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

Continued efforts to improve the flex-
ibility of the fighter force have been reflected in
recent modifications to the MIG-21. Since about mid-
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MIG-21 Fishbeds which give them improved capabilities
for operating from short runways. At least 370 of
the MIG-21's in Front aviation have these modifications.
In developing a light, mobile fighter,
some range and payload capability has been sacrificed.
These factors limit the
ability of the fighters to remain on station
As was noted earlier, however,
continuous air cover-no longer is a mission of Soviet
tactical fighters, except in certain critical offen-
sive operations such as river crossings and airborne
assaults.
Normally, air cover consists of a
few small patrols, with the maiority of the fighters
on ground alert.
b. Ground Attack
The primary new-generation ground at-
tack aircraft in Front aviation is the SU-7 Fitter.
These Mach 2.0 aircraft are armed with guns and carry
externally mounted rockets and bombs. The maximum
payload of the SU-7 is four 1,100-pound bombs, but the
aircraft would have an extremely short range--approxi-
mately 270 miles--when carrying this load. Under these
conditions, the SU-7 would be operationally limited
primarily to preplanned strikes, thus surrendering
much of the flexibility typical of aircraft operations.
With rockets, or up to 2,000 pounds of bombs, however,
the aircraft has a combat radius of about 350 miles.
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