OSR Contribution to NIE 11-14-68, Soviet and East European General Purpose Forces, CIA/DI/OSR, October 1968.

The KA-25K medium flying crane probably
will enter service with tactical units to fulfill a
number of functions, including troop carrying and
The Soviets are developing a huge new
transport aircraft--a winged helicopter--for short
takeoff and landing operations with a takeoff weight
on the order of 200,000 pounds, more than twice that
of their giant MI-6 and MI-10 helicopters, and a pay-
load of some 30 tons. This aircraft could signifi-
cantly increase Soviet short-'range (under 200 nautical
miles) airlift capabilities, but is not likely to
enter service until well into the 1970's.
7. Airlift Capabilities
a. Expanding Mission
As Soviet military airlift capacity
and range has increased, the Soviets have enlarged
their demands on Military Transport Aviation (VTA).
They now expect VTA to .support the airborne troops
in independently neutralizing or occupying strategic
objectives, of which the recent occupation of Prague
is a vivid example.
The Soviets have begun to rely more
heavily on military airlift in support of their
military-political adventures such as those in the
Middle East. The most militarily significant example
has been the delivery of fighter aircraft to Middle
Eastern and North African countries following the
June 1967 war. It is likely that this reliance will
increase dramatically in the 1970's as new aircraft
with range and payload capabilities become available.
Although the airlift potential will continue to in-
crease with the assignment of new aircraft, Soviet
airborne intervention forces would still face the
possibility of destruction while en route to their
objective. Fighter escort from the USSR is, gen-
erally speaking, only possible to a radius of 500 nm.
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