Israel Conducts Secret Training Exercises Against Russian Air Defense Systems

Late last month in "ISIS Oil Trade Full Frontal: ‘Raqqa's Rockefellers’, Bilal Erdogan, KRG Crude, And The Israel Connection”, we highlighted a report from Al-Araby al-Jadeed which implicates Israel in Islamic State’s lucrate illegal oil trade. 

You’re encouraged to read the entire article, but summing up, the contention is that ISIS crude is transported through Turkey to the port of Ceyhan and from there, it makes its way to the Israeli port of Ashdod.

Al-Araby al-Jadeed goes on to quote “a European official at an international oil company,” as saying that "Israel has in one way or another become the main marketer of IS oil. Without them, most IS-produced oil would have remained going between Iraq, Syria and Turkey. Even the three companies would not receive the oil if they did not have a buyer in Israel.” 

But the connection between Israel and ISIS doesn’t end there. Earlier this year, Islamic State released a video threatening to bring down Hamas in Gaza. As Reuters noted at the time, “Islamic State insurgents threatened to turn the Gaza Strip into another of their Middle East fiefdoms, accusing Hamas, the organisation that rules the Palestinian territory, of being insufficiently stringent about religious enforcement.” Here’s the clip:

“Tensions between Hamas and radical Salafist groups have bubbled up from time to time, but many consider 2009's deadly clash at a Rafah mosque as a turning point,” NBC added. “After an al Qaeda-inspired group challenged Hamas' authority, Hamas security forces mounted a deadly raid which killed more than a dozen people to effectively crushed that perceived uprising.”

Were ISIS to make good on its threats, it would mean they have an enemy in common with the Israelis. More recently, Israel has sought to connect Hamas with Islamic State. On Thursday for instance, Israeli media reported that “the commander of Islamic State forces in the Sinai is currently on what was intended to be a secret visit to the Gaza Strip, meeting with Hamas terror leaders to widen their cooperation and coordinate attacks on Egyptian and Israeli targets.” 

In short, there’s no telling what’s actually going on there although now that Israel has been implicated in the ISIS oil trade, we suspect we’ll find out more soon enough.

But we do know that Jerusalem has a vested interest in the outcome of the conflict in Syria. Were Bashar al-Assad to fall to a Western puppet government, it would cut off Iran’s supply line to Hezbollah on the way to rolling back Tehran’s regional influence. In that regard, one might assume that Israel has even more to gain from Assad’s ouster than the Saudis, Turkey, or the US. Here’s the official line (via Reuters):

Seeing enemies on all sides of the insurgency that erupted in the neighboring Arab state in 2011, Israel has been formally neutral but initially called for Assad to be toppled, arguing this would deny its arch-foe Iran a key ally in the Levant.

That view hewed to the strategy of the United States and its Arab partners, which back some Syrian rebels and say Assad has lost legitimacy to lead. But with Assad holding on and now helped by a Russian military intervention, Israel has gone mum.

"What is our policy in Syria? We say: We do not intervene. We have an opinion as to what we would like to be there. But we are not in a position nor do we have the status, for sensitive reasons, to say we are in favor of Assad or against Assad," defense minister Moshe Ya'alon said in a speech to a farm collective near Jerusalem last month.

“We deal with our own interests," he said, reiterating "red lines" that Israel says will trigger military action by it if crossed - attacks from Syria or attempted transfers to Lebanon's Hezbollah or other militias of advanced weapons systems or chemical warfare agents.

Yaalon said Israel had armed no side in the civil war.

Somehow we’re suspicious of that claim, but we’ll leave that aside for now. 

When it comes to battling Hezbollah, there’s no question that the Russian and Iranian presence is hindersome. Israel can’t, after all, simply fly over Latakia and bomb Iran’s militias as Hezbollah is effectively operating as Moscow’s ground force. Additionally, the Russians are now hyper-sensitive about potentially hostile aircraft which is why The Kremlin sent the Moskva to the coast and deployed the S-400s. 

Now, we learn that Israel has been training against an S-300 in Greece in what certainly looks like an effort to determine whether the IAF could hit Hezbollah in Syria without getting shot down by the Russians. Here’s more from Reuters:

Israel has quietly tested ways of defeating an advanced air-defence system that Russia has deployed in the Middle East and that could limit Israel's ability to strike in Syria or Iran, military and diplomatic sources said.

The sources said a Russian S-300 anti-aircraft system, sold to Cyprus 18 years ago but now located on the Greek island of Crete, had been activated during joint drills between the Greek and Israeli air forces in April-May this year.

The activation allowed Israel's warplanes to test how the S-300's lock-on system works, gathering data on its powerful tracking radar and how it might be blinded or bluffed.

One defense source in the region said Greece had done so at the request of the United States, Israel’s chief ally, on at least one occasion in the past year. It was unclear whether Israel had shared its findings with its allies.

The S-300, first deployed at the height of the Cold War in 1979, can engage multiple aircraft and ballistic missiles up to 300 km (186 miles) away. Israel is concerned by Russia's plan to supply S-300s to Iran.

Israel says Egypt, with which it has a cold peace, has bought a variant of the system. The Israelis also worry about Moscow's announcement last month that it will deploy the S-300 or the kindred system S-400 from its own arsenal in Syria, in response to Turkey's shooting down of a Russian jet there.

Israel has bombed Syrian targets on occasion and is loath to run up against the Russians. Israeli Prime Minister

Benjamin Netanyahu has met President Vladimir Putin at least twice in recent weeks to discuss coordination and try to avoid accidents.

Yes, "avoid accidents," but as we put it back in September, "Netanyahu's position is complicated by the fact that the Prime Minister is now at odds with the US over Washington's handling of the Iran Nuclear Deal. At the end of the day, one is certainly left to believe that Israel's "worries about accidentally coming to blows with Russian reinforcements in Syria" will quickly evaporate should Netanyahu get confirmation that the Quds are indeed on the ground as some reports have recently suggested. If it becomes clear that weapons are being funneled to Hezbollah, well, then all bets will officially be off."

(Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah)

Well guess what?

Since we penned that warning, thousands of Iranian troops have deployed to Syria and Hezbollah has become Russia's go-to ground army which of course means Hassan Nasrallah's forces are likely better equipped than ever. The question then, is this: if pro-Assad forces continue to rollback the rebels, will Israel sit idly by and watch as Iran scores an epic victory on its borders, or will Netanyahu test out the IAF's S-300 training? 

Comments

[SmittyinLA]

It was unclear whether Israel had shared its findings with its allies.

That would be a "no".

[billmill]

I rarely comment but after reading so much bullshit being posted about the S-400 SAM I felt the need to add a few.

First off the S-400 is a very capable modern SAM system but at the end of the day it is just anther SAM that is being oversold by its producer much like our own MIC does to make sales on our equipment.

Having said this lets look at a few things.

Max range is exactly that it does not mean max effective range. All SAMs and A/A missiles are not under boost the entire flight. They are coasting along after motor burn out and as they slow they lose the ability to maneuver. SAMS and A/A are truly bad ass when they are in no turn and run range. After that if you are the targeted aircraft you still have to honor the threat but there are numerous ways to overcome the missile guidance in this arena.

Has anyone ever heard of ELINT? This type of data gathering is the beginning of any ECM program on a new system. This is why we fly EC-135 and other aircraft for this mission.

ECM is an ever changing fluid environment, neither the U.S or our Allies sit on thier hands. There is constant R&D and tactics development to overcome emerging SAM threats.

As good as the S-400 is I wonder how it would react with a swarm of AGM-88E in bound with AESA pinpoint jamming and cross spectrum jamming going on? All you need is one to get through and down goes the acquisition and tracking radar.

And to SmittyinLA the Jews do share findings with us in the ECM arena, you'll just have to trust me on this one.

Now some good stuff for a good overview on the S-400 check out Air Power Australia at http://www.ausairpower.net/APA-S-400-Triumf.html

You will see that the deployed system is one big bastard.

[gezley]

There's always an expert lurking who knows so much more than everyone else.

We should count ourselves so lucky to have you Bill.

[bid the soldier...]

Don't tell me.  Let me guess.  

That tune you were whistling as you past the graveyard of Civilization.

Chopin's 2nd piano sonata.  Slow movement

You did it quite well.

good overview on the S-400 check out Air Power Australia athttp://www.ausairpower.net/APA-S-400-Triumf.html

You will see that the deployed system is one big bastard.

"Gut oder  abscheulich?"  

If something is ours, we tell our citizens it's good.

If something theirs, we tell our citizens it's terrible. 

Goebbels calls that 'The first law of propaganda.'

[bid the soldier...]

-

[bid the soldier...]

I must apologize for my glib reply to your comment.  You deserve better.

You say "at the end of the day, it is just another SAM that is being oversold by its producer."

Where exactly is it being oversold?  At Walmarts in Bangladesh?  Or perhaps you meant overhyped by its producer?  That Almaz-Antey  is the Lockheed Martin of Russia and the S-400 is the F35?

"All SAMs and A/A missiles are not under boost the entire flight."

Wow!  Where did you find that tidbit?  Was one tested at Vandenberg and the results published?  In Air Power Australia?  How did they find out?  Or maybe, like our forthcoming MIC, Almaz-Antey confessed their missiles' shortcomings to everybody.

I just went all the way through the Air Power Australia link you provided. The photos are astonishing and I thank you for them

"The S-400 is being actively marketed for export. The first export client for the S-400 will be Belarus, "

I should be very surprised if the S-400 is exported anywhere but a solid ally of Russia and if Russia has not embedded advisors and trainers where the systems are deployed.

"the deployed system is one big bastard."

Am I wrong to assume that here you mean S-400 is The Shit?

I'll try to top your link, which while pretty fabulous, doesn't really hold a candle to mine.

New Russian Arms Deals Could Shake Up Mideast Market

Previously, however, Russia's unprecedented decision to sell weapons to Bahrain raised suspicions of an encroachment on American interests in the Gulf. But in a recent news bombshell, a possible purchase of Russian weapons by Saudi Arabia was announced. The intention allegedly came about after the meeting Putin and Deputy Crown Prince and Defense Minister Prince Mohammed bin Salman earlier this year. Presented as a done deal in Moscow and understandably assessed as unlikely in the West, it was meant to be a message from the Saudis — currently the world's largest arms importer — to the United States, from which they buy up to 40% of their weapons. It also could indeed be a breakthrough for Moscow and Riyadh, who have barely talked to each other at high levels for several years. More importantly, the Kremlin is being careful to maintain a balance in its relations with Iran and Saudi Arabia. In this regard, the Saudis' alleged interest in the Iskander-E tactical ballistic missile system and a probable supply of S-300 long-range surface-to-air missile systems to Iran are separate business contracts but are surely reviewed by Moscow as part of the overarching security puzzle in the region.

In this respect, Russian arms supplies may not be the core problem of the security challenges the region faces, but they are a part of the fast-growing arms race that has swept the Middle East. Russia's bid to increase its arms exports by $50 billion by 2020 is ambitious, and very particular circumstances need to be met for that to happen. While the economic benefits are lucrative and political motives are usually understandable, the reputation costs the industry tends to incur are a price Moscow is unlikely to be willing to pay in shaping its new Mideast strategy.

So we see Crown Prince Salman going to Moscow 

the Saudis' alleged interest in the Iskander-E tactical ballistic missile system and a probable supply of S-300 long-range surface-to-air missile systems to Iran.

trying to buy Iskander missiles which all of Europe tremble before and trying nix the sale of S-300 to Iran.

Perhaps the Crown Prince should read the article in Air Power Australia.  That is unless the the US  sent him to see if Putin would sell him an Iskander so that they can reverse engineer it.  And not sell S-300 to Iran so that less of their bombers will be shot down.

If the Iskander will not come to the Crown Prince, then the Crown Prince will go to the Iskander.  ;o) 

[OZZIDOWNUNDER]

"And to SmittyinLA the Jews do share findings with us in the ECM arena, you'll just have to trust me on this one."

Trust you ??  Wanker!  You showed your colours for real with that post.

I'm hoping to see ANY Jew Jets in Syria or anywhere else they're not wanted blasted out of the sky.  --  and or any of the other Coallition of the willings planes as well. Fuck them all!

[billmill]

Sorry double post

[kaboomnomic]

It isn't secret, ALL the S300 NOT on Russian soil have old system hardwares.

Here, NATO's trained to jammed Slovak S-300 (pre-PMU version. Greece also pre-PMU version).
http://int.icej.org/news/special-reports/why-so-much-fret-over-s-300

http://www.ausairpower.net/APA-SAM-Effectiveness.html

Only IRAN & CHINA has the PMU2 version.

INDIA,CHINA also buys the S400. China already asked Russia, that it wants to acquires the S500. However, even in Russia, S500 is just installed in Moskow only (Moskow always got the early productions runs H/W).

So, i don't think Russia will allows China to have S500 before Russia proceed to research S700 (or S1000?). The Russian rumour forums don't talk anything about S600. Which is pretty strange indeed.

- - -

What is so specials about S400 is... this is the radars that applies the latest radar techniques that even US current Patriots don't applied it yet. Such as LPI, Random Pulse shaping, Pulse Compressions, Obfuscate between noise, Random Tx time, GaAS MMIC, digital RF, Digital PA, MIMO, Massive Parrarel Arrays CPU processing.

- - -

I saw about 3 years ago (video label in Russian cyrillic) in YT. Unfortunately, that video is gone!! (And i haven't saving it to my HD first! Dammit!!). The Russians, test their tombstone S300PMU2 radar, by placing a 3 KW wideband jammers just 5 meters in the ground, with the jammer antenna pointing straight at the tombstone radar antenna!!

To those that don't understand this? This is to simulates a 3 (three GigaWatts pulsed jammer, turn on from AWACS plane at 20 km's distrance!

And they show you the S300 radar scopes. Tough we can see an occasional white sprites of the jammer signals, the S300PMU2? Maintains radar lock to the helicopter &some jets that flies within S300PMU2 radar range! And that damn Russian laughs talking about something! Damn Russians!! :-)

I still cursed myself to this day, why oh why, i don't save that damn YT video!! :-(

Anyway, those NATO's jamming exercise, should gives youa "taste", just how "bad" Russian "domestic" S400 is.

The fact US don't flies inside syria protected by S400 (not all Syria protected by that S400 unfortunately), should already told you something.
https://www.rt.com/news/323815-syria-s-400-us-airstrikes/

[gezley]

This article made me laugh. Israel conducts training exercises against Russian air defence systems? Do they know the S-400 can travel at 11,000 miles per hour and engage up to 100 targets simultaneously?

Dimwits. They've met their match here and they know it. And if they don't know it now, they bloody well will know it soon enough when the Russians conclude Israel was behind the downing of their passenger jet over Sinai.

[billmill]

Actually it can track while scan 100 targets and lock on and shoot on if I remember correctly 6
There is a big difference betweenTWS and the the actual lock and shoot.
It been awhile since I was briefed on the whole thing but it's easy to look up the data I'm just too lazy and tired. Plus I never claim to be an expert I'm just a man and there are thousands like me who have spent 20 years plus around these systems and have seen how they work in real life
It's sure as hell not like the sales guys from the MIC and thier death by PowerPoint presentations claim.
You don't have to like the Zionist but they are thorough bastards are probably working on what if senerios. Lastly to think that a SAM system cannot be defeated is well just bullshit.

[gezley]

Well the S-400 has only been in service since 2007 so your 20-year intimate familiarity with these systems is nothing but hot air if not indeed an outright lie.

[kaboomnomic]

I'm no expert in military radar.

What i learnt is actually from medical equipments (only later on i found out, many priciples used in medical fields? Apparently being used also in military weapons system).

The phased arrays radars? I learnt it first from ultrasonic (USG) where they drives multiple elements to scan at spesific angle of attack. The phase shift doppler detections to see the blood flow of the patient blood vessels? Exactly the same principle as to what radar MTI (Moving Target Indicatications) works!

Later on i start learning the used of digital RF from latest MRI scanners that employs hundreds of quadrature coils (antenna to you) to pinpoint exactly where the received MR images would be. The noise drift, the interference blocking system, homogeneity correction algorithm, side lobe suppressing techniques, is exactly the same as the radar anti jammers techniques.

However, i can't give you the reference manuals, as i still works in this fields, and i did signed NDA clause. However, many sites offers the same accurates info, the same as what i did received.

If you want to learns basic radar principle (to the advanced levels), then i recomends you read this site.
http://www.radartutorial.eu/index.en.html

And if you want to know the research papers? Google it with added keywords "patents". Most of secretive info usually appears in patent applications, requires you to describes EXACTLY how your patents works. And that contains a lot more info.

The latest jammers is using waveform captured and modifying phase, doppler shift, and waveform copying. And beam back this, at the right timing. However, this is a known techniques in radar world.

So they makes random choice of Tx time, Pulse shaped, Power choice, Phase signatures, And choice of Tx freq.

Jamming sidelobe of Rx antena also doesn't works cause sidelobes now can be controls it with digital RF (sidelobe blanking techniques). The techniques are shown in YT video from India's scientists. Search YT for "this is how F22 would be detected". And see video from india scientist conference. A very refreshing info.

- - -

Right now, it is very difficult to do realtime jamming of enemies radar. You need femtoseconds processing power, if you want to jams your enemy in realtime. That why, Russia is preparing electronics using this:

http://kret.com/en/news/3768/

That is electronics using components that works at TERRA-HERTZ (Freq 10^12). Most electronics works at GigaHertz levels (Freq 10^9). This is the components that works in femtoseconds regions.

- - -

So, do not underestimates Russia, you will be come to a rude awakening if you do..

[billmill]

Not hot air or lies I retired from the USAF where I served as a avionics technician and specialized in EW systems
When I retired the 400 was just coming on line while it is s very advanced system rest assured our Air Force works tirelessly to match the threats becuse at the end of the day our job is to get ordanace on target.

[onmail1]

Yeah Jump in the hamam pool Cabals

The nuclear war is not without your participation