Russian S-300s, S-400s Fail to Detect Israeli F-35s Flying Over Syria: Reports

Russia’s advanced air defense systems, the S-300s and S-400s, were ineffectual in detecting Israeli F-35 stealth fighters flying over Syrian capital Damascus, Israeli media reported.

Israeli media published the flight route of its planes, reportedly F-35 Adir jets, that showed the jets entering Syrian airspace and crossing over its capital city, evading hundreds of kilometres of area shielded by Russian-made air defense systems.

Effectiveness of the S-300s and S-400s to defend against incoming aircraft were questioned by NZIV, an Israeli news outlet. NZIV wrote that the Israeli jets “were able to enter the Syrian air space without any hindrance” since Russian stealth detection systems “simply did not notice the warplanes.”

Notably, Russian President Vladimir Putin offered the indigenously-made air defense systems to Saudi Arabia after Yemeni Houtis’ drone strike against Alqaiq and Khurais oil fields on 14 September.