24 May 2017 12:37

Russian air force acting in Syria more efficiently than U.S. - Shoigu

MOSCOW. May 24 (Interfax) - Russian warplanes are acting in Syria more efficiently than the U.S. coalition's planes, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said.

"A comparative analysis of the results of actions of the Russian and the international coalition's aircraft in Syria shows that our Aerospace Forces, which have a lot fewer planes, carried out three times more combat missions and delivered four times more airstrikes," Shoigu said at the Federation Council on Wednesday.

Eighty-six percent of the Russian Aerospace Forces' personnel, including 75% of the long-range aviation crews, 79% of tactical aviation crews, 88% of military transport aviation crews and 89% of army aviation crews have acquired combat experience in Syria, he said.