2016-10-10 Russia has used its naval supply fleet to provide support to its Syrian intervention forces, notably for the Russian Air Force.
The operation has demonstrated the important synergy between air power and naval support systems for their exercise of airp0wer.
As a result, the Russians have decided to upgrade their port facilities in Syria to support operations.
According to Russia Today, General Nikolay Pankov, Deputy Defense Minister for Communication, recently noted that:
“We are going to have a permanent Navy base in Tartus.”
“It will have not only docking facilities, but also a command and control system, an air defense system. A naval base needs to be able to defend itself and all its infrastructure,” he said. “Of course it would have anti-submarine defense capabilities.”
The Tartus facility has been in place since 1977. After the collapse of the Soviet Union it was used to resupply and repair Russian warships deployed to missions in the Mediterranean Sea, but did not serve as a permanent base for any of them.
Last week Russia confirmed delivery of an advanced anti-aircraft missile system to Tartus to protect the port facility and mooring warships from potential airstrikes and missile attacks.