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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…
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90. A new medium-range air-to-air missile, the ent tactical air-to-surface missiles (TASMs) have also
AA-7 Apex, evidently is being fielded in both infrared been developed in recent years. One of these, the AS-7
seeking and semiactive versions. (See figure 11-16.) The Kerry, was developed some years ago as a short-range,
missile probably has a limited shootdown capability to beam-riding missile for use on earlier model MIG-21s.
match the limited lookdown, search-and-track features We have evidence, however, that the Fitter C and
of the airborne intercept radar on the Flogger B. In Flogger D are also capable of using a command-
addition, a new short-range, infrared-seeking air-to-air guided variant of the Kerry missile. The other two
missile, the AA-8 Aphid, is in service. This missile is TASMs, the AS-9 and AS-10, are completely new
smaller than earlier missiles, probably is more maneu- missiles. The AS-9 is an antiradiation missile with an
verable, and is estimated to have a launch range of estimated maximum range of 60 nm (10 km). The AS-
0.25 to 5 nautical miles (about 450 to 9,000 meters). 10 is a semiactive laser-guided missile with a maxi-
The Soviets also have fielded the AA-2d (Atoll D), an mum range of approximately 6 nm (11 kin).
infrared homing air-to-air missile which may have an 92. The Soviets have made some advances in
irnproved infrared seeker, improved motors, and possi- streamlining their bomb shapes, and in developing
bly better maneuverability. Both the AA-8 and AA-2d retardation devices which allow ordnance to be deliv-
ered in high-speed, low-level flight. A runway-crater-
91. All Pact ground attack aircraft can carry a wide ing bomb was issued in 1974 and is probably able to
range of ground attack weapons, including pods of penetrate about half a meter of reinforced concrete in
57-mm rockets, large unguided rockets, conventional low-altitude delivery. The standard Soviet 250-kg
bombs of up to 500 kilograms, and cluster weapons. In fragmentation bomb has been modified with a tele-
addition, many carry guns and cannons. Three differ- scoping fuse to increase shrapnel effect. The Soviets
Selected Warsaw Pact Air-to-Air and Air-to-Surface Missiles Figure Il-16
for Tactical Aircraft
Year operational Guidance Range (nm) Carrier aircraft
Atoll AAM
AA-2b 1960 Infrared 3-4 Fishbed, Flogger B/C/E
AA-2c 1970 Semiactive radar 3-4 Fishbed J/K/L/N, Flogger E
AA-2d 1973 Infrared 4-6 Fishbed L/N, Flogger B
Apex AAM
AA-7a 1974 Semiactive radar 10 Flogger B
AA-7b 1974 Infrared 10 Flogger B
Aphid AAM
AA-8 1975 Infrared 2-3 Fishbed L/N, Flogger B
AS-7 Kerry TASM 1971 Command or 6 Fishbed F, Fitter C/D
beam rider Flogger B/D, Fencer A
AS-9 TASM 1975 Antiradiation homing 27-30 Fitter C/D, Fencer A
AS-10 TASM 1976 Semiactive laser 6-8 Fitter C/D ,Flogger D,
Fencer A
579021 . cu
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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.