C-400 Turkey supply: why An-124 Ruslan were involved
The other day there was a momentous event. Moscow has begun fulfilling its contractual obligations to supply S-400 systems to Turkey. Despite opposition from Washington, Ankara laid out $ 2,5 billion for Russian air defense systems, giving preference to them, rather than to the American Patriots. In response, the Kremlin flaunted its military transport aircraft, quickly deploying air defense systems over the air.
Why is it worth paying particular attention to this fact?
Air transportation is more expensive than sea transportation. But sometimes delivery speed is more important than cost.
For example, in 1996-1998, the resonance was caused by the story of the attempts of the young Russian Federation to deliver the S-300 PMU-1 systems to Cyprus. The air defense system was sent to the Mediterranean island by sea on board the BDK. However, they never reached their goal. Turkey opposed sharply, it was supported by the USA and Great Britain. As a result of the political conflict, Cyprus did not receive the S-300. A “compromise” was found, according to which air defense systems were installed in Greek Crete. Subsequently, the Cypriots received simpler complexes, Tor-M1 air defense systems and Buk-M1-2 air defense systems as "compensation".
There are other weaknesses in maritime transport, as domestic defense industry experts have already seen through bitter experience. As you know, Turkey is not the first buyer of the S-400 from Russia. Previously, the SAM acquired China, for which our defense industry was sanctioned by the US State Department. But then the Chinese did not receive air defense systems. When delivered by sea in the English Channel last year, the ship fell into a severe storm, and, according to the official version, the missiles were seriously damaged. As a result, manufacturers had to re-fulfill the order.
It turns out that the sea route with its cheapness is sometimes inferior to the air. Russia is able to carry out the tasks of operational transfer equipment anywhere in the world, thanks to the preserved military transport aviation (BTA). The flying "heavy vehicles" of the Russian Aerospace Forces are the An-124 Ruslan. In the fleet of domestic BTA, there are 16 of them. Only they are able to accommodate and quickly transport the S-400 complex by air. For comparison, the United States is forced to carry its “Patriots” by sea, because they don’t get on their own BTA aircraft.
In 2015, the Ruslans had already deployed the S-400 air defense system to Syria unexpectedly for many. Now the Kremlin has just as spectacularly repeated this issue with Turkey. The domestic military transport administration has once again demonstrated that, if necessary, it is able to quickly strengthen air defense of any union state: Syria, Venezuela or Iran.
Why is it worth paying particular attention to this fact?
Air transportation is more expensive than sea transportation. But sometimes delivery speed is more important than cost.
For example, in 1996-1998, the resonance was caused by the story of the attempts of the young Russian Federation to deliver the S-300 PMU-1 systems to Cyprus. The air defense system was sent to the Mediterranean island by sea on board the BDK. However, they never reached their goal. Turkey opposed sharply, it was supported by the USA and Great Britain. As a result of the political conflict, Cyprus did not receive the S-300. A “compromise” was found, according to which air defense systems were installed in Greek Crete. Subsequently, the Cypriots received simpler complexes, Tor-M1 air defense systems and Buk-M1-2 air defense systems as "compensation".
There are other weaknesses in maritime transport, as domestic defense industry experts have already seen through bitter experience. As you know, Turkey is not the first buyer of the S-400 from Russia. Previously, the SAM acquired China, for which our defense industry was sanctioned by the US State Department. But then the Chinese did not receive air defense systems. When delivered by sea in the English Channel last year, the ship fell into a severe storm, and, according to the official version, the missiles were seriously damaged. As a result, manufacturers had to re-fulfill the order.
It turns out that the sea route with its cheapness is sometimes inferior to the air. Russia is able to carry out the tasks of operational transfer equipment anywhere in the world, thanks to the preserved military transport aviation (BTA). The flying "heavy vehicles" of the Russian Aerospace Forces are the An-124 Ruslan. In the fleet of domestic BTA, there are 16 of them. Only they are able to accommodate and quickly transport the S-400 complex by air. For comparison, the United States is forced to carry its “Patriots” by sea, because they don’t get on their own BTA aircraft.
In 2015, the Ruslans had already deployed the S-400 air defense system to Syria unexpectedly for many. Now the Kremlin has just as spectacularly repeated this issue with Turkey. The domestic military transport administration has once again demonstrated that, if necessary, it is able to quickly strengthen air defense of any union state: Syria, Venezuela or Iran.
- Sergey Marzhetsky
- https://www.srbijadanas.net/
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