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
and the program has been proceeding rapidly. The Flogger has demonstrated the capability to fly a super- -- ifospeeads a very'"o-aT'Ei desi while iTz saxTiiiTT speed at high altitudes is estimated to be about Mach 2.3. It also has good STOL capabilities, and could operate from airfields less than 2,000 feet long. An operational variant would be primarily equipped for an interceptor role, although it would have a second- ary ground attack capability. The Flogger meets the Soviet criteria for a mobile, flexible force of fighter aircraft. In addition to its STOL capabilities, the VG concept would provide the aircraft with an acceptable combat radius. The Flogger could also remain on station, cruising subsonically, yet able to engage quickly in supersonic pursuit. This aircraft is expected to enter service as a tactical fighter in the 1971-72 period. In addition, it is expected that a new aircraft with significantly improved capabilities in the ground attack role will be deployed in the early 1970's. Recent evidence suggests that the Soviets do not intend to continue replacing MIG-17 fighters with the SU-7. In view of the growing Soviet emphasis on ground attack operations, however, it is unlikely that the number of aircraft assigned to ground attack units will be reduced. It is equally unlikely that the Soviets plan to rely on the MIG-17 for a major portion of their ground attack capability through the mid-1970's. The Flogger could be deployed in both the fighter and ground attack roles, but in its pres- ent size and configuration it may have difficulty carrying a sufficient payload for ground attack mis- sions. A separate aircraft is believed more likely, probably incorporating STOL capabilities. Several other V/STOL aircraft are being tested, all of which employ some form of engine thrust to achieve V/STOL capability. None of these designs appears to be successful, however, and none is expected to enter operational service. The only - 72 - TOP ECRET
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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.