bd metronews desk : With reports that a nuclear war between NATO and Russia is “likely,” Moscow is apparently stepping up its preparation for World War 3 by arming its Su-34 warplanes in Syria with air-to-air missiles.
The Pentagon has already issued its warnings to Moscow that the move can only escalate the already dangerous situation in Syria’s airspace, according to ITAR-TASS.
The tensions that resulted after Turkey shot down a Russia warplane in its airspace last week are becoming more and more worrisome day by day, with Russian President Vladimir Putin warning NATO of “serious consequences.”
And by arming its warplanes with air-to-air missiles, Russia “will further complicate an already difficult situation in the skies over Syria and do nothing to further the fight against ISIL [aka ISIS, Islamic State] as they have no air force,” Pentagon spokesperson Michelle Baldanza told ITAR-TASS on Monday
Baldanza said the U.S. warns Russia against directing the missiles against aircraft of the U.S.-led coalition, and asks Putin to abide by the Memorandum of Understanding regarding flight safety.
The warnings form the Pentagon come immediately after Russia announced on Monday equipping its Sukhoi Su-34 fighter-bombers, aka Fullback, with short-and medium-range air-to-air missiles. This is the first time such an upgrade is performed on the Su-34 fighters, while Moscow plans to test the missiles in Syrian airspace.
“The Russian Su-34 fighter-bombers today have for the first time taken on combat mission not only the OFAB-500 air bombs and KAB-500 guided bombs, but also short-and medium-range air-to-air missiles. The planes are equipped with missiles for their defense,” spokesman for the Russian Aerospace Forces Colonel Igor Klimov said. The missiles are reportedly capable of hitting targets up to 37 miles.
