Russian carrier jets flying from Syria, not Aircraft Carrier Kuznetsov

Sea O'Connor, Jeremy Binnie and Tim Ripley

November 27, 2016

Russian carrier jets flying from Syria, not Kuznetsov

Many of the fast jets that were embarked on the Russia aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov have been flown to the main Russian air base in Syria, Airbus Defence and Space satellite imagery obtained by IHS Jane’s shows.

Airbus Defence and Space satellite imagery showing Russian navy Su-33 jets parked among Russian Aerospace Forces aircraft at Humaymim Air Base in Syria on 20 November. (CNES 2016, Distribution Airbus DS / IHS)

The imagery shows eight Russian Federation Navy Su-33 and one MiG-29KR jets alongside various Russian Aerospace Forces (VKS) aircraft at Humaymim Air Base in Latakia province on 20 November.

Kuznetsov can carry around 20 fast jets and is known to have embarked at least eight Su-33s for its current deployment in the Eastern Mediterranean, and at least four of the new MiG-29KR multirole fighters for the first time.