Click to see full-size image. (X)
One of Israel’s secretive Gulfstream G550-based high-altitude surveillance aircraft was spotted flying over southern Syria on October 20, marking the first such sighting since the war with Iran in June.
A video showing the aircraft over al-Suwayda was shared by a local news blog, with activists from the governorate reporting that the aircraft was escorted by fighter jets.
The Israeli Air Force (IAF) operates two special mission versions of the G550, both were locally developed by Israel Aerospace Industries and ELTA Systems.
The first version is equipped with the EL/W-2085 early warning and control multi-band radar system. It is known as the Conformal Airborne Early Warning (CAEW), or more commonly “Eitam.” Meanwhile, the second version is equipped with the EL/I-3001 signal intelligence (SIGINT) system. It is known as the Special Electronic Missions Aircraft (SEAM), as well as “Shavit.”
The CAEW has the same mission profile as any other airborne early warning and control aircraft, while the SEMA’s main task is to collect intelligence on targets like radars and air defenses.
The IAF operates at least two CAEW aircraft, and four SEAM aircraft. All of these aircraft are in service with the 122 “Nahshon” Squadron, which is based at Nevatim Air Base in southern Israel.
The CAEW can be distinguished by the large bulges on the sides of the fuselage and its larger nose section which house the radar system’s arrays, while the SEAM can be identified from the canoe-shaped compartment under the forward fuselage which houses the SIGINT system’s antenna.
It is, however, impossible to recognize any of these features from the footage taken in al-Suwayda to identify which of the aircraft was flying over southern Syria.
Examples of the Israeli Air Force’s Nachshon Shavit (left) and Nachshon Eitam (right)., (Oren Rozen/Wikimedia Commons)
CAEW and SEAM aircraft were very active over southern Syria during the Israeli war on Iran, which started on June 13 and ended 12 days later.
The IAF used the airspace of Syria, which once had one of the densest air defense networks in the Middle East, as a staging ground for the attack on Iran’s nuclear program. The country’s air defense network was wiped out in a large-scale Israeli attack right after the fall of the regime of President Bashar al-Assad in December of last year.
It is very possible that the aircraft spotted over al-Suwayda on October 20 was a mission related to Iran, even possibly training for a new attack on the Islamic Republic.
Recent weeks saw an uptake in unusual aerial activities over southern Syria, with aircraft of the IAF, and others from the United States Air Force, including some linked to the Special Operation Command, spotted over al-Suwayda, the nearby governorate of Daraa and even the capital, Damascus. The U.S. took part in the last Israeli war, attacking three nuclear sites in the Islamic Republic.
It’s worth nothing that Syria and Israel are approaching a security agreement. One of Israel’s main conditions is reported to be the freedom of action in the Syrian airspace for possible future attacks on Iran.
Since the end of the last war, Iran has been preparing for a new round of fighting with Israel. Israeli officials also made some threats. No serious escalation is to be expected before any future attack on the Islamic Republic, however, as Israel will likely prioritize the element of surprise.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
SouthFront: Analysis and Intelligence
NOW hosted at southfront.press
Previously, SouthFront: Analysis and Intelligence was at southfront.org.
The .org domain name had been blocked by the US (NATO) (https://southfront.press/southfront-org-blocked-by-u-s-controlled-global-internet-supervisor/) globally, outlawed and without any explanation
Back before that, from 2013 to 2015, SouthFront: Analysis and Intelligence was at southfront.com
google is now paying $300 to $500 per hour for doing work online work from home. last paycheck of me said that $20537 from this easy and simple job. its amazing and earns are awesome. no boss, full time freedom and earnings are in front of you.
.
more details for us→→→→ https://www.money63.com
i get paid over 220 dollars per hour working from home with 2 kids at home. i never thought i’d be able to do it but my best friend earns over 15k a month doing this and she kaz convinced me to try. it was all true and has totally changed my life. this is what i do, check it out by visiting following website
here————— https://www.paycash1.site
join now home based job that pays more than $8,000 per month by doing simple tasks on a laptop or mobile device part-time. last month, i earned $10782 from this job by working 4 hours per day online. very simple jobs to do, and the earnings are insane…
here →→→→→→→→ https://www.earnapp1.com
google is now paying $300 to $500 per hour for doing work online work from home. last paycheck of me said that $20537 from this easy and simple job. its amazing and earns are awesome. no boss, full time freedom and earnings are in front of you.
.
more details for us→→→→ https://www.highprofit1.com
now that syria is secured entirely for the greater israel projects use towards genocidal expansion the zionist entity will attempt all avenues available. the pirate banker cult will attack and kill anything that contests its primacy. china, russia, venezuela and iran are included
poor gaza has been deceived again. boycott divest sanction. thousands of years of civilization destroyed. palestinians just want to go home and care for their families in peace.
what is that plane spraying? that’s the question.
opp may also target lebanon. flying in and out of range of some valley signals in the south helps determining where to bomb next. in fact trump is hinting on an attack aimed at hezbolah in one of the newest articles here at southfront.