The Russian MoD confirms that the Syria S-200 that shot down its Il-20 did not have an IFF system for detecting Russian aircraft. Apparently, these systems are never exported by Russia. kommersant.ru/doc/3746084
This calls into question a statement last summer by the VKS that Russia and Syria had created an integrated and unified air defense system in Syria that has an "information and technical interface between Russian and Syrian airspace recon equipment." tass.ru/armiya-i-opk/4…
Clarification: The S-200 has an IFF system but does not have the codes for Russian aircraft.
Today, the Israeli Air Force commander, General Amikam Norkin, gave the Russian MoD a 40 page report regarding the Israeli air strike that refutes the Russian claims. It states that the air strikes occurred at 2200 but the Il-20 lost contact at 2300. kommersant.ru/doc/3746298
It also claims that the Syrian S-200 missiles were fired in a variety of directions, landing in Lebanon, East of Latakia in Syria, and in the Mediterranean Sea. There is some disagreement among Russian experts regarding the IFF system for the S-200.
Igor Konashenkov claimed that the S-200 did not have the Russian IFF system, whereas Aitech Bizhev, the former Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Air Force, said that the S-200 would have required the codes to recognize the Il-20 (which change regularly).
Another analyst noted that the F-16s would be moving 3 times as fast as the Il-20 during their attack, so it wouldn't have been possible to hide behind the aircraft. However, Moscow has not publicly changed its stance.
That analyst also says that the F-16s were exclusively operating at low altitudes, and tried to drop their bombs at max range, which isn't possible. Nonetheless, both sides agreed to continue using the de-confliction line and coordinate in Syria.
