[ Editor’s Note: We finally have some officially reported details of the recent Israeli Airforce attack on Syria. The main disclosure is the Syrian had used the Pantsir-S short range system, specifically designed to take down cruise missiles when closing on their targets.

These systems have a variety of missiles to use depending on the altitude and type of incoming threat, plus a 30mm cannon as a last defense for itself.

Behind the weapons is the high tech radar tracking, also design to defend against swarm missile attacks which is the name of the game in modern warfare. We will be following closely the responses we get on this from various capitals.

The Russians had to be involved, particularly in early warning to the Syrian defense crews. A lot of coordination is needed to make sure the attacking force can be properly analyzed so the appropriate gun positions are assigned specific targets.

Timing is critical as in this case, Syrian fire might have been withheld until the Israeli planes launched their missiles. The Pantsirs (I am assuming more then one system) would have engaged those and then other missiles fired on the retreating Israeli planes.

The speed with which all this has to be done is incredible, and one would have to ask were Russians actually manning the Pantsir systems, as they require very highly trained people.