MIG-23S DELIVERED TO CUBA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP84B00049R001303200002-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 7
• Document Creation Date: December 21, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 2, 2008
• Sequence Number: 2
• Publication Date: January 11, 1982
• Content Type: MEMO

11 January 1982
AF'R'CA/LATIN AMEN'LA
D/OALA- $ --/ 0
Attached is a copy of the memorandum sent to D/INR this morning. In
response to your questions concerning these deliveries:
1. The 1962 agreement referred to the introduction of strategic offensive
weapons, but the text of the agreement and associated documents have
never been made available to our analysts. The MIG-23s almost
certainly would not be included in the definition as we understand
2. Because there is no apparent violation and previous deliveries have
occurred, US options are somewhat limited. In the past, the US has
protested to Moscow when such deliveries have occurred.
3. Regarding the delivery of fighter aircraft to Nicaragua, see page 2
of the attached memorandum.
Director
Office of African and Latin American Analysis
NGA review(s) completed.
DIA review completed.
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Ccntral Intdligcncc Agcng
11 January 1982
MEMORANDUM FOR: Hugh Montgomery,
Director Bureau of Intelligence and Research
Department of State
FROM . Robert Gates
Deputy Director for Intelligence
Central Intelligence Agency
: MIG-23s Delivered to Cuba
4. If the Cubans have indeed received four more Flogger F's, then
these aircraft, together with the four trainers, will probably form the
nucleus of a second Cuban MIG-23 s uadron.
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SUBJECT: MIG-23s Delivered to Cuba
5. The Soviet Flo er fighter-bomber is assessed to have a combat
25X1 radius of over. miles. A more realistic figure which takes
required fuel reserves an operational constraints into account would be
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6. All modern combat aircraft have an inherent capabilit to deliver
nuclear weapons. This applies to MIG-21s as well as MIG-23s.
7. Meanwhile, construction of several airfields in Nicaragua that
are potential MIG fighter bases continues.
As a result, this airfield appears to
be the most likely candidate for initial deliveries of fighter aircraft.
Castro
pans to send aircraft to Nicaragua
they may be MIG fighters, AN-26 transports, or some other model.
this January.
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4. CUBAN REVOLUTIONARY AIR FORCE (CRAF)
a. Mission
A The CRAF is one of the largest and best equipped air forces
in Latin erica. Its mission is air defense of Cuba, tactical air and
airlift support of ground and naval forces, and military aid and/or
combat assistance to selected foreign countries and groups. Specific
tasks include identification, interception, and, if necessary, de-
struction of intruding aircraft; search and rescue operations; meteor-
ological services; photo and visual reconnaissance; transport of VIPs,
military personnel, and cargo; and close air support of ground and naval
forces, particularly in operations related to exile incursions. CRAF
personnel have flown combat missions in Angola and Ethiopia, serve as
military advisers abroad, and assist in training foreign military person-
nel in Cuba. A former task of flying crop dusters is now a civil
aviation responsibility.
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c. Support
w c is capable of carrying troops and cargo throughout the island.
The CRATES are also used for reconnaissance and search and rescue
missions, and have responded to attacks on Cuban fishing craft by
Cuban exile groups. One 11-14 is especially configured for photorecon-
naissance and mapping and is often used in this role. During 1978-79
Cuba received 20 An-26/CURL short-range transports from the Soviet
Union. While some of these aircraft were scheduled to be introduced
into the Cubans inventory, the majority appear to have been assigned to
CRAF. The CURLs not only improve the logistic capability of the Air
Force but also significantly increase CRAF's ability to support airborne
operations. They have an operating radius capable of reaching part of
Florida, the Yucatan Peninsula, and the Caribbean islands west of
Puerto Rico. The CRAF transport inventory also includes the An-2/COLT,
Li-2/CAB, An-24/ COKE, Yak-40/CODLING, Mi-4 and Mi-8 helicopters, and
various small fixed-wing aircraft.
The "workhorse" of the CRAF inventory is the 11-14,
the transport of supplies and personnel. The airline's I1-18 and BAC
318 aircraft have been used to airlift Cuban troops to Africa; however,
because of the vintage of these aircraft, especially the former, they
are frequently out of service for repairs and maintenance. The Cubans
are replacing the older aircraft with I1-62Ms. At present, the Cubans
inventory includes seven, two of which are leased from Aeroflot. Cubans
expects to increase its total to 10 I1-62Ms, none of which.will be
leased.
Cubana aircraft have been used to supplement CRAP in
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