Russian Air Force Tu-22M3s in Syria
In a surprise move, three Russian Federation - Aerospace Forces (RF VKS) Tupolev Tu-22M3 long-range strategic and maritime strike bombers landed at Khmeimim air base in Syria.
This air base, located south of Latakia and on the Mediterranean coast, has two runways of which the main runway (17R/35L) was recently increased and had a complete new top layer. Next to that, in 2016 a new large ramp was made on the east side of the base to accommodate heavy aircraft. This is also the area where the Tu-22M3s are parked.
It is reported that this is the first time that the bombers are temporarily based at this Syrian air base. The crews will acquire practical skills with training tasks in new geographic areas during flights over the Mediterranean Sea. Interesting to see is that the aircraft landed without any weapons or even bomb racks, confirming more or less the theory of a patrol exercise. Additional video footage at the TV Zvezda news site shows the Tu-22M3 carrying , what seems to be, a single large long-range anti-ship missile (Kh-22 or Kh-32 series) under the port wing.
The three aircraft involved are Bort 15 Red/RF-94149, Bort 28 Red/RF-94157 and Bort 50 Red/RF-34091. The first two Tu-22M3s, 15 Red and 28 Red, are operated by the 52nd Guards Heavy-bomber Aviation Regiment (52 GvTBAP) based at Shaykovka air base in the Kaluga Oblast, whilst 50 Red is operated by the 200th Guards Heavy-bomber Aviation Regiment (200 GvTBAP) based at Belaya air base in the Irkutsk Oblast.
The RF VKS made a video of the arrival of the three bombers.
Photo by Russian Air Force