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Show HILL TOP TIMES D August 19, 1983 ft wefts oimlld world defense feiree sJ Project Warrior. Editor's note: This is the fourth in a series of articles concerning trends in the continuing Soviet military build-u- p based on a 1983 report titled "Soviet Military Power" published by the Department of Defense. Since the end of World War II, the Soviets have . built and maintained the world's largest defense force. It includes active defenses such as interceptor aircraft, surface-to-ai- r missiles and antiballistic x i missiles and passive defenses such as surveillance and warning systems, hardening, electronic counter-measure- s and civil defense. CJ j Early Warning The Soviets have about ' . ! 7,000 radars throughout the USSR for detecting and supporting the engage- ment of enemy aircraft. They have consistently overcome many of the problems associated with for such a large country. The Soviets have a redundant system for detecting and tracking ballistic missiles. Their large radars can detect the launch of United States and Chinese ICBMs. These have been supplemented recently with a launch detection satellite system. Radars near the borders of Russia form a second radar layer. New phased-arra-y radars, about the size of a football field set on edge, when finished, will help the Soviets gain additional information about the size and objectives of any enemy missile air-warni- ng over-the-horiz- on MiG-25Foxb- " - Interceptor ( ly increased. Development of a mobile underway. Approximately 600 modernstrategic air defense interceptors with at least some ability to engage targets now make up half of the Soviets' interceptor force. The Soviets have been converting Foxbat A aircraft, originally designed e to counter threats, to Foxbat E, givcapabilities somewhat ing them limited the to Flogger aircraft. They have comparable of the Foxhound A, their first begun deployment interceptor with a true capability. Two more fighters are currently in development and should Full time civil defense staffs exist at each echelon of the Soviet administrative structure and the chief of civil defense is a deputy minister of defense and a general of the army. In wartime the civil defense administrative structure operates as an integrated command system and plays a significant role in maintenance of the government and the economy. Civil defense plans call for protection of leadership through deep, hard, urban sheltering and an extensive network of hardened relocation sites outside the cities, with redundant communications systems. The program also provides for continuity of support of the economy in wartime through the protection of the essential workforce by sheltering at work and workers to areas away by the dispersal of from worksites. Mass evacuation plans of the cities are designed to move general urban populations. e In peacetime, more than 150,000 people work in the civil defense program. In wartime, the numbers could swell to 16 million. The program costs the equivalent of $3 billion annually. Note: Next week's article will discuss the Soviets military objectives in Eurasia. . , Ballistic Missile Defense low-altitu- The Soviets maintain at Moscow the world's only operational antiballistic missile system. The Moscow defenses currently include battle management radars and four launch complexes. The system cannot presently cope with a massive attack; however, the Soviets have continued to pursue extensive ABM research and development programs, including a rapidly deploy able ABM system and improvements for the Moscow defenses. To support launch sites currently being upgraded, a new ABM radar is being built in Moscow. It is a phased-arraradar with 360 degree coverage. The improvements to the Moscow defenses, which could be completed by the are allowed 1972 ABM the as as number of the by Treaty long launchers does not exceed 100. de high-altitud- low-altitu- de , look-downshoot-do- enter service soon. y mid-1980- -- - The : Soviet air defenses are the most massive in the SA USSR 1 : SAS METERS A ft A 4 'A A LOW .... US Surfacm-to-A- a j; 1 . .'. tt ( 40 140 '. ." ., ' TO- - J MiG 23 FLOGGER BG FOXHOUND 1 080 900 2 A A Ms 1.360 1.300 6 AAMs 1,375 1.500 8 AAMs 12 8awapt YaK28 FIREBAR I 8 LOW TO MEDIUM LOW TO HIGH SPEED (KTS) RADIUS (KM) ARMAMENT WINGSPAN (Ml LOW . . 1.200 1.000 2AAM.1 9 1.625 1460 4AAM 14 960 1.250 4 AAMs . 18 METERS ' 14 Aircraft DELTA DAGGER -- PHANTOM II EAGLE 1200 825 8 AAMs 1.460 1.000 8AAMS 12 13 20 - PATRIOT -- 10- CHAPARRAL 10 :. LOW 10 MEDIUM Dmfanam Intmrcmptor " . SPEED IKTSI RADIUS (KM) ARMAMENT WINGSPAN (Ml tD . MEDIUM HIGH EF US Air IMPROVED HAWK ( FLAGON H!B Mini! Ir .NIKE HERCULES EFFECTIVE ALTITUDE LOW TO HIGH Z AE ' ' . SA 9 MEDIUM MEDIUM- -- , A Su-1- FOXBAT I SA-1- 8 meters FIDDLER B SA-- so RANGE IKMI MiG-2- SA 10 SA Interceptor Aircraft ' 30 SA 3 MEDIUM full-tim- . SA-- IOW Passive Defense USSR Air Defenam Mlaattaa Surfacm-ttyA-Jr SA2 EFFECTIVE ALTITUDE missile force continues to be im- surface-to-ai- r proved with the primary emphasis to counter low- altitude targets. Newer systems demonstrate longer range, particularly at low altitude; improved mobility; increased target handling capability and increased firepower. Deployment of the SA-1- 0 system, which can engage multiple aircraft and possibly cruise missiles at any altitude, has steadi- - s, world. They include an extensive variety of aircraft METERS is SA-1- 0 off-shi- ft Air Defense . Department of Defense Photo) and missile weapon systems with mutually supporting capabilities. Heaviest concentrations are in the European USSR and the militaryindustrial areas east of the Urals. ; attacks. E at " LOW - ." ' LOW TO HIGH 5 1.150 925 5 AAMt 12 - U.S. modernization prog ream addresses deficiencies The United States deploys fewer than 120 ground and AW ACS air defense radars, no SAMs for defense of North America, and less than 300 most 1950s vintage. interceptors Moreover, the United States has had no ballistic missile defense, capability since 1976, when the single Safeguard site was closed. The United States currently has almost no civil defense capability. The United States strategic modernization program addresses some of the major deficiencies in strategic defense, the most critical being lack of adequate air defense. Programmed initiatives to improve long-rangsurveillance include modern e yoviv, jy,'.vf microwave radars for the DEW Line and radars looking east, west, and south. available for surveillance and command and control for the air defense of North America. In all, five squadrons of 5 interceptors will replace e the The stratemodernization gic program also provides for the vigorous pursuit of research and development on ballis-- . tic missile defense. F-1- . The United States and Canada have developed a North American air defense master plan. At least six additional AWACS aircraft will be procured to augment current forces 1958-vintag- F-10- 6. |