Ukraine eyes Syrian weaponry post-Assad regime collapse
The fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime opens new opportunities for Ukraine to acquire advanced weaponry from Syria.
The collapse of Bashar al-Assad's regime in Syria, which occurred at the beginning of December 2024, has created new opportunities for Ukraine to acquire advanced weaponry. Among the potentially interesting systems are the Russian Bastion coastal defence missile systems with P-800 Oniks missiles, which could be crucial for developing new methods of defence against missile attacks from Russia.
Syria's equipment could reach Ukraine
Syria also possessed Tochka-U and Elbrus missile systems, along with Iranian Fateh-110 missiles. These systems, although in varying technical conditions, could be a valuable source of knowledge for the Ukrainian armed forces, especially in the context of countering potential threats. Additionally, air defence systems like the S-300PMU2 and S-125-2M 'Pechora-2M' could significantly strengthen Ukraine's air defence capabilities.
In terms of aviation, Syria had up to 30 MiG-29 fighter jets, some of which were upgraded to the MiG-29SM version, and Su-24MK bombers. These machines, although not the latest, could be a valuable addition to Ukraine's arsenal, especially given the limitations in accessing modern military technology.
However, the key challenge remains the issue of negotiating with the new authorities in Syria and the time Ukraine has to reach agreements before the Israeli air force destroys strategic assets on Syrian territory. In light of the rapidly changing geopolitical situation, Ukraine must act quickly to take advantage of this short window of opportunity.
Valuable equipment for Ukrainians
Among all the weapons that analysts from Defence Express suggest could reach Ukraine, the most noteworthy are the Fateh-110 missiles and MiG-29 aircraft.
The first of these is a weapon that has been in service since 2022. A single Fateh-110 missile is nearly 9 metres long, weighing about 3,500 kilograms. The warhead consists of explosives weighing approximately 500 kilograms. The range of this ammunition is about 300 kilometres. On the other hand, the MiG-29 aircraft in Syria's arsenal date back to the 1970s and serve as frontline fighters. They can reach speeds of 2.3 Mach (approximately 2,400 kilometres per hour) and operate at altitudes of 17,000 metres, carrying a total payload of up to 5,500 kilograms.
