Warsaw Pact Forces opposite NATO, NIE 11-14-79, Volume II, the Estimate, CIA/NFAC, 31 January 1979

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aircraft currently being tested are known to have such directed toward fielding advanced air-launched cruise
a capability. Whatever in-flight refueling capability missiles for delivery by Soviet Long Range Aviation
the Soviets develop for their tactical aircraft during bombers are also under way.
the period of this Estimate, therefore, is likely to be
confined to only a small portion of the force. 46. We have no evidence that the Soviets have
operational precision guided bombs but they are con-
40. The Soviets will no doubt pursue improvements ducting tests of unpowered, airdropped vehicles that
in the range and all-weather, day or night, low-level exhibit precision-delivery characteristics. These tests
attack capabilities of the Pact's ground attack forces. indicate that a guided bomb employing a laser illu-
We also expect increased use of ECM (electronic minator mounted on board the launch aircraft could
countermeasures) pods and other ECM equipment, be available in the near future, and that a TV-guided
which should enhance survivability in hostile airspace. bomb could become operational in the early 1980s.
These systems would be accurate within 10 to 20
4. Reconnaissance. Modernization in the recon- mee
naissance component of the Pact's tactical air forces meters.
will continue during the next few years. Deployment 47. The Soviets are developing a minimum of two
of Foxbat B/D aircraft to Soviet reconnaissance units new tactical air-to-surface missiles, the AS-X-11 and
will proceed, and reconnaissance variants of the Flog- AS-X-12, with operational ranges of about 40 to 30
ger and Fencer could appear in the early 1980s. kilometers respectively. These new antiradiation hom-
Improved systems for data processing and transmission ing missiles will probably be deployed by 1980. They
are also expected. will have improved accuracy-within 12 meters-and
42. Helicopter Forces. We expect in the next are expected to lock on targets more quickly than
decade that several additional Soviet, Czechoslovak, previous systems. The AS-X-11 can be targeted against
Polish, and East German combat helicopter regiments, EW/ECI and ground-based air defense (SAM) radars.
primarily for ground attack, will be formed. The The AS-X-12 can be targeted only against ground-.
NSWP regiments probably will be patterned after based air defense (SAM) radars. The Soviets are also
SWPie regiments probmalywilbeequippatternedexpected to begin testing a TV-guided version of their
Soviet regiments and may be equipped with MI-24
lIind armed helicopters. The Romanians may also A- in the near future.
organize a combat helicopter regiment in the next five 48. We have no evidence that the Soviets are
years, using attack and transport helicopters of French developing a new air-to-air missile for their tactical
design- fighters. Development of new missiles for the strategic
43. The Soviets are applying their latest technology air defense forces, however, could have some future
in avionics and air ordnance to helicopter platforms. applications in the tactical air forces.
This could result in improvements to their weapon
systems to increase standoff ranges and enhance the 49. Military Air Transport. Soviet Military Trans-
survivability of the helicopter in an advanced air port Aviation (VTA) will continue to be modernized
defense environment. In addition to assigning broader with newer aircraft, but the size of the force will not
ground attack roles to helicopters, the Soviets are appreciably change. Although overall lift capacity will
expected to equip them to a greater extent for coi- increase, the Soviets do not appear to be building a
mand and control and electronic warfare missions. force capable of siniultaneously lifting much more
The Soviets are also increasing the air-to-air combat than one airborne division or the assault elements of
two divisions.
training of MI-24 Hind crews.
44. The Soviets are developing a new heavy lift 50. The AN-12 Cub medium-range transport will
helicopter, the Halo A. This helicopter is assessed to remain the mainstay of the airlift force, at least into
have almost twice the payload of the current Hook the mid-1980s, although its numbers will continue to
and Ilarke heavy lift helicopters. The new helicopter decrease as the IL-76 Candid enters the force. The
has twin engines and an eight-blade main rotor, and Soviets will continue to rely on the AN-22 Cock, which
could be operational by the early 1980s. is no longer in production, to lift outsized military
equipment. We also expect the Soviets to continue
45. Air Munitions. The Soviets also are developing relying on Aeroflot for airlift augmentation, and this
more advanced air-to-air missiles, tactical air-to-sur- capability will increase as the civil air fleet is
face missiles, and precision guided bombs. Programs modernized.
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IToepcret