Documents / FOIA release

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…
Topee±
and surface search radars. (See figure 11-24.)
133. Other Soviet forces opposite NATO-desig,
nated primarily for coastal ASW-are much more
numerous, but their individual capabilities are gener-
ally poorer. These include about 155 minor surface
combatants with sonars, about 45 short- and medium-
range diesel submarines, nearly 60 short-range fixed-
' The holders of this vice are the Central Intelligence Agency wing ASW aircraft, and about 100 shore-based ASW
and the Director, National Security Agency. helicopters. In addition, the Polish, East German, and
to a lesser degree the Bulgarian and Romanian Navies
have a variety of units which are trained for coastal
Selected Soviet Aircraft , Figure 11-24 ASW defense and are being integrated into the com-
for Antisubmarine Warfare bined Pact fleets in the Baltic and Black Seas.
IL-38 May TU-142 Bear F
bottom iew
Year operational 1968 1971 135. Effective ASW depends in part on Pact sur-
veillance capabilities, which, outside coastal waters,
Payload (kg) Sonobuoys, Sonobuoys, are extremely limited. This limitation is primarily
torpedoes, and torpedoes, and caused by Soviet failure to develop long-range under-
depth chargesb depth chargesh sea surveillance systems. Soviet efforts to achieve such
(5,400) (8,500) a capability would, in any event, he constrained
Maximum radiusa 1,350 2,050 or 3,150c because the Pact lacks sites from which major Western
(nm) naval operating areas could be monitored. Further-
more, if the Soviets were to emplace an underwater
a. Radius values include allowance for three hours of loiter time surveillance system on Pact territory, its effectiveness
on station, would be limited because the waters along Pact shores
are for the most part shallow and therefore unsuitable
for carrying sounds over long distances.
c. See paragraphs 131 and 132 of chapter II for differing agency
views on the radius of the Bear F. 20 The holders of this view are the Director, Defense Intelli-
gence Agency, the Director of Naval Intelligence, Department of
the Navy; and the Assistant Chief of Staff, Intelligence, Depart-
5902 ,, u nmentof the Air Force.
11-40
Top ae, t

Not linked to a story yet.

About this file

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.