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

The increased role of fighter-bombers and
medium bombers has been reflected in a sharp reduction
in the number of light bombers assigned to Front avia-
tion. The present light bomber force of 360 aircraft
is onyabout one-sixth of the pre-1960 level. In
addition, only a limited number of the older bombers
have been replaced in the re-equipment program.
In contrast to the decline in light bombers,
the number of aircraft assigned to ground attack regi-
ments has nearly doubled since initiation of the mod-
ernization program.in 1960. The increased emphasis on
fighter-bombers results primarily from the rapidity of
movement characterizing the modern battlefield, and
the greater flexibility of such aircraft in this en-
vironment. In addition to providing close support for
ground operations, fighter-bombers can carry out inter-
diction and neutralization strikes at relatively short
ranges. The development of small nuclear weapons has
given fighter-bombers a destructive capability previ-
ously limited to bomber aircraft. Soviet fighter-bombers
have low payload capabilities, however, and would have
relatively limited effectiveness with conventional bombs.
Air superiority and air defense of the com--
bat area continue to be important missions of Front
aviation. The operational methods for these missions
were revised in the 1950's, however. Independent oper-
ations by fighter aircraft to rout enemy air groupings
were deemed obsolete, as was the concept of protecting
ground operations with an umbrella of fighter aircraft.
Such tactics had been made ineffective, according to
Soviet military doctrine, by the number and variety of
the enemy's means of air attack, both aircraft and
missiles.
Air superiority is now to.be achieved pri-
marily through strikes at enemy airfields executed
by both aircraft and tactical missiles. In addition,
part of the air defense of the immediate battlefield
area and rear positions is now provided by surface-
to-air missiles. Theater air defense still depends
primarily on fighter aircraft, however, with increased
emphasis on intercepting enemy strike aircraft forward
of the battlefield area.
These revised operational theories led to
a reduction in the number of fighter aircraft deployed
with TAF air defense regiments. Unlike the case of
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