The information of the two russian warships are most interesting.
Later one other source mention a crusier and a air defence destroyer are on the way. The can search further and soon find the names of the ships. Maybee we already now the names of the ships if we have all information of the Russian orbat.
Both ships have helicopters. Very aviation related as I can see.
hammarö wrote:Dragon (U-2S) arrive on Fairford. Someone knew moore. Is it more Dragons?
Source: other spotter web.
Probably just a swap over to that other sandpit! If you start mentioning all military traffic in the region !! Maybe you can start a career at a tabloid! !
Two U-2S spyplanes arrived on Akrotiri in the afternoon of 29 August.
One U-2S had left RAF Fairford (Dragon 31) in the morning and was plotted until it entered he French airspace:although its final destination is unknown, is safe to assume it went to Akrotiri.
The first U-2S made two attempts to land where as the second had no issues.
There are no reports of a second U-2 leaving Fairford before and after the reported departure, it must have come from elsewhere, possibly from a US base as Al Dhafra, in the UAE. A further three U-2S are currently based at RAF Fairford: whether to stay there or move on to Akrotiri remains to be seen.
The arrival of the first two Dragon Lady aircraft amid growic tensic-up is a sort of mystery. Media outlets reporting from Akrotiri highlited the plane was to Damascus Chemical weapons.
On the other side, having these imortant ISR planes 200 km from the Syrian coastlone would expose them to an eventual retaliatory attack.
As for RAF assets at the base it is thought there are two Tristars, a A-330 Vouager, an E-3 Sentry (two visible on TV news, maybee one in air), the six Typhoons mentioned earlier and a BAe 146 that ferried further crews and C-130 moving equipment (seen on TV news).
Details as per the US hardware at the base is a little more scarce,although the U-2s have been confirmed and photografed.
The U-2s have been flying out of Cyprus since early June, and they took off every night.
In the following I informate as spared as usual.
Information most be positive from other sources, and no more jumping.
DRAGON 31 went Westbound out of Fairford as far as I could see from scanner logs on Aug 30th arriving Aug 29th (Apearantly 80-1092) DRAGON 53 went Southbound out of Fairford on Aug 29th (Apperantly 80-1094) DRAGON 21 & 86 & 88 were heard inbound Fairford on Aug 27th (Apperantly 80-1086 & 80-1083 & 80-1094)
Believe Callsign use is normal for a U2 Swap (8x series from Conus to FFD is Eastbound, 2x & 3x? is Westbound, 5x series FFD-further east) though this is from memory.
The 5th (DRAGON 31) not sure where it came from though, seems from Conus perhaps bringing spares for DRAGON 21 as she came in appearantly with an emergency. though that is an educated guess.
They are performed by
RC-135S/V/W
EP-3E
Reaper flights noted from Incirlik
Global Hawk question. USAF are planning to withdraw the smaller drones and place them in Arizona desert.
Cedar Sweeps are not Syrian directed operations. They involve U-2 flights from Akrotiri against Hizbollah at least since 2010, and has nothing to do with Syria so we can forget them. The newly U-2S operations from Akrotiri concern orders around the chemical attack.
(Reuters) - President Bashar al-Assad's forces have removed several Scud missiles and dozens of launchers from a base north of Damascus, possibly to protect the weapons from a Western attack, opposition sources said on Thursday.
The move from the position in the foothills of the Qalamoun mountains, one of Syria's most heavily militarized districts, appears part of a precautionary but limited redeployment of armaments in areas of central Syria still held by Assad's forces, diplomats based in the Middle East told Reuters.
They said rebel raids and fighting near key roads had blocked a wider evacuation of the hundreds of security and army bases that dot the country of 22 million, where Assad's late father imposed his autocratic dynasty four decades ago.
With U.S. air strikes looming in response to poison gas attacks last week on rebel-held Damascus suburbs, some of the formations on the move are accused by Assad's opponents of firing the chemical weapons. The Syrian government blames rebels for releasing gas but Western powers hold Assad responsible.
At the headquarters of the army's 155th Brigade, a missile unit whose base sprawls along the western edge of Syria's main highway running north from the capital to Homs, rebel scouts saw dozens mobile Scud launchers pulling out early on Thursday.
Rebel military sources said spotters saw missiles draped in tarpaulins on the launchers, as well as trailer trucks carrying other rockets and equipment. More than two dozen Scuds - 11-metre (35-foot) long ballistic missiles with ranges of 300 km (200 miles) and more - were fired from the base in the Qalamoun area this year, some of which hit even Aleppo in the far north.
The base was among a list of suggested targets presented by the rebel Syrian National Coalition to Western envoys in Istanbul earlier this week, opposition sources said. Scud units, of Soviet or North Korean manufacture, are designed to be mobile and so could still be set up quickly to fire from new positions.
Syrian military authorities do not discuss troop movements publicly. No government spokesman was available for comment.
MISSILES, TROOPS GONE
Assad's forces appeared already by Wednesday to have evacuated most personnel from army and security command headquarters in central Damascus, residents and opposition sources in the capital said.
In the Qalamoun area, an activist calling himself Amer al-Qalamouni told Reuters by telephone: "Most of the personnel in the base appear to have left.
He added that trailer trucks loaded with military equipment were also seen on the Damascus ring road to the south: "Either the hardware is being transported to be stored elsewhere or it will remain constantly on the move to avoid being hit," he said.
Captain Firas Bitar of the Tahriri al-Sham rebel force, who is from the Qalamoun area but is based in a Damascus suburb, said two other missile units based near the 155th in the districts of Qutaifa and Nasiriya were also moving rockets out.
He said they could be move northwest to loyalist strongholds near Homs or further into the coastal mountain heartland of Assad's minority Alawite sect.
Opposition sources also suspected the evacuation of another missile unit based in Sahya, just south of Damascus.
"The Sahya barracks have been hitting the southern suburbs with rockets and artillery non-stop," said rebel commander Abu Ayham of the Ansar al-Islam brigade. "Since yesterday, nothing has been fired from the camp, suggesting it has been emptied."
(Editing by William Maclean and Alastair Macdonald)
A big problem for USA must be to recognize moving chemicals equipment. Moving chemical equipment must be a big problem with leaking gas in case of hit by missiles and bombs, which is a large problem for unprotected people.
In Syria they have used chemicals with artillery and heavy mortars (Russian style). They can also use Scud type missile as chemical deliverers. But fist hand user must be artillery (and heavy mortars). To shoot chemical grenades it must done by educated personnel and with special equipment. The Russians often use engineer troops in this case.
Syrian radar stations.
In a case of conflict the radar stations must be a first hand strike object.
Must information must be radio linked to command centers and decision makers.
Command and control centres are mountain centres.
5 radar stations have modern Chinese equipment Type 120 (4) JYL-1 (1) JY-27 Wide Mat (2). One radar station is placed in south and the rest in the central and with Tartus.
2 radar stations have modern Russian equipment 36D6 Tin Shield (2)
6 radar stations have old Russian equipment P-35/37 Bar Look (6)
Other radar stations have diffent Russian radar equipment (35) of Libyan type.
The rest are Libyan type radars, although some can be modernized as P-35/37 Bar Look
Golan Jordan border area (SA-2/-3/-6 area).
As-Sanamayan (2012.08.05 33/05-36/12) P-12/18 Spoon Rest (1)
Izraa (2012.09.02 32/52-36/14) EW site
Ibtta (2011.09.02 32/51-36/08) P-12/18 Spoon Rest (1) P-19 Thin Skin (1)
As-Suwayda airbase north (2011.09.19 32/47-36/23) 36D6 Tin Shield (1)
As-Suwayda airbase east (2011.09.19 32/40-36/43) EW site used Terra Server
Tal al Loz (2011.09.19 32/34-36/53) P-12/18 Spoon Rest (1)
Kurdes area.
Al-Thawrah (2003.02.03 35/44-38/34) P-35/37 Bar Look (1) P-14 Tall King (1)
Dayr az-Zawr (2009.03.27 35/24-40/11) P-12/18 Spoon Rest (1)
Al Hasakah east (low 36/27-40/20) EW site
Al-Qamishli air base (2013.04.10 37/02-41/11) P-12/18 Spoon Rest (3) P-19 Thin Skin (1)
Signal intelligence is made by
US.
RC-135S/V/W and RC-135U research
U-2S
EP-3E
small army aircraft
ground units
Israel.
Have control of tele equipment in arabian coutries.
Israeli companies have delivered IP tracking equipment to RC-135 since several years (James Bamford).
hammarö wrote:A big problem for USA must be to recognize moving chemicals equipment. Moving chemical equipment must be a big problem with leaking gas in case of hit by missiles and bombs, which is a large problem for unprotected people.
In Syria they have used chemicals with artillery and heavy mortars (Russian style). They can also use Scud type missile as chemical deliverers. But fist hand user must be artillery (and heavy mortars). To shoot chemical grenades it must done by educated personnel and with special equipment. The Russians often use engineer troops in this case.
.
Desron 60 destroyers – Rota naval base from 2014/2015 with BMD capacity for the Med (reduce destroyer Atlantic shipments).
DDG 64 Carney (1996 BMD 2012) Rota (ex Mayport) Desron 60 (BMD)
DDG 71 Ross (1997 BMD 2012) Rota (ex 2014 Norfolk) Desron 60 (BMD)
DDG 75 Cook (1998 BMD 2012) Rota (ex 2014 Norfolk) Desron 60 (BMD)
DDG 78 Porter (1999 BMD 2013) Rota (ex Norfolk) Desron 60 (BMD)
Older Arleigh Burke class do not have helicopters.
There is 5 destroyers in eastern Med and one outside Djibouti. Four of the destroyers are BMD and one not BMD classed. Older destroyers have 90 VLS (cruise missiles, SAM, etc) and newer 96 VLS. The five have ca 450 missiles some SAM and some cruise missiles (optimizing).
US plan to shoot 200 crusie missiles (option). To defeat the Syrian air defence, military sources have mentioned 700 cruise missiles.
There must be submarines in area (SSN, SSGN, SSBN). SSBN loaded with cruise missiles were used for Libya. allof them with cruise missiles.
Command centres, radar stationes, air bases must be first hand planned. It means smaller civil burdon.
North of Damascus is huge army bases. They must also part of the mission. But without hit chemical goals.
US destroyers in area (further with 5 Fleet in Arabian Sea, Aden and Red Sea).
DDG 52 Barry (1992) Norfolk Desron 22 2013.08.30 Syrian op.
DDG 55 Stout (1994 BMD) (Norfolk Desron 2 CSG 12) 2013.08.18 deployed for 6 AOR BMD operations
DDG 61 Ramage (1995 BMD) Norfolk Desron 28 2013.08.07 deploy for 8 month 6 AOR BMD operations
DDG 72 Mahan (1998 BMD 2011) (Norfolk Desron 2 CSG 12) 2013.08.25 redeployed for 6 AOR BMD operations (one of four)
DDG 78 Porter (1999 BMD 2013) Rota (ex Norfolk) Desron 60 (BMD) 2013.08.25 deployed for 6 AOR BMD operations (one of four)
DDG 96 Bainbridge (2005) Norfolk Desron 22 (2013.06.14) 2013.07.11 Naples 2013.07.12 departed Norfolk for 6 AOR deployment. 2013.08.26 Seychelles
DDG 107 Gravely (2010) (Norfolk Desron 22) 2013.04.19 San Diego 2013.06.11 Souda Bay 2013.08.01 Souda Bay 2013.08.08 Haifa 2013.08.15 operation Reliant Mermaid with Israel
Further destroyers have newly been released and left for US.
Two russian warships on way to mediterranean.
Some Russian warships in Havana for show of flag.
Russia have transferred several landing ships to Baltic for preparation of Zapad-2013 exercise.
Some of the US, French and Canadian ships in area. The US submarines is the whole European theater, but most of them are involved in Syria.
The Nimitz carrier have three ways (stations) possible from Arabian Sea. 1. homeport Norfolk 2. Red Sea (5 Fleet station) or 3. Eastern med (6 Fleet station).
Next mission is to search the aviation connection on naval ships. The oldest of Burke destroyers have no helicopters.
US aircraft carriers (2) cruisers (3) destroyers (6+7=13) subs (3+) landing ships for SAR (3) cruise missiles (near 1500 with 5 Fleet)
French aircraft carriers (1) destroyers (2) subs (1) landing ships for SAR (1) cruise missile (?)
Few ships in Aden/Djibouti/Seychelles?
Two Russian ships on way. Landing ships left area for ZAPAD-2013 (landed ammunition?).
6. FLEET SHIPS.
Desron 60 destroyers – Rota naval base from 2014/2015 with BMD capacity for the Med (reduce destroyer Atlantic shipments). All of the four destoyers are DSRA or in trials status for future Desron 60.
DDG-64 Carney (1996 BMD 2012) Rota (ex Mayport) Desron 60 (BMD) 2012.04.21 Norfolk 8 month E-DSRA 2013.08.07 Norfolk ammo onload
DDG-71 Ross (1997 BMD 2012) Rota (ex 2014 Norfolk) Desron 60 (BMD) 2012.12.10 7 month DSRA
DDG-75 Cook (1998 BMD 2012) Rota (ex 2014 Norfolk) Desron 60 (BMD) 2012.06.29 BMD rebuild.
DDG-78 Porter (1999 BMD 2013) Rota (ex Norfolk) Desron 60 (BMD) 2013.04.30 E-DSRA ready 2014.04.
SSN-725 Helena (1987) 2013.04.?? Norfolk departure 2013.04.22 med 2013.05.27 Hidd, Bahrein 2013.08.25 Suez transit
SSN-774 Virginia () New London 2013.08.13 NewLondon dep for depl 2013.08.24 Portsmouth, UK
SSGN-729 Georgia (1984 154 Tomahawk) Kings Bay 2012.07.15 retur after 14 month depl in 2013.05.16 Souda Bay departed for third SSGN deployment 5 and 6 Fleet 2013.08.14 Diego Garcia
US ships on way to 5. Fleet and 6. Fleet.
Boxer with LPD and LSD 13 MEU
French naval forces in eastern Med.
deGaulle – Toulon (40 aircraft)
destroyer 1
destroyer 2
nuclear submarine (cruise missiles)
airsuppressing destroyer
Solenzara Rafale and Mirage
Djibouti Rafale (6)
EAU naval and aircraft base (6 Rafale)
Mothership for fuel and logistics
Radar boats
Nuclear submarine
Mistral – ready in Toulon.