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Science & Technology
Why Syria's Air Defenses Failed to Detect Israelis
2007-10-05
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said the Israelis struck a construction site at Tall al-Abyad just south of the Turkish border on Sept. 6. Press reports from the region say witnesses saw the Israeli aircraft approach from the Mediterranean Sea while others found unmarked drop tanks in Turkey near the border with Syria. Israeli defense officials admitted Oct. 2 that the Israeli Air Force made the raid.

The big mystery of the strike is how did the non-stealthy F-15s and F-16s get through the Syrian air defense radars without being detected? Some U.S. officials say they have the answer.

U.S. aerospace industry and retired military officials indicated today that a technology like the U.S.-developed “Suter” airborne network attack system developed by BAE Systems and integrated into U.S. unmanned aircraft by L-3 Communications was used by the Israelis. The system has been used or at least tested operationally in Iraq and Afghanistan over the last year.
Nice of them to share these secrets with us. Our enemies will never think of reading Aviation Week.
It isn't called "Av Leak" for nuthin - we're long time subscribers in the lotp household. Sometimes those leaks are ... strategic .... othertimes it's industry bragging / drumming up business in a a domain where the real work is classified.
The technology allows users to invade communications networks, see what enemy sensors see and even take over as systems administrator so sensors can be manipulated into positions so that approaching aircraft canÂ’t be seen, they say. The process involves locating enemy emitters with great precision and then directing data streams into them that can include false targets and misleading messages algorithms that allow a number of activities including control.
"All your network belong to us!"
A Kuwaiti newspaper wrote that "Russian experts are studying why the two state-of-the art Russian-built radar systems in Syria did not detect the Israeli jets entering Syrian territory. Iran reportedly has asked the same question, since it is buying the same systems and might have paid for the Syrian acquisitions."
And might not buy any more if they think it resembles Swiss cheese
The system in question is thought to be the new Tor-M1 launchers which carries eight missiles as well as two of the Pachora-2A system. Iran bought 29 of the Tor launchers from Russia for $750 million to guard its nuclear sites, and they were delivered in Jan., according to Agency France-Press and ITAR-TASS. Syrian press reports they were tested in February. They also are expected to form a formidable system when used with the longer-range S-300/SA-10 which Iran has been trying to buy from Russia. Syria has operated SA-6s for years and more recently has been negotiating with Russians for the Tor-M1. What systems were actually guarding the Syrian site are not known.
Cement factories. Now that they're blown up the Syrians will have to get all their cement from North Korea ...
Posted by:Steve

#20  DEBKA > Russian, Syrian, and Iranian experts groups "at sea" .... YOU KNOW THE REST.
Posted by: JosephMendiola   2007-10-05 23:28  

#19  The technology allows users to invade communications networks, see what enemy sensors see and even take over as systems administrator so sensors can be manipulated into positions so that approaching aircraft canÂ’t be seen

I can't see this being done from a bomber but if someone was dumb enough to connect the enemy sensors to the internet at large, or we had a connection into their blacksite this could probalby be done.
Posted by: rjschwarz   2007-10-05 21:16  

#18  "Russian experts are studying why the two state-of-the art Russian-built radar systems in Syria did not detect the Israeli jets entering Syrian territory"

I can help youse guys out with dat: Your Russian stuff SUCKS ROCKS.

You're welcome.
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut   2007-10-05 17:20  

#17  The technology allows users to invade communications networks, see what enemy sensors see and even take over as systems administrator so sensors can be manipulated into positions so that approaching aircraft canÂ’t be seen

Ahhh... No. Sorry.
Posted by: mojo   2007-10-05 16:59  

#16  Our enemies will never think of reading Aviation Week.

According to Cold War legend, the Soviets regarded "Aviation Leak"—as it has long been known in the ECM industry—so highly that a dedicated jet sat on the New York tarmac awaiting its copy of the magazine for immediate transportation back to the USSR.
Posted by: Zenster   2007-10-05 16:53  

#15  Slaiger the Kid5872 - your comment easily qualifies as a hit of the month :)))))
Posted by: Nesvarbukas   2007-10-05 16:01  

#14  So, I'm wonderin here if we can fake their anti-aircraft units to shoot and launch missles that will come down in Damascus or perhaps Tehran ?
Heh, heh, heh.
Invasion by electronic signal. You don't have to feed it, you don't have to catch it, you don't have to clean it. What's not to like ?
Posted by: wxjames   2007-10-05 12:34  

#13  Djinn, it was djinn without a doubt. Probably Iblis....
Posted by: Captain Flimble8949   2007-10-05 12:29  

#12  It would be easier to (a) hit the sites using commandos (b) than claim you hit it with planes and watch the fun as they try to figure out why they didnt' see nothin.

A couple of combat air probes could help by setting off false alarms in some areas. This would also take pressure off of commandoes, mission complete, heading for the Iraqi border.
Posted by: rjschwarz   2007-10-05 12:18  

#11  U.S. aerospace industry and retired military officials indicated today that a technology like the U.S.-developed “Suter” airborne network attack system developed by BAE Systems and integrated into U.S. unmanned aircraft by L-3 Communications was used by the Israelis. The system has been used or at least tested operationally in Iraq and Afghanistan over the last year
Posted by: lotp   2007-10-05 10:35  

#10  The zionists supply gaza with water and electricity, maybe they're supplying root to the Syrians.
Posted by: Slaiger the Kid5872   2007-10-05 10:26  

#9  Other possibilities:
1) Israel has some F-22 technologies (see above article)(maybe another Jonathan Pollard.)
2) We stole, swapped or otherwise obtained some F-22 technologies from Israel. (I know there have been some pretty smart Jewish physicists over the years.)
3) It was US F-22's, on shakedown flights out of Iraq.
4) We sold Israel our F-117s since we aren't using them anymore.
Posted by: Glenmore   2007-10-05 09:57  

#8  Most likely as well, it was not only this but a meshing of many technologies and tactics. I would prefer "one" for an official answer and let our enemies chase that for the rest of their days.

Oh, and SyriaIranRussiaChina...

Gotcha.
Posted by: DarthVader   2007-10-05 09:34  

#7  I am in ur base,
stealin ur nukes!
Posted by: Mark E.   2007-10-05 08:42  

#6  see also Ynetnews: Report: Israel 'blinded' Syrian radar
Posted by: Frank G   2007-10-05 08:02  

#5  In 1968 I pushed punch cards for a defence contractor in ECM (Electronic Counter Measures - probably has a spiffier acronym, now)and we were working on a project so secret, we didn't know which aircraft was going to carry it. The engineers said it'd do "everything except cook the pilot's breakfast".

A few years later, when a Nork missle was reported as missing a SR-71 by two miles, I remember thinking the missile thought, "Gotcha" when it exploded.

1968.
Posted by: Bobby   2007-10-05 07:40  

#4  why can't they just accept the fact that the Russian made radar systems might just be JUNK and they got ripped off.
Posted by: sinse   2007-10-05 07:21  

#3  Why people can't just accept the fact the IAF EW is magic?
Posted by: gromgoru   2007-10-05 06:27  

#2  Let me get this straight. Radar systems operate like open wifi systems and all you have to do is broadcast phony data at them.

Probably have the Syrians chasing their tail for a few weeks.
Posted by: phil_b   2007-10-05 06:00  

#1  Good lord. This is like the fourth different story I've heard from these bozos about this.
Posted by: gorb   2007-10-05 05:25  

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