Please notice: this is a layman's post. If you read it please don't skip the notes during and at the bottom of the post. Also before you decide what to think of my writings: please read through my latest post (plead added 03/06/2014).
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| frame at 0:18 min. from video uploaded 28/07/2012 to UnionOfAleppo's YouTube channel. |
(latest updated: February 13, 2013, except for the plead above).
For a long time the Syrian government seems to have been avoiding using fixed wing aircrafts in its fight against opposition forces. One can only speculate what the reason for this might have been, but a wish to make an internationally imposed no fly zone irrelevant seems an obvious possibility.
If that thought holds, then helicopters appears to have been deemed less problematic, and an increased use of these have been seen - escalating from firing heavy machine guns and S-5 rockets to dropping 250 kg unguided free fall bombs (OFAB 250-270). The first cases of use of OFABs were video reported from an area West of Hama at the end of June. Over a period of one or two weeks a series of large craters and unexploded bombs were video-reported from that area. The pattern of the first reports seemed to be that the bombs were dropped in pairs and with no apparent target. The (single) case of attempted use of cluster munitions reported on July 10. was also from that area, and the lack of targets lead to speculations that the area was being used for practice.
Since then there have been several recordings of Mil Mi 25 (Hind-D) helicopters dropping large bombs at a number of other places. One was recorded bombing Talbiseh (Homs), an unexploded OFAB 250-270 was recorded in Deir Ez-Zour, and a resent recording of a Mil Mi 25 dropping two bombs was made in Daraa (to mention a few).
Since then there have been several recordings of Mil Mi 25 (Hind-D) helicopters dropping large bombs at a number of other places. One was recorded bombing Talbiseh (Homs), an unexploded OFAB 250-270 was recorded in Deir Ez-Zour, and a resent recording of a Mil Mi 25 dropping two bombs was made in Daraa (to mention a few).
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| Map of Syria with the cities mentioned above. The red line is the M5 highway. Map stitched together from screen shots from Google Maps. |
But for what ever reason; this non-deployment of jets - if it ever existed - has now been ended: On July 23. reports started coming from Rastan that the city was being bombed by MiG-23s. The identification of the planes were reported via Twitter and said to have been made by defectors. A number of videos in my view make it likely, that jets were being used to drop bombs there, but no material has come out that can be used to make a visual identification of the planes used.
Then, two or three days later, the first recordings of fixed wing planes being used against opposition forces in Aleppo too started to come out. All of these recordings show planes with a shape that matches the L-39 Albatros. Reports from Aleppo has mentioned the MiG-21 too, but with no documentation.
Whether or not MiG 23s were the planes used against Rastan still remains uncertain, but until recently the way the L-39s were deployed at and around Aleppo seemed to be different from what Rastan had been subjected to(note 1).
According to Wikipedia, the L-39 was designed in Czechoslovakia in the late 1960's, primarily as a trainer jet for the Warsawa pact countries. It has a maximum speed of 750 km/hour (sub-sonic) and a range of 1,100 km (1,750 km when using external fuel tanks).
Given that the L-39 is designed for lower speeds compared to typical fighter jets, it has qualities, that matches well with a role as a light ground attack jet - especially against an enemy with little anti aircraft capacity. And as the design of the L-39 has been updated the ability to take on that role has been increased (section added 27/09/2012).
Auto-cannon and rockets:
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| Left: Muzzle flashes, frame from a video that has since been taken down, but similar recording can be seen here. Centre: Muzzle flashes, frame from this video. Right: Larger flash - I assume: from firing a rocket, frame from this video. |
The left and centre frames above are from different videos both showing the L-39 with what I believe to be muzzle flashes from firing an auto cannon mounted underneath the pilot compartment. The flashes occur during dives which corresponds with the way of using such a constricted cannon. In the frame to the right much larger flashes occur at the side of the plane, and I believe this to be a recording of the L-39 firing some kind of rockets. (video-links in caption).
These two types of armament would be in accordance with the L-39ZA variant of the Albatros which Syria is listed as operating. According to Wikipedia this variant can carry a 23 mm auto cannon, and is able to fire K-13s and R-60s rockets(note 2). The two models of rockets mentioned are not fired from multiple rocket pods (like the S-5) but are mounted directly to the pylons under the wings. This in my view corresponds with the large flashes.
* note (added 07/08/2012): As aviation journalist David Cenciotti points out in this post it can be seen that the L-39 in this video (or see image at top of this post) has two under-wing rocket-pods mounted. This makes me think I went to fare in my almost-excluding rocket pods as being used in the video mentioned above (with the larger flashes).
* note (added 07/08/2012): As aviation journalist David Cenciotti points out in this post it can be seen that the L-39 in this video (or see image at top of this post) has two under-wing rocket-pods mounted. This makes me think I went to fare in my almost-excluding rocket pods as being used in the video mentioned above (with the larger flashes).
In this Reuters article published on August 9., two photos by Goran Tomasevic are clearly showing an L-39ZA firing rockets from underwing rocket pods. The image caption says:
"A Syrian Air Force fighter plane fires a rocket during an air strike in the village of Tel Rafat, some 37 km (23 miles) north of Aleppo, August 9, 2012."Syrian activist @HamaEcho tweeted one of the photos in high resolution, and from studying it, it looks to me like the rockets are S-5s and that the launchers could be UB-16-57UMPs.
The under fuselage auto-cannon is also clearly visible under the pilots compartment. (this Reuters-section was added 09/08/2012).
Video with clear view towards L-39 firing its autocannon. (link replaced 13/01/2015).
Bombs:
Syria is also listed as having the L-39 in the ZO variant. This version is a predecessor to the L-39ZA and is not made to be armed with either auto cannon or rockets. But it should be able to carry bombs. (could be wrong: see note 3):
"…Four pylons stressed for 500 kg (1,100 lb) (inboard) and 250 kg (550 lb) (outboard), with total external load of 1,150 kg (2,500 lb)" (qoute: Wikipedia, but see note 4).
The frames below are from a video, that seems to document a case of an L-39 dropping a bomb at the city of Manbej 80 km East North-East of Aleppo.
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| Left: object can be seen falling from the plane (marked with circle). Right: the somke/dust rising from the explosion. Source: video uploaded 02/08/2012 to Msyria89's YouTube Channel. |
In full screen and highest resolution it can be seen, that an object is falling from the plane at 0:15 - 0:16 min. It's not easy to spot and in theory it could also be a manipulation, but at about 15 seconds later a large explosion occurs on the ground not fare from the camera. By calculating the distance of a 15 second free fall I get something like 1100 metres, if there is no wind resistance - which there is. And without knowing exactly how much less the distance would be with wind resistance, I think it matches the altitude of the plane quite well.
The frame below to the left is from a video that appears to show the crater of the bomb dropped in the frames above. And as can be seen it's a big crater. But even so; compared to other craters that I believe are from 250 kg OFABs this crater looks considerably smaller.
Now, making such a comparison does not amount to any kind of proof since a number of factors could play a role in this crater being smaller. The reason I mention it anyway is that 100 kg OFABs have started to appear in a number of video reports. The frame below to the right is from one of these reports. It is uploaded to the same channel as that showing the crater, and it shows what must be two unexploded 100 kg OFAB bombs (OFAB 100-120). These are a little less half the size of those reported dropped by Mil Mi 25s. To me the OFAB 100-120s could fit both the size of the crater, and also with being carried by a relatively small jet like the L-39.
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| Left: A crater. Frame from this video.Right: two OFAB 100-120, frames stitched together from this video. Both videos uploaded 02/08/2012 to Msyria89's YouTube Channel. |
In an earlier video also on the same channel a sand-bagged check point can be seen close to where the bomb hit, and I find it likely that either the check point or the building it guarded was the target of the bomb. In that case it missed. Not by more than maybe 50 meter, but enough to leave the target unharmed. Instead - according to reports via New York Times - a woman, on her way to the health clinic, in the building closest to where the bomb hit, was sadly killed.
Another case, of what could look like a similar jet-dropped bomb, has been video-reported from Aleppo. In this video the sound of a passing jet can be heard, and at about 10-12 seconds later a large explosion occurs close by. In this case the model of plane is uncertain, but the timespan, between the sound of the passing jet reaching the microphone, and the explosion, matches a drop like that in the video from Manbej. I have not been able to verify the location of this last video, but judging from the direction and the angle of the sun, the street will be running East-West, and - assuming this is recorded in the evening - the position of the camera is on the North side of the street. The video claims, that the area is purely civilian. I can not determine if that is true, but in this case too it seems, that even though the bomb make a huge blast, the effect - from a military viewpoint - could be quite insignificant.
(* note: this video linked to above has since been taken down, and I have not been able to find a kopi, sorry)
(* note: this video linked to above has since been taken down, and I have not been able to find a kopi, sorry)
* Please notice: Even if the bombs to the right in the illustration above didn't detonate as intended, they are not safe to handle. Handling and driving around with those bombs represents a great risk, since there is no way of telling what might cause them to detonate. The frame in the left side of the same illustration shows what kind of danger this puts those handling the bombs - as wel as anyone within a quite large radius - in.
Unexploded ordnance (UXO) should not be picked up, and should only be handled by professionals. Anyone else should observe the ARMS guidelines:
- Avoid the area
- Record all relevant information from a safe distance
- Mark the area to warn others
- Seek assistance from the relevant authorities
- link to print-out poster and warning flags in Arabic and English from R.R.M.A.
(notice updated December 19, 2012)
Unexploded ordnance (UXO) should not be picked up, and should only be handled by professionals. Anyone else should observe the ARMS guidelines:
- Avoid the area
- Record all relevant information from a safe distance
- Mark the area to warn others
- Seek assistance from the relevant authorities
- link to print-out poster and warning flags in Arabic and English from R.R.M.A.
(notice updated December 19, 2012)
Update August 9th:
One more video has come out. It is has the title:
"Aleppo - Alsakhur | | for the moment the plane of the rocket launch 07/08/2012"(Google Translate).I can not say anything about the stated location or the date of the recording, but as can be seen in the images below the L-39 does drop something.
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| Frames from video uploaded 07/08/2012 to AENNetwork's YouTube channel (via @HamaEcho) |
What exactly was dropped I can't say either, but it was attached to the outer of the two pylons under the left wing - and it was not a rocket or missile. The way that it travels after being released (losing forward speed relative to the plane and descending) would be consistent with a free fall bomb. This makes me assume it's another OFAB 100-120 bomb. A similar looking object can be seen attached to the outer pylon on the right wing.
Video uploaded September 2nd: a 5 minute video with an L-39 circling overhead, and dropping two bombs. According to the title the video is recorded in Al-Bab about 35 km to the North-East of Aleppo. The plane drops its second bomb quite close to the video reporter. It is a scary glimpse of what it must be like to be subjected to such an attack.
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| a frame at 2:51 min. from video uploaded 02/09/2012 to basselstat's YouTube channel. |
I have tried to use the recording to compare the bomb (the frame above) to online material about the OFAB 100-120, and I find it very likely that the bomb is of that model. However the material doesn't make it possible to be certain, only to say that I found nothing that contradicted a match. (video-section added 03/09/2012).
Online Focus has published a photo that gives a clear view of a Syrian L-39 dropping two bombs. The bombs have been identified by others as OFAB 100-120, and I believe they could be right, but I'm not able to make a definitive matching. They could look a bit too slim. Here is the photo in high resolution. (links added 02/09/2012).
Another high resolution photo of a double bomb drop, published by Sky News, was tweeted by Syrian activist @HamaEcho. I suspect it is of the same drop and by the same photographer as the one linked to from Online Focus. In this photo the bombs are seen as silhouettes, and the they seems to have noses that matches the OFAB 100-120. (link added 02/09/2012).
Video uploaded on August 31st: An L-39 dropping two bombs. According to the title of the video it was recorded North-East of Aleppo in Al-Bab. During the video there is no sound of the bombs detonating. Assuming a maximum of 15 seconds for the bombs to drop to the ground, that would leave about 5 seconds for the sound to reach the microphone. This would mean that if the bombs did detonate the reporter had to be at least 1.5 km away from the impact site. To me it looks unlikely, but I can't rule it out. (link via @Brown_Moses, added 05/09/2012).
Video uploaded August 29th: An L-39 reported over Taftanaz, Idlib.
One more video with same date and location.
* note: the two previous videos linked-to have been taken down, sorry.
And a third that appears to show an L-39 dropping a bomb. These are the only reports I have seen of the L-39 being used in Idlib, and the date and location matches the attack on Afis helicopter base 2.5 km South of the Taftanaz. Two other videos (here and here) uploaded the following days to the same channel (as the third L-39 video), and stating the same location, show unexploded OFAB-100-120s (100 kg unguided free fall bombs). And since - by now - that type of bomb appears to be the typical bomb, for the L-39 to drop, I find that these videos support each other.
More videos uploaded during the last two weeks seems to document the heavy retaliation the town has been hit with. This video shows, what I view as the typical OFAB crater, and the thick metal pieces, that are collected, correspond well with the casing of the OFABs. (links added 14/09/2012).
Video uploaded September 21th: 'Aleppo - Basha grove | | Albatros military jet bombed 09/20/2012' (Google Translate). An L-39 dropping two bombs at 0:11 and sound of explosion with smoke/dust at 0:27 min. (link added 21/09/2012).
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L-39 hit (update September 29th):
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| frame from video on ktibetahbaballah's YouTube channel. Uploaded 22/09/2012. |
A number of videos, uploaded to ktibetahbaballah's YouTube channel on September 22th, apperas to show an attack by opposition forces on a military base close to Al-Atarib.
During the attack - according to the reports - the opposition fighters were targeted by an L-39, which they managed to hit. The frame above is from one of the videos recorded during the attack on the military base (HQ of the 46th regiment, according to reports).
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| Left: frame from video on UnionOfAleppo's YouTube channel. Uploaded 22/09/2012. Right: frame from video on شبكة أخبار حلب و إدلب (AENN) YouTube channel. Uploaded 22/09/2012. |
Two videos on other channels is said to show the L-39 after it was hit. Location and date is not possible to verify, but one of the videos (frame above to the left) shows a jet leaving a trail of smoke, and the shape of this jet looks a lot like an L-39.
The other video also seems to show a plane on fire (centre of frame above to the right). In this video it is not possible to see what model of plane that is being recorded, but loud cheering at least in part supports the title of the video:
"Aleppo | | Islam Brigades down warplane 22/09/2012."(Google Translate)I have seen no video-reports or photos of the wreckage or other documentation of the plane actually being downed, but I'm resonably convinced that an L-39 was hit.
Other videos on ktibetahbaballah's YouTube channel show two truck mounted heavy machine guns: a DShK (12.7 mm) and a KPV (14.5 mm). It could be one of these weapons that managed to hit the plane, but the channel show more truck mounted heavy machine guns.
Video showing truck mounted DHsK firing at a Mil Mi 25
Video showing at least four Misrata style black pick-up trucks with heavy machine guns mounted.
Al Jazeera report on the claimed downing and the attack on the military base.
Video overlooking the besieged base (link and location via @Markito0171).
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L-39 shot down (update October 13):
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| Tail section of downed L-39. Image sources: left, video uploaded to UnionOfAleppo1's YouTube channel. Right: video uploaded to muhamad abdallah's YouTube channel. Both uploaded on 13/10/2012. |
Two video-reports of a downed L-39 have come out. According to the titles of the videos the recordings are from Western Aleppo, and according to @Markito0171 it should be in this area. I have seen no claims about what weapon was used to shoot down the plane
The identification of the jet should be certain. My main basis for the ID is the characteristic design of the exhaust opening (frame above to the right).
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More cases of downed L-39s:
(added Februar 13, 2013)
Since October 13, 2012, there have been more video-reports of L-39 jets being shot down. I have listed three of which at least the two seems to represent solid cases:
October 15, 2012, East North-East Aleppo / Al Bab
November 1, 2012, West of Aleppo / Anjarah* (I have not been able to exclude that this case is the same as the October 13 case).
November 27, 2012, South South-East of Aleppo / Al Muntar (go to 8:40 min) (some uncertainty about the exact date).
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The L-39 base, Ras El Abound, under attack.
(added December 21, 2012)
By December 21, 2012 at least one of the airports where the L-39s are based was under attack. Some of the material is collected here. (linked to map has been deleted, sorry).
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The L-39 base, Jirah, captured by opposition forces.
(added february 12, 2013)
On February 11, 2013, opposition forces declared the Jirah airbase about 70 km east of Aleppo taken, and video footage shows opposition fighters inside the airbase. Other video-reports claim to show opposition fighters besieging the airbase back on December 27, 2012, but I have no clear information about the exact date of the start of the siege.
Video-reports also show a number of L-39 jets in hardened hangars. The total number and operational status of the captured jets are unknown. One of the jets seems to have the under fuselage autocannon pod of an L-39ZA, but I can't say if this is conclusive.
Video-reports from inside the base. (linked to playlist has been deleted, sorry).
Location in Wikimapia.
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(I have removed some material about video-reports of MiG-21 and MiG-23 from August 13, 2012, from this post, but is the material is stil included in the post Syrian Airforce Unleashed)
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Related material:
The formidable British blogger Brown Moses has compiled many of the video reports with OFABs here, and in this post he was the first, that I saw, to identify the L-39 Albatros as the plane used against Aleppo.
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New York Times journalist C. J. Chivers gives an insightful run-down and capacity assessment of the use of helicopters by the Syrian Air force as well as the first appearances of fixed wing air-crafts in this article. And The New York Times' Watching Syria's War project has looked at the video with the L-39 dropping a bomb at Manbej here.
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Blogger The Independist (aka @Independist) has spotted around 50 of the L-39s in aerials of two air bases East of Aleppo. the findings are posted here.
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Prague Daily Monitor draws a historic parallel, and asks the relevant question of how it can be that the Syrian fleet of L-39s are still operational. (link added 19/08/2012).
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Blogger The Independist (aka @Independist) has spotted around 50 of the L-39s in aerials of two air bases East of Aleppo. the findings are posted here.
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Prague Daily Monitor draws a historic parallel, and asks the relevant question of how it can be that the Syrian fleet of L-39s are still operational. (link added 19/08/2012).
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* note 1: when I write "L-39" this is to be taken as a reference to the visual matching made to this model from the videos. I don't know if this identification is considered absolutely certain, but it is corroborated by knowledge of the Syrian Air Force having these in its fleet (Wikipedia lists Syria a having between 40 or 70 of the L-39 in two variants).
* note 2 (added 05/08/2012): the rockets mentioned are both air-to-air missiles, but I would expect them to be air-to-ground rockets, and by the section with the Reuters photos, the thought of rockets mounted directly to the pylons - in relation to the present use in Syria - seems a lot less likely. (note edited 22/08/2012).
* note 3 (added 08/08/2012): I have since seen photos of what is labelled an L-39ZO with under-wing rocket-pods. I'll leave it open what can be mounted to the under-wing pylons/hard-points of the ZO variant, but I still find that the auto-cannon must require too much modifying to be carried by the L-39ZO.
* general note: please keep in mind that this is not an expert analysis, but a presentation of observations and thoughts. Please apply your own judgment.
* note 2 (added 05/08/2012): the rockets mentioned are both air-to-air missiles, but I would expect them to be air-to-ground rockets, and by the section with the Reuters photos, the thought of rockets mounted directly to the pylons - in relation to the present use in Syria - seems a lot less likely. (note edited 22/08/2012).
* note 3 (added 08/08/2012): I have since seen photos of what is labelled an L-39ZO with under-wing rocket-pods. I'll leave it open what can be mounted to the under-wing pylons/hard-points of the ZO variant, but I still find that the auto-cannon must require too much modifying to be carried by the L-39ZO.
* general note: please keep in mind that this is not an expert analysis, but a presentation of observations and thoughts. Please apply your own judgment.
- Rastan
- weapons used on Homs
- Syria: Local photo sources.
- any corrections or additions are welcome. Either leave it as a post-comment or @ my twitter acount.
