The Development of Soviet Air Defense Doctrine and Practice.
Abstract
This report describes the evolution of Soviet air defenses from 1918 through World War II, the war in Vietnam, and the Arab-Israeli wars. It also discusses present-day Soviet air defenses and possible Soviet motivations in structuring such formidable defenses. A great deal of data has been amassed that tends to indicate that in the past the Soviet Union has devoted, and is presently devoting a large share of its resources toward maintaining a viable air defense system that encompasses not only the protection of the homeland, but also Soviet troop formations. All indications are that the USSR intends to maintain its present level of effort into the foreseeable future, responding to real or perceived threats from the West by employment of the latest technologies available. One reflection of this is the fact that while the West has allowed its air defenses to become obsolescent at best in some areas, the Soviets have continued to upgrade their systems with the obvious aim of ensuring maximum survivability of their means of existence. To this extent, the type and mix of air defense systems currently found in type Soviet military formations can only reaffirm that these formations are offensive is configuration and nature.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 01, 1981
- Accession Number
- ADA166753
Entities
Organizations
- Sandia National Laboratories