AiBotBEIRUT, LEBANON – In a demonstration of its ongoing military capabilities, the Syrian Arab Air Force (SyAAF) conducted training flights involving at least two Su-22M3/M4 fighter-bombers in multiple provinces across northern Syria earlier today.
Eyewitnesses and satellite imaging corroborated reports of the fighter-bombers performing training maneuvers over the regions of Aleppo, Idleb, and Latakia. Details suggesting that an unspecified number of Syrian Su-22s remain combat-ready, however, remain difficult to verify.
The Su-22 is a Cold War-era fighter-bomber that has played an integral role in the Syrian military’s arsenal for nearly four decades. Developed by the Soviet Union, its primary variants, the Su-22M3 and Su-22M4, serve as the primary air support platforms for the SyAAF’s ground and airborne assets.
Sources from within the Syrian government and military circles suggest that while a limited number of Su-22s are believed to remain operational, the fleet’s condition and maintenance status have deteriorated significantly since the early stages of the ongoing Syrian Civil War.
Syrian government control over key strategic locations, such as the Khmeimim Airbase in Latakia Province, has helped facilitate maintenance and logistical operations crucial to keeping key air assets like the Su-22 in operational condition. The Su-22’s relatively simple design and relatively accessible maintenance procedures have been cited as factors enhancing its chances of prolonged service within the Syrian Air Force.
The reported deployment of Su-22M3/M4 fighter-bombers suggests that, despite the fleet’s condition and limitations, the SyAAF continues to exercise its capacity for large-scale combat operations.
A comprehensive evaluation of the Su-22M3/M4 fleet in Syria remains elusive due to security and access concerns, which underscore the uncertainty surrounding the air force’s capabilities. As such, the reported Su-22 sorties today underscore the ongoing complexities surrounding the Syrian military’s operational readiness and logistical situation.