ARMS DELIVERIES TO SYRIA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP86T00608R000600060021-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 6
• Document Creation Date: December 19, 2016
• Document Release Date: May 24, 2005
• Sequence Number: 21
• Publication Date: March 28, 1975
• Content Type: MF

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Arms Deliveries to Syria
Attached is the submission requested by your
office on military equipment deliveries to Syria
since 6 October 1973, for use in the Interagency
Intelligence memorandum, aria Strengthens Its
Armed Forces.
provided to
East.
An information copy is also being
the NIO for the Middle
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---Trade and Aid Branch
Office of Economic Research
Attachment:
As stated
Distribution: (S-? 08518)
Orig. & 1 - Addressee
1 - DD/OEF; D/OER; SA/ER
2 - St/P/c ~S l-CRS )
1 - Ch/D/D
2 - D/TA
1 - NIO/ME
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(28 March 1975)
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Submission: Interagency Intelligence Memorandum
Syria Strengthens Its Armed Forces
Syria
Most of the Soviet weaponry is being integrated
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Damascus remains almost completely dependent on the
USSR for its military hardware. Moscow, in turn, continues
to focus its Middle East military aid diplomacy on Syria.
Soviet arms deliveries to Syria in 1974 -- valued at $435
million -- were the most sent to any of Moscow's Third
World clients, and represented 37% of total deliveries.
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directly into the Syrian armed forces.
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As a result of the 1973'conflict, Damascus determined
that larger quantities and, more advanced combat equipment
would be required if war with Israel were to break out
again. Soviet deliveries in 1974 not only completed the
replacement of Damascus's war losses but also enabled air
and ground forces to be expanded and up-graded. In May
1974, Syria became the first country to receive the
supersonic MIG-23 jet fighter. Counting new MIG-21 and
SU-7 deliveries, Syria now has about 475 jet fighters in
its inventory -- the largest fighter aircraft force in
the Middle East. However, Syria suffers from a shortage
of proficient pilots. Moreover, needs for more and better
maintenance and support technicians will denegrate capa-
bilities either to defend effectively against.deep pene-
tration raids by Israeli aircraft or to provide adequate
ground attack support.
Soviet land armament deliveries in the last 18 months
have included some 800 T-62 tanks. Consequently, Syria's
ground forces are now better equipped than they were at
the beginning of the October War. In some ways, such as
tank gunnery, they also are better trained. Advanced
weaponry received by the Syrian Army included FROG-7
rocket launchers -- the first ones appeared in early 1973,
and the SCUD surface-to-surface missile system. These
tactical artillery systems extend substantially Syria's
long-range artillery capability.
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Syrian air defenses have been up-rp aded since the
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have been added and the
vehicle-mounted SA-7 tactical surface-to-air missile
system has been introduced.
During the'last 18 months, East European countries
have supplied only nominal amounts military equipment,
probably less than 10% of total Conaunist deliveries to
Syria.. Equipment includesjet aircraft engines, tanks,
APCs, small arms, and explosives. Czechoslovakia has
been the largest single supplier.
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October War. Ten surface-to-air missile batteries
Moscow will remain Syria's rn,=tjor arms supplier.
D rnascus can be expected to pursr,,e recent initiatives
with the UK, France, and West Germany, although a deal
for major weapons systems is un:..ikely while Middle Eastern
tensions are unabated. Syria has concluded small contracts
with the West for logistics and communications equipment,
and will continue to negotiate for support equipment
which it cannot obtain from the USSR or Eastern Europe.
Syria likely would get equipment from the inventories of
other Arab countries, partic:i::! arly if a new conflict
erupts. Iraq, Algeria, and Libya might transfer some
Soviet and Western equipmer.,% as would Saudi Arabia and
Kuwait, each of which are up-grading air and ground force
inventories.
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