Beefing up the Russian SAM element in Syria with a cutting-edge S-400 Triumph (SA-21 Growler) long-range SAM system has considerably improved the air defense coverage of the key facility.
February 9. /TASS-DEFENSE/. A Russian Sukhoi Su-24M (NATO reporting name: Fencer) was shot down by a Turkish F-16 fighter in Syrian airspace near the Turkish border on November 24, 2015. In response, the Russian leadership decided to boost the security of the air task force’s planes on mission in Syrian airspace and to step up the air defense of Khmeimim air base.
As far as the surface-to-air missile (SAM)-based defense theory is concerned, it is enough to provide area defense for the key defense industry and military installations at the most probable avenues of approach in low-intensity conflicts , while large-scale military conflicts necessitate area and point defense.