Syria's missile force is a work in progress
Syria's ability to defend its airspace against U.S.-led attacks depends largely on its surface-to-air missiles. Its air force is big but obsolete—the most numerous types by far are the MiG-21 and MiG-23—and some main air bases are in rebel-controlled areas. Mobile missiles belonging to the ground forces have likely been kept out of rebel hands.
The feared transfer of Russian Almaz-Antey S-300PMU-2 (SA-20 Gargoyle) long-range SAMs from Russia has not taken place, leaving Syria with at most eight batteries of the old S-200 (SA-5 Gammon)—a fixed-site weapon that, along with its radars, is vulnerable to destruction of enemy air-defenses operations. The same limitation applies to the 1960s-era V-750 (SA-2 Guideline).

Syria's credible SAMs start with the S-125 Pechora (SA-3 Goa). It was one of these ancient systems that shot down a Lockheed Martin F-117 over Serbia in 1999, and Syria's force (estimated at up to 40 batteries) is reportedly being upgraded to the Pechora-2M standard. The upgrade package increases the weapon's range and ability to detect and attack targets with reduced radar cross-section, according to the supplier, Russia's Defense Systems JSC. The Pechora is associated with the VHF P-18 (Spoon Rest) radar, for which the Belarus company KB Radar offers a P-18R upgrade suite, including a new receiver, clutter cancellation device and automated tracking.
The most modern medium SAM in Syrian use is the Almaz-Antey Buk-M2E. Israeli sources estimate that eight batteries, including 18 launchers, were sold to Syria in 2011. With a listed maximum range of 45 km (30 mi.), the Buk-M2E is carried on tracked vehicles and is highly mobile; the manufacturer says it can be set up or taken down for transport in 5 min. It uses semi-active guidance and has an NIIP 9S36 passive, electronically scanned array radar built into the launcher that can guide multiple missiles concurrently. The four-round launcher is teamed with a “transloader” that can carry eight rounds, four of which can be fired under guidance from the launcher.
Another weapon not previously encountered by the West is the Pantsyr-1 gun/missile short-range system, combining 12 ready-to-fire two-stage missiles and two 30-mm revolver cannon on a single turret. Syria is reported to have nine Pantsyr batteries with 36 vehicles.

