Not so long ago, photos of the American anti-aircraft missile systems of the M1097 Avenger air defense system appeared on social networks., stationed in Syria, presumably on the border with Iraq.
Polish edition of Defense 24 He writes, what is still unknown, where exactly the photos could have been taken - whether the air defense system was deployed in Syria to cover the American contingent, whether they are based in Iraq, where an impressive American military contingent is stationed.
Recall, that the M1097 Avenger air defense system is a short-range self-propelled anti-aircraft missile system, which is placed on the HMMWV chassis and is designed to destroy air targets at altitudes 0,5-3,8 km and distances 0,5-5,5 km. The M1097 Avenger has 2 container by 4 FIM-92 Stinger missiles, anti-aircraft gun caliber 12,7 mm and radar.
Actually, there are no obstacles to the deployment of American air defense systems in the eastern part of the province of Deir ez-Zor, which is under the control of the US-allied Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), in which the Kurds play an important role. Besides, SAMs could also be deployed at the Al-Tanf base in southern Syria, near the borders with Iraq and Jordan. Pro-American formations of the former Free Syrian Army also operate here. (SSA), there is also a refugee camp, some of which are used to turn into militants.
According to the Polish edition, analyzing the organization of American air defense in Syria, there is nothing surprising in the very appearance of the M1097 Avenger air defense system. US military in Syria repeatedly attacked by unmanned aerial vehicles. It is not always possible to establish the origin of these drones - they can be like jihadist drones, and drones of pro-Iranian formations, because those, and others act against the American contingent. M1097 Avenger "Avengers" in Syria and are going to be used against UAVs.
Of course, use air defense systems against small drones - anyway, what to shoot from a cannon at sparrows. But larger drones also pose a danger to Americans., against which air defense systems can just be very effective.
Not so long ago, the commander of the US Central Command, General Frank McKenzie Jr., called drones the biggest threat to US troops since the Second Gulf War., when improvised explosive devices were massively used. The fight against drones requires the search for new solutions, but is it possible to give them within the framework of the existing concept of organizing the air defense of the ground forces?
Placement of divisions, equipped with Avenger air defense systems on the Syrian-Iraqi border, in this way, looks like a completely logical decision of the American command.
At first, M1097 Avenger remain the main means of army air defense in parts of the US Army. The strength of the air defense system is their mobility. Secondly, participation in the Syrian conflict is a great opportunity to test the effectiveness of air defense systems in combat conditions, including their ability to destroy unmanned aerial vehicles.
The Polish edition recalls, that the American army is armed with other air defense systems, however, the threat, originating in Syria from drones, so big, which requires the use of a variety of weapons. About, that the US Army is testing the possibility of using the Avenger against UAVs, was known before. So, at 2019 units were deployed in the Republic of Korea, equipped with Drone Defender, and Sentinel radars were used for early detection of threats.
Author:Ilya Polonsky
