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.
“Indian Air Force”2 pages
TOPI' E RET it has been discovered that a reconnaissance variant of the YAK-28--the Maestro--has been operational with -eFnavi a-tin= s=sever-al:-yea r-s-. :- -hese. high-perfor- mance Fishbeds and Maestros account for about half of the tactical- reconnaissance force. The balance is composed of IL-28 reconnaissance aircraft and a few MIG-17 and YAK-27 aircraft. Deliveries of the MIG-21 reconnais- sance version, designated Fishbed H, began in late 1966. Since then they have replaced nearly all the older model fighters assigned to this mission. Re- connaissance equipment on the Fishbed H is carried in a lar e pod attached to the underside of the fuse- lage. Deployment of MIG-21 Fishbed H fighters reflects continued emphasis on armed reconnaissance. In addition to having more extensive reconnaissance equipment than the MIG-15/17 fighters which it re- placed, the Fishbed H extends the speed, range, and firepower of fighter reconnaissance units. It can be armed with AAM's unguided rockets, bombs, or even a gun pod, Additional pylon stations for external fuel have been added, permitting the aircraft to carry both armament and reconnaissance equipment while retaining the nor- mal .combat radius of a MIG-21 interceptor. Deployment of the YAK-28 Maestro was part of the overall modernization program implemented in the early 1960's, although this has been confirmed only recently. The Maestro has been detected at all five bases which were thought to have been equipped only with the older subsonic YAK-27. Of 140 YAK-27 aircraft previously estimated in tactical reconnaissance units, 120 actually are the YAK-28. These aircraft probably retain their bombing systems, providing an effective strike-reconnaissance capability. - 66 - TOP SECRET
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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.