PROSPECTS FOR COMMUNIST USE OF AIR-TO-AIR MISSILES OVER VIETNAM*

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79T00472A000600020010-3
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 7
• Document Creation Date: December 15, 2016
• Document Release Date: October 1, 2003
• Sequence Number: 10
• Publication Date: October 5, 1965
• Content Type: IM

Approv
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
Office of Current Intelligence
5 October 1965
INTELLIGENCE MEMORANDUM
Prospects for Communist Use of
Air-to-Air Missiles Over Vietnam*
1. Since two encounters in June, when MIGs
reportedly fired unguided rockets at US aircraft,
there has been no further intelligence concern-
ing Communist intentions to use guided air-to-
air missiles over Vietnam. The North Vietnamese
Air Force,'.however, is apparently nearing a time
when its training and equipment will enable it
to take an active air defense role and it is pos-
sible that its aircraft armament will include
air-to-air missiles.
2. Unguided air rockets have been in the
Soviet and Chinese Communist inventory for years,
and they are easily mounted on MIG-15s or MIG-17s,
either individually or in pods. Early models of
the MIG-17, for example, can carry from,two to
160ir-to-air rockets, depending on size. Later
models of the MIG-17 can carry double this amount.
3. To date there is no evidence that North
Vietnam has received any guided air-to-air mis-
siles (AAMs), However, AAMs are small enough to
ho mntripA, i ntn Nnrth Vi Ptnam without detection I
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4. The most likely AAM for use in Vietnam
would be the Soviet AA-2, nicknamed the Atoll, an
infrared heat-seeking missile which is believed to
be a copy of the US Sidewinder. The AA-2 is normally
associated with the MIG-21 fighter, which has not yet
appeared in Vietnam. However, it is a relatively sim-
ple missile and could be installed on almost any jet
fighter capable of achieving the Mach 0.8 speed neces-
sary for launch--which would include the MIG-15/17
fighters in North Vietnam. Only minor modifications
to the aircraft are needed to accommodate AA-2s. The
infrared head on the missile itself detects the tar-
get and gives the pilot an audio signal; when its in-
tensity becomes sufficient for missile lock-or, the
signal changes frequency and level. The only problem
remaining is to ensure that the target is within the
missile's flight range (5-6 n.m. for the latest model,
2-3 n m for the original model) before firing.
5. The AA-2 missile has been operational' in
the Soviet Air Force since 1959.' There is also
reason to suspect that the Chinese Communists have a
similar missile, though we have yet to confirm any
AAMs in China. We know that they recovered one of
the Sidewinders fired by Chinese Nationalist pilots
in 1958 (they displayed it in Peking)
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6. The AA-2 system is accurate and reliable
but has its shortcomings. Its effectiveness drops
sharply against bright cloud backgrounds, in clouds
or haze, or when the target is near the direction of
the sun. For a true all-weather AAM capability, the
North Vietnamese would require either a beam-rider
or a semi-active homing missile.
7. The most likely candidate would be the
Soviet AA-1 (Alkali),
Unlike the infrared AA-2, a beam-rimer
missile requires a specific type of airborne-inter-
cept (AI) radar in the fighter aircraft. The inter-
ceptor locks onto the target with its radar and fires
the missile, which stays in the center of the radar
beam until impact. There now are a few MIG-17PF
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INTELLIGENCE MEMORANDUM
PROSPECTS FOR COMMUNIST USE OF
AIR-TO-AIR MISSILES OVER VIETNAM
5 October 1965
Copy No. 83
DIRECTORATE OF INTELLIGENCE
Office of Current Intelligence
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