Israeli pilots in Ukraine are learning to destroy S-300 air defense systems. This is reported by the Russian edition of Lenta.ru, citing its own sources. Currently, Scale Sky-2018 large-scale exercises are taking place in this country, in which combat aircraft of several NATO countries take part, including the United States, Great Britain, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Estonia.
According to journalists, some time ago a delegation consisting of Israel and the US military visited Ukraine in order to get acquainted with the work of the S-300 air defense systems that are in service with this country. In turn, the Ukrainian military offered the Israelis to take part in the upcoming exercises in order to assess in practice the possibility of this system. Apparently, this proposition was accepted.
Deliveries of Russian S-300 to Syria are one of the most high-profile news of the last month. She is actively discussed in both domestic and foreign media. A similar decision was made after the "friendly" fire of the Il-20 reconnaissance aircraft off the coast of Latakia was shot down. The Russian defense ministry blamed Israel for the catastrophe - a tragic incident occurred during a regular air strike of this country's aviation on the territory of Syria.
NATO and "Clear Sky" of Ukraine
In Israel, the possibility of the appearance of the S-300 complexes in the Syrian army reacted rather nervously. Despite numerous claims about the superiority of the Israeli F-35 and the easy destruction of the C-300 if necessary, it is noticeable that Tel Aviv is very concerned about this development. Therefore, the information "Lenti.ru" about the possible training of Israeli pilots in Ukraine seems rather plausible.
The United States sent 18 somewhat outdated F-15C Eagle aircraft to participate in the exercise. It is reported that some of them will be piloted by Israeli military pilots, who will thus be able to experience the S-300 complex "in action". Moreover, the Ukrainian experts assured that the characteristics of their air defense systems are no different from the S-300MP, supplied by Russia to Syria.
The publication specifically mentions the fact that Ukraine recently sold the Americans 36D6M1-1 radar to the Americans. When creating this radar used the same technology as the S-300. This delivery was seriously opposed by "Company Innovative Technologies". According to the Ukrainian side, it represented Russian interests.
It was the analysis of the data obtained during the exercises that convinced the military leadership of Israel of the complete superiority of their newest low-profile F-35 Lightning II over the S-300.
Sources "Lenti.ru" reported that such actions of Ukraine caused serious discontent in Moscow. But at present, relations between the two countries are so bad that it is unlikely that someone in Kiev will pay serious attention to this.
The Clear Sky-2018 exercise, which takes place in Ukraine from October 8 to 19, can generally be called an unambiguous political gesture in the direction of the Kremlin. About this writes the Austrian newspaper Die Presse in the material "For the first time, exercises with NATO combat aircraft in Ukraine." The maneuvers are held on the territory of several Western Ukrainian regions, and bases in Poland are also used in them. Pilots will work out attacks against ground targets, tactical support for troops, interception, rescue missions.
According to journalists: "Clear Sky-2018 is the first demonstrative military presence of the West of this kind in Ukraine, where, in fact, after the seizure of the Crimean peninsula by the Russian armed forces in 2014 and the conflict in the east, which, according to Ukrainian and Western figures, inflamed Russia , there is a certain cold war with Moscow. "
