Aircraft
Russian UAVs Find Combat Missions over Syria
Systems of Israeli origin are being supplanted by domestically-produced versions but not yet any UCAVs.
The Russian built Zala UAV (seen here with its mobile ground station) has recently been seen flying over Syria. (photo: Vladimir Karnozov)
The Russian built Zala UAV (seen here with its mobile ground station) has recently been seen flying over Syria. (photo: Vladimir Karnozov)

The number of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) operated by the Russian armed forces has risen from 180 in 2011 to more than 2,000 today, according to the country's defense minister Sergei Shoigu. Three types are known to have been operated over Syria, although none are apparently armed, so that all of the 1,760 Russian combat missions/5,682 airstrikes performed in the area of hostilities during January and February were by manned MiG, Sukhoi, and Tupolev aircraft. The three types includes two domestically produced UAVs and a licensed copy of the IAI Searcher Mk II from Israel.


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