Apart from the mainstay of tried and true fighter planes, aerial warfare over terrorist-ridden Syria has seen the debut of several new fighter jets introduced by Russia and a US-led coalition that have been targeting Takfiri positions. Here are the most advanced fighter jets flying over the Arab country in the battle against the Daesh terrorists.

Russia’s Sukhoi Su-34 

With a combat radius of over 1,000 kilometers, and the capability of aerial refueling, the Sukhoi Su-34 is currently Russia’s most advanced interdiction aircraft.

The jet also comes with formidable air-to-air self-defense armament capabilities -- the R-73 dogfighting missiles and the R-77 long-range radar-guided air-to-air missiles that render it fully equipped to carry out self-escorted strike missions.

The SU-34 was designed as a substitute for Russia’s ageing Su-24 strike aircraft.

Sukhoi Su-30SM 

Despite having an array of potent air-to-ground strike projectiles, the Su-30SM is primarily being used as an air escort for other Russian strike aircraft.

Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor  

The F-22, one of the most advanced planes flying over Syria, is a high-altitude supersonic stealth fighter jet with a vast array of sensory equipment.  

Despite being designed as a fighter jet, US commanders are mostly using the Raptor as a flying platform for both intelligence gathering and command and control.

Boeing EA-18G Growler

The Growler is equipped with a commanding array of sensory equipment such as the ALQ-218 receivers and the ALQ-99 jamming pods. It also carries the AGM-88 and AIM-120 missiles to protect itself from air defenses and enemy jets.  

It provides electronic warfare support to the US-led coalition’s ground forces by wreaking havoc on enemy communication and radar equipment.

Dassault Rafale

The French twin-engine jet, which was designed in the 1980's, utilizes a passive electronically scanned array radar called the Thales RBE2.

Apart from a series of French-produced armaments, the jet is equipped with the SPECTRA electronic warfare system.

Russia launched its air campaign against the Daesh Takfiris in Syria on September 30 upon a request from Damascus.

Since September 2014, members of the US-led coalition have been pounding purported terrorist positions inside Syria without any authorization from the Syrian government or a UN mandate.