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

TO0 SECRET
The SU-7 can deliver a nuclear weapon
using a toss bombing technique. Facilities suspected
structed at SU-7 bases with the Soviet forces in East-
ern Europe.
The MIG-17 Fresco fighters--in service
with a little over half the ground attack regiments--
are old. Production of these subsonic aircraft ceased
in 1957 and their range and payload are less than half
those of the SU-7.
MIG-21-equipped tactical air defense
units have a secondary mission of ground attack. The
effectiveness of the aircraft in this role is limited
by small payload and short mission time capability.
Recent evidence has indicated continued interest in
the ground attack capabilities of the MIG-21 Fishbed,
however, and it would clearly be employed in this
role if the situation required.
MIG-21' sieuinnelwith a new type of
gun pod have been noted
The armament of the MIG-21 in a ground attack
role usually consists of rockets and guns, or two
500- to 750-pound bombs. The aircraft can theoretic-
ally carry three 1,100-pound bombs, bt this would
esult in a greatly reduced ran e.
Soviet appreciation for the tactical
employment of armed helicopters appears to be grow-
ing. Transport helicopters have long heen equipped
with a flexible machine gun for suppressing ground
fire while landing troops. In addition, the MI-4
Hound has been observed firing rockets as long ago
as the late 1950's or 1960's and is reported to have
test-fired cannons on flexible mounts in that period
as well.
Now there are indications of an in-
creasing awareness of the need to provide more fire-
power against a greater variety of targets in support
of ground operations. There is no evidence that the
Soviets have any specially equipped gunships such as
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TOPSERET