Russia deactivates its S-400 batteries at the Khmeimim air base – and all Syria

Russia’s advanced S-400 air defense batteries at the Khmeimim Air Base in Syria have been quietly “deactivated,” according to Russian military sources and publications. This has not been officially confirmed or denied. One source said that today, not a single S-400 is operational anywhere in Syria.

Three months ago, DEBKAfile’s military sources cited the Syrian military as reporting that the Russian S-400s posted outside the important Syrian military compound at Masyaf in the west had been “deactivated” indicating the shutdown of their radar systems.

Our sources note that, although Russian S-300 and S-400 air defense systems have been deployed in Syria for the past four years, they have never been used against the assaults mounted by Israel’s Israeli Air Force against Iranian military targets. All the same, in spite of the coordination and understandings forged between Russia and Israel, Israeli air crews have always taken the presence of these advanced weapons into careful consideration whenever they flew into Syrian air space.
The reason for the Russian decision to switch off its air defense is a matter of speculation, whether because of budgetary pressure or perhaps preparatory to the evacuation of all those systems from Syria. Another theory is that Moscow has been so successful in marketing its S-400s to foreign countries, that it has run short of them for Russia’s own fronts, such as the Black Sea or opposite the Baltic states.

This week, for the first time since the Russians military intervention in the Syrian war began in 2015, an American B-52 strategic bomber flew over Khmeimim and then headed down the Syrian coast before turning east and landing in Jordan. Our sources report that the lone US bomber was likely on a mission to test Russia’s reported neutralization of its state-of-the-art defense systems in Syria.

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57 thoughts on “Russia deactivates its S-400 batteries at the Khmeimim air base – and all Syria

  • Nov 3, 2019 @ 21:11 at 21:11
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    They Reactivated sub systems , that do not require S systems to be there ; Those Sub Systems are more potent than anything anyone have seen , and soon someone will get a taste of them .

  • Nov 3, 2019 @ 21:30 at 21:30
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    Be aware you’re talking technology,…fliud and dynamic , cannot be monopolized

  • Nov 3, 2019 @ 21:34 at 21:34
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    The russians will install the s400 in Irak. Let the time speaks.

    • Nov 4, 2019 @ 2:08 at 2:08
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      @Luis monje mx… Will They Work Or Be Shutdown There Too?

      • Nov 4, 2019 @ 13:21 at 13:21
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        On or off they will sell it to iraq

    • Nov 4, 2019 @ 13:45 at 13:45
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      Let the Luis monje mx speaky English bettuh! Make the world a bettuh place one ingnoramus at a time!

  • Nov 3, 2019 @ 22:00 at 22:00
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    yes, time speaks with mirth and requisitioning. Be that the same this arouses inception.

  • Nov 3, 2019 @ 22:13 at 22:13
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    “DEBKAfiles” anonymous secret sources… say lots of things that are less than accurate. But if this was true it does raise interesting questions especially since Syria is been used to test new Russian toys including the S500 according to Russian reports many months ago.

    So questions to ask are the Russians jamming the aircraft, have they deployed something new like a Chinese Quantum radar that uses light, have they simply changed their deployment and are now making use of a larger mesh system away from the launchers. Or is this just the symptom of Jim Carroll having a bit to much good weed over the Halloween weekend ?

    • Nov 3, 2019 @ 23:22 at 23:22
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      NOT GOOD WEED…. GOOD RUSSIAN POON!

      • Nov 4, 2019 @ 4:14 at 4:14
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        lol whut?

  • Nov 3, 2019 @ 22:29 at 22:29
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    Based on the Reality Histories of S-300, S-400 & now S-500. It seems Nations that challenged the Russian Systems learned how to go around them, disabled them, & ignored them with impunity. Do they really matter if Russia won’t use them or shuts them down & Turkey has ended buying them? Appreciate Any Info or corrections That s-3-4-5-00s Actually Worked?

    • Nov 3, 2019 @ 22:39 at 22:39
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      If you are implying that S300/400/500 that are kept up to date are not very effective I’d have to say that is wishful thinking. Any technology that does not receive its updates to address vulnerabilities will be able to be attacked based on that known weakness. If the S400 was not very effective Israel would not have been begging Russia to not sell them to Iran, America would not be doing everything possible to prevent there proliferation and there would be no problem with Turkey operating S400 and the F35 turkey…

    • Nov 4, 2019 @ 11:24 at 11:24
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      ” Appreciate Any Info or corrections That s-3-4-5-00s Actually Worked?”

      @GST001,

      We know for sure that the Russian S-200 system worked as proved by the Syrian military when it took down a Russian military aircraft and the Russians (at that time) blamed the Israelis for the incident.

      ” Do they really matter if Russia won’t use them or shuts them down & Turkey has ended buying them?”

      Just to bring this up to date, there’s a Debka breaking news article stating that the Russians are delivering Turkey’s order for S-400’s early.

      https://www.debka.com/mivzak/moscow-transfers-s-400s-to-turkey-ahead-of-schedule/

    • Nov 4, 2019 @ 13:35 at 13:35
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      Those systems are likely quite effective.

      The difficulty is knowing just how effective against various targets flying different mission profiles under combat conditions. I doubt anyone, Russia, USA, etc. actually knows how effective and I’d bet that there are considerable intelligence resources devoted to learning more about that – but never with an accurate and enduring answer to the question.

    • Nov 6, 2019 @ 15:52 at 15:52
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      The reality is that the Russians have won the Syrian war. Let that sink in…And sink in again…..A big part of that is their SAM capability. Use your head, why do you think the US is begging or threatening all nations to shy away from the purchase of the S-400 systems? This is the reality, not some propaganda you read from pro western sources.

      • Nov 8, 2019 @ 6:32 at 6:32
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        hmm… the russian sam capability was crucial in syria? against what? the only aircraft in that battle were on their side.

  • Nov 3, 2019 @ 22:37 at 22:37
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    These systems suck, as have most all of Soviet or Russian aviation platforms. MIG’s were like flying lawnmowers.

    • Nov 6, 2019 @ 7:53 at 7:53
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      and you know this how?

  • Nov 3, 2019 @ 23:17 at 23:17
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    S400 is “garbage” according to US studies!

  • Nov 3, 2019 @ 23:19 at 23:19
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    S400 is “garbage” according to US studies!

    Besides Russia cannot engage the F35..,”invisible to them” according to same study.

    • Nov 6, 2019 @ 7:54 at 7:54
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      you guys know everything about S400 etc… and you know this how?

  • Nov 3, 2019 @ 23:36 at 23:36
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    Question: when was the last raid in Syrië??any kind of hiatus??

  • Nov 4, 2019 @ 0:25 at 0:25
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    I guess Debka sent a plane to check it if it’s on / off !

  • Nov 4, 2019 @ 1:31 at 1:31
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    Perhaps there are reasons for this that we don’t want you to know about. There is an old expression that goes like this: “Loose lips sink ships”.

  • Nov 4, 2019 @ 1:55 at 1:55
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    For the Russians, solving the problem of targeting a low observable aircraft is something that they continue to work on—but it is doubtful the Moscow has resolved the issue, https://www.quora.com/Can-the-S400-shoot-down-the-F35

  • Nov 4, 2019 @ 2:04 at 2:04
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    Only One Thing For Sure. If Shutdown Can’t Be Operational Or Used Unless Put On & Up Again? Like All Offense & Defense Weapons Much Obsolescence is the state of being which occurs when an object, service, or practice is no longer wanted even though it may still be in good working order.

  • Nov 4, 2019 @ 8:16 at 8:16
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    That’s simple: they don’t have to be on, because there is no sizeable threat. If such a threat appears, they will be switched on. The West+Israel’s resources to attack Syria are largely exhausted, the war is over and they lost badly, Netanyahu is on the way out, and the Jews have been WARNED. Because a warning does a better job than S-500s at this stage of the confrontation.

    • Nov 4, 2019 @ 9:10 at 9:10
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      When They Are Not “ON” That Means They Are Vulnerable & When Hit & Too Late To Turn “ON” Since Gone? Russia & Syria Resources Are By No Means Able To Exhaust America, Arabia & Israel Resources!

    • Nov 4, 2019 @ 11:09 at 11:09
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      “That’s simple: they don’t have to be on, because there is no sizeable threat. If such a threat appears, they will be switched on. The West+Israel’s resources to attack Syria are largely exhausted, the war is over and they lost badly, Netanyahu is on the way out, and the Jews have been WARNED. Because a warning does a better job than S-500s at this stage of the confrontation.”

      @ “Drang zum Damaskus then, you tiny, little, tiny jewsies! At your own risk!”,

      Funny how such an “expert” making that comment doesn’t even have the courage to reveal a true name!

    • Nov 4, 2019 @ 11:38 at 11:38
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      “The West+Israel’s resources to attack Syria are largely exhausted, the war is over and they lost badly,—-”

      @ “Drang zum Damaskus then, you tiny, little, tiny jewsies! At your own risk!”,

      The “West+Israel” didn’t lose since they weren’t at war with Syria itself, nor are their resources exhausted.

      BTW, you couldn’t think of a better “name” for yourself ???

      • Nov 4, 2019 @ 23:48 at 23:48
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        @Davefromorange… Correct, Syria has been Badly Destroyed by its Civil War & Russia Nor Syria has the Funds to Rebuild Syria. Another Mideast Nation in Poverty!

  • Nov 4, 2019 @ 10:25 at 10:25
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    Maybe we can get (former President) Obama to go on a “fact finding” mission to Russia and find out what’s really going on since, just prior to his second term, he was caught on a “hot mic” asking the Russian leader to “give him some more slack” so he can return the favor to Putin, all showing what a close relationship he has with the Russian hierarchy.

  • Nov 4, 2019 @ 12:03 at 12:03
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    S400 never worked.

  • Nov 4, 2019 @ 15:40 at 15:40
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    Intelligent move: should the Israeli Air Force prove the S 400 ineffective, Russia stands to lose $-billions ++
    discrediting other military sales…

  • Nov 4, 2019 @ 17:14 at 17:14
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    It is just Soviet missiles with a new paint job. Russia can not do anything high tech today. Maybe if they collaborated with China. But China see Russia as a potential enemy so that’s not going to happen.

    Even the small defense contractors in the EU have better radars and EW than what Russia can muster. Russia will never have air superiority over a modern army.

    • Nov 4, 2019 @ 17:58 at 17:58
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      I think that you must be schizoid.

  • Nov 4, 2019 @ 19:46 at 19:46
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    Not sure what to make of this report, it hasn’t been officially confirmed or denied.

  • Nov 4, 2019 @ 20:16 at 20:16
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    debka is fakenews…… lol jesus game communists

    • Nov 5, 2019 @ 10:39 at 10:39
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      “China reportedly sending Men to Sleep in Beds as Uighur Muslim Women while Husbands are in Prison Camps!”

      I certainly wouldn’t put it past China to do a thing like that on a large scale!

  • Nov 5, 2019 @ 23:03 at 23:03
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    Which will come first?
    Mandelblit’s indictments of Netanyahu or the Nov 12 EU-wide devastating in effect laws regarding mislabeling any Palestinian goods? Tick Tock

    We’ve got 1 wk till the BDS-mainstreaming EU restrictions on the Apartheid

    Meanwhile, Black Flag on any last minute Netanyahu shennagins, again. This is the last gasp

  • Nov 10, 2019 @ 0:57 at 0:57
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    Dr. Carlo Kopp, one of the world’s top aerospace experts, says the S-400 has optional acquisition radars designed to defeat modern stealth aircraft such as the F-22 and the F-35. They work by operating in multiple frequency bands including both VHF and L bands that can “see” stealth-protected fighters. Stealth designs have been built on low-detection by X-band radars, the most common military and civilian radars (others such as C-band now known as the G/H band are less prevalent). The F-35 has stealth protection mainly in the front of the aircraft, meaning that when it turns away from its target it is vulnerable. In time, the entire air defense system of the US and its allies, all based primarily on X band, will become obsolete as China and Russia move toward stealth aircraft and missiles.

    https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/why-russias-s-400-anti-air-system-deadlier-you-think-94541

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