.com/is-russia-getting-its-moneys-worth-from-its-syria-campaign-65621/