Russia launches barrage of cruise missiles from a submarine for the first time in Syrian campaign to hit jihadist strongholds in Raqqa Tuesday Dec 08,2015

Russia are now using submarines to attack Syria from posts in the Mediterranean Sea

 

Some of the missiles are believed to be able to travel up to 1,500 miles in the ongoing battle against ISIS

Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu confirmed the strikes had been launched on the country in such a way, progressing on from firing from warships the Caspian Sea.

'We used Calibre cruise missiles from the Rostov-on-Don submarine from the Mediterranean Sea,' Shoigu told President Vladimir Putin during an encounter broadcast on state television.

RUSSIA'S SPECIAL WEAPON AGAINST ISIS 

The Rostov-on-Don Submarine is a model believed to be one of the quietest in the world - making it excellent in stealth operations.

The sub is armed with 533mm torpedoes and Kalibr-PL (submarine modification) water-to-surface cruise missiles.

Weighing some 4,000 tons the Rostov-on-Don can reach underwater speeds of 20 knots (23mph) and can dive to a depth of almost 1,000ft.

NATO has called this type of submarine a 'black hole' for its ability to remain undetected.

It usually has a crew of over 50, and can spend around 40 days at sea before it needs to return to port for refuel and supplies.