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

Central Intelligence Agency · 201 pages · text from the file's own layer

This is Volume II of National Intelligence Estimate 11-14-79, Warsaw Pact Forces Opposite NATO, issued by the Director of Central Intelligence and dated January 1979. The National Foreign Intelligence Board concurred with it. It was the first comprehensive estimate of Pact forces facing NATO since 1971. It covers Pact doctrine, the ground, air, naval, nuclear and chemical forces, command and control, and campaign plans for war in Europe. It judges that Central Europe would be the decisive arena, and it lists Pact weaknesses in pilot training and antisubmarine warfare. The document contains no UFO material.

  • p. 25 …and subsidiary systems such as command and control, radioelectronic combat (REC), and reconnais- sance data link…
  • p. 31 …Some of these submarines might alternatively have missions of minelaying near NATO naval bases or patrolling…
  • p. 33 …The Soviet Union views control of its East Euro- preparerd for any mission, froni defending against…
  • p. 42 …The USSR attributes a littoral of Europe have significant capabilities in either broad range of missions…
  • p. 51 …Improved models of the radio-controlled The SA-9 and ZSU-23-4 are probably with…
  • p. 55 …All Pact countries have well-organized mobili- direct control of the VGK to tactical-level missions…
  • p. 58 …These have pervasive control over the soldier's activities and commanders are expected to be closely…
  • p. 59 …Frontal Aviation missions include counterair, ground attack, Warsaw Pact Fixed-Wing Tactical Aircraft reconnaissance, electronic warfare…
  • p. 62 …Pilot Training and Proficienc. 3Y US stand- facilities, hardening command and control facilities, and establishing pipeline…
  • p. 66 …control system which is designed to provide the coordination necessary to conduct close-in missions when…
  • p. 68 major ground formations is used by tactical controllers conventional weapons or to have an operational weap…
  • p. 71 …countries, are tailored primarily for control of guished by missions: antiship strike, reconnaissance those two seas…
  • p. 75 …missions of the Warsaw Pact's general purpose naval forces are to exercise sea control 110…
  • p. 84 …this mission. The combat radii of Soviet ASM-equipped naval Capabilities for Exercising Sea Control in…
  • p. 85 …signed missions; submarines would not neces-" The holders of the second view are the Director, Defense…
  • p. 87 …the Soviets, Poles, and East Germans other missions. Most bombers would be required for have the…
  • p. 118 …would be detached from national control. Re- - The Western TVD. This theater would include, sidual forces…
  • p. 122 …and control functions is central to Soviet control and integration of Pact military operations. Such groups…
  • p. 134 …against HEAT ammunition, the Soviets have incorpo- control and combat support communication links. rated composite or…
  • p. 135 …The Air Operation have been ascertained from classified missions assigned to the NSWP forces are intended…
  • p. 141 …Pact air forces to perform their primary missions in poor flying weather. ould be the preferred…
  • p. 143 …Others believe that no judgment with flying combat missions at low altitudes or over long any…
  • p. 158 …The establishment of control of the Norwegian drastically the likelihood of a major, preemptive at- and…
  • p. 163 …aircraft carrier probably would be unable secondary mission of antiship attack. The Kiev prob- to cope…
  • p. 175 …be building a mand and control and electronic warfare missions. force capable of siniultaneously lifting much…
  • p. 176 …The Pact's early warning network is scheduled current roles of sea control in limited areas…
  • p. 178 …We do not know how the Soviets assess the achieving sea control and in providing support…
  • p. 182 …subma- to control Pact forces once they are released from rines with peripheral missions declines, some…
  • p. 186 …Soviet sea control capabilities gravity to require an early Soviet counteraction. The against US carrier and…
Selected Mobile Air Defense Systems in Warsaw Pact Ground Forces Figure 11-5
SA-4 SA-6 SA-8 SA-9
Range (km)
Minimum 10 4 1 1.5
Maximum * 27 12 6.0
Altitude (m)
Minimum 100 25 50 15
Maximum 20,000 10,000-12,000 10,000 3,600
Guidance system Command Semiactive homing Command Infrared homing
Transporter Tracked Tracked Wheeled Wheeled
(launcher) (2 missiles) (3 missiles) (4 or 6 missiles) (4 missiles)
Year operational 1967 1970 1974 (4 missiles) 1968
1978 (6 missiles)
'There is disagreement over whether the maximum range of the
SA-4 is 50 or 80 kilometers.
579016 -9 c-
signed for use against helicopters and other slow-flying formed. Considering the relative ineffectiveness of
aircraft. The SA-9 missile is also an infrared system these AA systems, we are as yet unable to determine
but has a greater range than the SA-7 and is carried the mission of the divisions.
aboard a modified amphibious scout car. It is deployed
along with the ZSU-23-4 AA system as part of a 27. Antitank Weapons. The Soviet arsenal of
regimental air defense battery. The extent to which antitank weapons includes both guided missiles and
these systems have been deployed as replacements for artillery. (See figure II-6.) Antitank guided missiles
older AA systems is difficult to determine. We assume (ATGMs) are heliborne, vehicle mounted, and man
that all Pact forces have been equipped with the SA-7. portable. Improved models of the radio-controlled
The SA-9 and ZSU-23-4 are probably with the regi- AT-2 Swatter and wire-guided AT-3 Sagger with
ments of all combat-ready tank and motorized rifle semiautomatic guidance are mounted on modified
divisions and with approximately 30 percent of re- scout cars and helicopters. The Sagger can also be
duced-strength or cadre divisions. mounted on the BMP and BMD and is available in a
manpack version. Some first-generation Swatters and
26. The Soviets recently began forming antiaircraft Saggers are still in service. Three new ATGM sys-
divisions in the USSR which may be similar to their tems are also being deployed with Soviet forces. The
AA units of the World War II type. At least one of AT-4 Spigot man-portable ATGM, the AT-5 Span-
these units has been identified in COMINT, and drel vehicle-mounted system, and the AT-6 Spiral
additional units have been reported by human sources. heliborne system have all been observed recently
A minimum of 200 pieces of antiaircraft artillery has with the Soviet forces in East Germany. The vehicle-
been observed at each of eight installations in the mounted system, suitable also for helicopter mounts,
USSR, suggesting that additional divisions may be has a nonretractable launch rack with five launching
Il-8
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FOIA release, from the cia-readingroom collection. The PDF is mirrored here; the original link is above. 201 pages are in the text index: search them above, or from the library's search.