Documents / FOIA release
This is an October 1968 contribution by the Central Intelligence Agency's Office of Strategic Research to National Intelligence Estimate 11-14-68 on Soviet and East European general purpose forces. It covers Warsaw Pact war plans for Central Europe, the effects of the Czechoslovak crisis, and the doubling of Soviet forces on the Chinese border since 1965. It also assesses ground, tactical air, naval and coastal defense forces. The text does not mention UFOs or unidentified aerial phenomena.
“The Advance”9 pages
TOP SECRET| The number of.very light utility. transports.will decrease as obsolete models are retired, but others such as the twin-engine AN-14 lse_t._som-e_f_the~reduction--He~licap-t strength is expected to remain high. Models which either have entered, or may enter service at any time are the MI-8 Hip, MI-2 Hoplite, the KA-26 Hoodlum, and the KA-25K. 8. Future Posture The size and disposition of the Soviet ground forces over the next few years.will probably be influenced strongly by how the Soviets view their requirements for defense in Central Europe and by their political relations with China. In the after- math of the Soviets' intervention in Czechoslovakia and their probable loss of confidence in the Czech military. contribution to the Warsaw Pact, they will probably make some permanent changes in the strength and disposition of Soviet forces in the West. The buildup of ground forces opposite China, which has probably already doubled the force in that region, is likely to continue through the early 1970's unless the political situation in China moderates substantially. There are current indications that the Soviets are establishing at least four more divisions in 'the Sino-Soviet border region--all of them in the two operational groupings which they are developing in the southern.Maritime Territory and the south- eastern Transbaykal. The Soviets may be aiming for the eventual development of a Front in each of these two regions since a Front is an essential element . of Soviet organization for extended joint operations.. If so, they might, in the next few years., create at least one additional field army in the southern Maritime Territory and also develop their forces in the Transbaykal and eastern Mongolia into two or. more field armies and a tactical air army. In the west, the Soviets will probably take measures to ensure the continued availability of strong, reliable forces on their southern flank in the central region. These measures, which may - 53 - TC-rCRETF
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FOIA release, from the cia-readingroom collection. The PDF is mirrored here; the original link is above. 115 pages are in the text index: search them above, or from the library's search.