The long-range striking power of the Russian aerospace forces in the region comes from the twelve Su-24M2 bombers that Russia sent to its base in Latakia , Syria . On 24 November 2015 , a Russian Su-24M was shot down by a flight of two Turkish F-16s near the Turkey – Syrian border . The two crew ejected before the plane crashed in Syrian territory . Russia claimed that the jet had not left Syrian airspace while Turkey claimed that the jet entered their airspace and was warned 10 – 12 times before being shot down . A deputy commander in a Syrian Turkmen brigade claimed that his personnel shot and killed the crew while they were descending in their parachutes , while some Turkish officials subsequently stated that the crew was still alive . The weapon systems officer was rescued by Russian forces but the pilot was killed by rebels , along with a Russian marine involved in a helicopter rescue attempt . Russian president Vladimir Putin warned Turkey of serious consequences . It has been reported Russian fighter jets would escort bomber missions , S-400 advanced anti-aircraft systems were deployed in Syria and a Russian anti-aircraft cruiser were sent to Syria to protect Russian aircraft . Following the incident , Russia announced that Su-24s in Syria had been armed with air-to-air missiles on operational sorties
was shot down
2015 Russian Sukhoi Su-24 shootdown
Sukhoi Su-24