Russia's newest anti-air defenses are in Syria — and the US should be worried

Russian Ministry of Defence

• Russia has a layered defense system protecting its bases in Syria that could prove difficult for American jets seeking to strike Syrian targets.
• The system is composed of Pantsir-S1 mobile point-defence systems and S-400 missile systems. The Pantsir-S1 can take out low-flying vehicles and missiles while the S-400 can destroy high-flying targets.
• Russia has also developed a small missile that is capable of taking out drones, limiting the effectiveness of a drone swarm or small armed UAVs.
• Russia's air defenses are significantly more capable than American counterparts, especially when working together.

Talk of missile or air strikes against Syrian government forces as part of a retaliatory action for the alleged chemical weapons attack in Douma on Saturday has heated up in the last 24 hours. 

But while Syrian air defenses are viewed as either not a threat or fair game for destruction, Russia's air defenses provide a much more difficult challenge, and not only because their destruction could lead to higher escalation. The air defenses could prove dangerous should the Russians decide to protect their Syrian ally.See the rest of the story at Business Insider

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See Also:

• 'Things are bad and getting worse': Investigation finds disturbing connection between defense cuts and deadly military aviation accidents
• A compelling theory explains the latest chemical attack in Syria — and it looks like Assad got what he wanted
• 'All sticks, no carrots': John Bolton arrives at the White House with a crisis brewing in Syria and no hint of what Trump will do

SEE ALSO: Trump appears on the verge of striking Syria — here's a look at US firepower in the region