Russia Deploys MiG-29 SMT Fighters to Syria
The aircraft were deployed to Khmeimim air base in the Latakia Province, northern Syria. The MiG-29 SMT is the latest upgrade package of the first-generation MiG-29
Noam Menashe
| 15/09/2017
https://twitter.com/mod_russia/status/907925584390393857
The Russian Defense ministry has confirmed on its Twitter account (September 13) that the Russian Air Force has deployed MiG-29SMT (МиГ-29СМТ) Fulcrum-E multirole fighter aircraft to Syria, the first ever known deployment of such platform. Judging by the photo in the official publication, the aircraft were deployed to Khmeimim air base in the Latakia Province, northern Syria.
The deployment is taking place in order to strengthen the Russian foothold in the region and provide extra security to the port of Latakia, home to Russia's largest foreign electronic surveillance facility.
Khmeimim Air Base was converted to use by the Russian military in 2015. Moscow recently signed a 49-year leasing agreement with the Assad regime for the air base. It is currently home to a massive Russian strike force. According to the latest satellite imagery, taken on August 2017, that force includes 33 different models of aircraft, including Su-24 tactical bombers, Su-25 attack aircraft, Su-27 strategic fighters, Su-35 multirole fighters, Su-30 fighters and Su-30 fighters.
The MiG-29 SMT is the latest upgrade package of the first-generation MiG-29. Additional 
950-litre CFT (Conformal Fuel Tank) in a further enlarged spine provides it with a maximum flight range of 2,100 km on internal fuel and an in-flight refueling system on the left-hand side of the cockpit. It is also equipped with a "glass cockpit" with two MFI-10-6M displays and IKSh-1M HUD (Head-Up Display). With a maximum range of 1,800 km (3,000 with three drop tanks), it can carry guided air-to-surface weapons.
The aircraft were deployed to Khmeimim air base in the Latakia Province, northern Syria. The MiG-29 SMT is the latest upgrade package of the first-generation MiG-29
https://twitter.com/mod_russia/status/907925584390393857
The Russian Defense ministry has confirmed on its Twitter account (September 13) that the Russian Air Force has deployed MiG-29SMT (МиГ-29СМТ) Fulcrum-E multirole fighter aircraft to Syria, the first ever known deployment of such platform. Judging by the photo in the official publication, the aircraft were deployed to Khmeimim air base in the Latakia Province, northern Syria.
The deployment is taking place in order to strengthen the Russian foothold in the region and provide extra security to the port of Latakia, home to Russia's largest foreign electronic surveillance facility.
Khmeimim Air Base was converted to use by the Russian military in 2015. Moscow recently signed a 49-year leasing agreement with the Assad regime for the air base. It is currently home to a massive Russian strike force. According to the latest satellite imagery, taken on August 2017, that force includes 33 different models of aircraft, including Su-24 tactical bombers, Su-25 attack aircraft, Su-27 strategic fighters, Su-35 multirole fighters, Su-30 fighters and Su-30 fighters.
The MiG-29 SMT is the latest upgrade package of the first-generation MiG-29. Additional 950-litre CFT (Conformal Fuel Tank) in a further enlarged spine provides it with a maximum flight range of 2,100 km on internal fuel and an in-flight refueling system on the left-hand side of the cockpit. It is also equipped with a "glass cockpit" with two MFI-10-6M displays and IKSh-1M HUD (Head-Up Display). With a maximum range of 1,800 km (3,000 with three drop tanks), it can carry guided air-to-surface weapons.
