A total success? Some glitches in the Western Bombing of Syria

Two US missiles launched during the Western bombing of Syria did not
successfully detonate. Both these explosives have been sent to Russia for
analysis [1].

The US and Russian technology in this type of weapon are radically
different. As a result, progress made in one system, is difficult to
transplant to and bring benefits to the other system. That said, Russian
military engineers do intend to study the US missiles to improve the
Russian anti-missile system.

A French air plane, Rafale, which was not capable of bringing down one of
the two Scalp-EG missiles had to land [2].

Three naval cruise missiles made in France meant to be fired against Syria,
could not be launched from the French multi-mission frigates [3]. These
high-tech missiles which come at the considerable cost of around 2.8
million euro per missile, have never been used in combat.

Both the US and French governments have tried to smooth away these
problems, declaring on 14 April 2018 that the joint operation against Syria
had been a total success.

From Moscow, the Russian Defence Minister revealed that more than two
thirds of the missiles used in the Western attack against Syria had been
destroyed in flight by Syria Arab Army, a fact that both the US and the
French governments contest [4].