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

wartime strength. In light of this evidence we estimate Increase in Warsaw Pact Figure 11-9
the other Soviet air divisions in Central Europe are Helicopters Opposite NATO,
similarly manned. We have good evidence on person- 1969 and 1979
nel strengths for only one NSWP air force. This 1969
evidence indicates that the total force is manned at 60
percent of wartime strength and combat air units at 70 3,000
percent. We estimate that the other NSWP air forces
are also manned below their intended wartime
strengths. We have no good evidence, however, on the 2,000
extent of this undernanning. Pact air units could
initiate combat operations utilizing existing peacetime
strengths; however, mobilization of additional person- 1,000
nel would be required before the Pact could conduct a combat Helicopters i
sustained large-scale air offensive. Support Helicopters '
62. Helicopter Forces. Warsaw Pact helicopter 0 1969 1979
forces have two primary missions: combat and combat
support. Combat helicopters include those assigned to
units responsible for attacking ground targets or trans-
porting assault troops. Opposite NATO the Pact has 577627 1-79 CiA
assigned some 1,700 combat helicopters to this mission.
(See table 1I-5.) Of these, about 300 helicopters have as
their primary mission the attack of. ground targets; and
the remaining 1,400 helicopters have a primary mis_ vary in size from 50 to more than 100 helicopters.
sion of transporting assault forces. An additional 900 NSWP helicopter regiments generally are smaller than
helicopters are assigned to Pact units opposite NATO Soviet regiments. If used to transport troops, each
for various combat support roles including rescue, Soviet ground attack helicopter regiment probably
communications, relay, airborne command posts, artil- could lift simultaneously one or two reinforced motor-
lery spotting, electronic warfare, and liaison. A signifi- ized rifle battalions without their vehicles. Soviet
cant development in recent years has been the intro- assault transport regiments using only MI-8 Hip heli-
duction of heavily armed helicopters. Figure 11-9 copters could conduct the simultaneous lift of two to
shows the increase in the number of Pact helicopters three reinforced motorized rifle battalions without
opposite NATO since the early 1970s. their vehicles. Using both Hip and MI-6 Hook helicop-
ters, these assault transport regiments could lift a force
63. Soviet combat helicopters (ground attack and of the same size along with heavier equipment and
assault transport) are organized into regiments which light armored vehicles. The largest ground force unit
transported by helicopters would probably be of regi-
Table II-5 mental size.
Warsaw Pact Helicopters Opposite NATO * 64. Base Structure. The Warsaw Pact has an ex-
January 1979 tensive airfield network from which to launch and
In Eastern Europe In the sustain military air operations. In the USSR west of the
Primary Mission Soviet NSWP USSR Total Urals there are some 230 active military airfields; the
Comba Hlcte ______ _- Soviets also operate 40 military airfields in the NSWP
Ground Attack 175 25 110 310 countries. Eighty-four airfields operated by the NSWP
Assault Transport 275 555 555 1,385 air forces complement the Soviet base structure. There
Total Combat 450 580 665 1,695 are hundreds of other airfields-civil, factory flyaway,
Support Helicopters 370 125 425 920 and unoccupied (including dispersal) fields, highway
----- ---- - strips, and fields with temporary surfaces-which
Grand Total 820 705 1,090 2,615 could be used by military aircraft.
* See footnote to table II-i, following paragraph 3. See table B-3
in annex 13for a detailed order of battle of Pact helicopter forces
opposite NATO. construction of at least 11 new military airfields,
StE -- started construction of at least nine others, and signifi-
11-18
T~irSe.et