Russia has been flexing its military might in Syria and the sheer power and capability on display has left Western analysts shocked.

As Vladimir Putin ramps up attacks on ISIL, the true power the Russian president wields has become more apparent.

The latest video to emerge from the battlefields shows a mountain under fire from Russian flamethrower missiles known as the 'Blazing Sun'.

The explosion from these high-powered weapons triggers a wave of heat 1000°C which burns all of the oxygen nearby, leaving victims unable to breathe.

This war machine has been used by the Russian military for years, but some of its other recent attacks have never been witnessed.

When the Caspian Sea fleet got involved in the conflict, ships fired huge cruise missiles into the Middle-East which travelled about 1500km.

US analyst for Brookings Institution Garrett Campbell said this was a "previously unknown capability".

Mr Campbell said Russia's Buyan-M-class corvettes and Gepard-class frigates were smaller than the US equivalents - Freedom and Independence, "but they do not possess any cruise missiles or similar power projection capability".

The power of the Russian Navy was thought to be lacking only a year ago, but recent operations have given the West a lot to think about.

A Reuters report from May 27 last year claimed Russian ships were "more rust than ready".

But as recently as yesterday CNN reported Russian submarines were detected close to vital undersea cables near US waters.

Commander of US Naval Force Europe Admiral Mark Ferguson told an audience in Washington the Russian Navy had ramped up operations.

"The proficiency and operational tempo of the Russian submarine force is increasing," he said.

"According to Russian Navy Chief Admiral Chirkov, the 'intensity' of Russian submarine patrols has risen by almost 50% over the last year."

The Russian Air Force has also flexed its muscles over Syria in recent weeks, flying up to 96 missions a day.

President Putin reportedly plans to increase this number to 300 a day, Russia Insider reports.

Mr Cambell said if Russia can maintain an air campaign of this level it would be an impressive feat.