Experts voiced different versions of wreck of the helicopter with a Russian crew in Syria.
On 9 July, the defense Ministry announced the deaths of the helicopter, which was operated by the pilots to Rafagat Khabibulin and Evgeny Dolgin. According to authorities, the pilots were doing a flyby of the Syrian Mi-25 and was shot down by fighters after struck multiple targets in close proximity to Palmyra. Interfax also reported that the helicopter was shot down by terrorists of the “Islamic state” (banned in Russia) from the American heavy anti-tank missile system TOW.
Meanwhile, the project participants Conflict Intelligence Team (CIT) believe that the ship could shoot down a flying helicopter behind the slave, writes The Washington Post. According to the representative of CIT Ruslan Leviev, weapons like TOW “due to the limited speed and maneuverability, not able to hit attack helicopters”. In addition, since the beginning of the Russian operation in Syria was not aware of the cases, the seizure by militants of the complex TOW.
Leviev is also called the improbable version of the defeat of the helicopter from MANPADS. In the CIT noted that the projectile that struck the tail rotor, “reaching the same plume of smoke” as from unguided shells. In addition, the video shows another helicopter that followed the crashed.
“During the battle, leading a helicopter could accidentally get in the line of fire driven helicopter that was following me just above the leading” — believed in CIT.
Jeremy Binnie of the British think-tank IHS Janes claims that the blow was struck from behind. However, he agreed that the helicopter is unlikely to have been shot down from MANPADS. According to him, the majority of installations aimed at the place that emits the most heat, and generally, that’s an engine.
Binny also questioned the fact that the helicopter was hit by anti-tank missile system TOW, because “usually they are affected much more than slow targets.” According to him, the helicopter would shoot from large-caliber anti-aircraft guns. Such weapons have appeared in videos distributed IG.
The experts also questioned the official version of the Ministry of defense of the Russian Federation, according to which the militants have shot down a Syrian Mi-25. In CIT explained that they downed the helicopter see “unharvested chassis, and short wings, what is the distinctive features of the Mi-35M”. This model in service with the Syrian army.
