Free Syrian Army could be equipped with Russian-made portable missile system SA-7 Grail 0108123

Conflict in the World - Syria War

Wednesday, August 1, 2012, 10:41 AM

Free Syrian Army could be equipped with Russian-made portable missile system SA-7 Grail.

According to an NBC News report that a Western official did not dispute, the rebels have acquired nearly two dozens surface-to-air missiles, which were delivered to them via neighbouring Turkey. The analysis of the video by Army Recognition team released by NBC News, the anti-aircraft missiles would be Russian-made SA-7 Grail.

Syrian rebel fighters fought to control a key road to the Turkish border and turned captured tanks against a government air base north of Syria's largest city on Monday, July 30, 2012. The Turkish border is now a transit point for smuggling guns and ammunition for the Free Syrian Army.

With these new SA-7 missiles, Free Syrian army soldiers will be able to combat more effectively against aerial attacks by helicopter gunships and planes flying at low altitude.

The SA-7 Grail (Russian denomination 9K32M Strela-2) is the first genration of portable air defence missile system, made by the Russian defence industry. The SA-7a (9K32 Strela-2) was introduced for service in 1968.

The SA-7 had a slant range of 3.6 km and a kill zone between 15 and 1500 meters in altitude, with a speed of about 430 meters per second (Mach 1.4).