MAJOR AIR FACILITIES, CUBA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80T01355A000100860001-3
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 14
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: October 8, 2010
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: July 1, 1980
• Content Type: REPORT

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Top Secret
25X1 ~
basic Imagery interpretation report
Major Air Facilities, Cuba (S)
AIR BASE FACILITIES
BE: Various
Top Secret
25X1
RCA-05/~~~~~80
JULY 190 X1
copy 4 9
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 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/10/08 :CIA-RDP80T01355A000100860001-3
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Major Air Facilities
Top Secret RUF
GEOGRAPHIC COORDINATES
See below
CATEGORY
See below
BE NO.
See below
ONC. Sheet J-26, scale 1:1,000,000 (UNCLASSIFIED)
Geographic
Coordinates
San Antonio de Los 22-52-16N
Banos Airfield 082-30-34W
Santa Clara Airfield 22-29-24N
079-56-35 W
Holguin Airfield 20-47-07N
076- 18-54 W
Cienfuegos Airfield 22-09-OON
080-24-51 W
Campo Libertad Airfield 23-OS-41 N
082-25-55W
Ignucion Agramonte 21-25-I IN
Airfield 077-50-54W
San Julian Airfield 22-OS-42N
084-09-07 W
Jose Marti International 22-59-22N
Airfield 082-24-27 W
Antonio Maceo Airfield 19-58-09N
075-50-09W
Playa Baracoa Airfield 23-02-05N
082-34-42 W
Managua Airfield 22-58-13N
082- 16-32W
San Pedro Highway Strip 22-58-43N
082-28-15 W
Kawama Airfield 23-07-33N
081-17-50 W'
Los Canos Airfield 20-OS-OSN
075-09-3 I W
Manzanillo International 20-17-30N
Airfield 077-07-44W
Nueva Gerona Airfield 21-50-ISN
082-46-48 W
Pinar Del Rio South 22-20-05N
083-38-40W
I. (SAD) This report provides an abbreviated summary of and introduction to major Cuban military
and civilian air facilities. Because of the relatively large number of airfields in Cuba, only those with
runway lengths of 1,500 meters (approximately 5,000 feet) or greater and of probable military association
in the event of a national emergency will be discussed. This report includes selected satellite imagery,
summaries of the functions of and facilities at each airfield, and the air order-of-battle.
INTRODUCTION
2. (TSR) Major identifiable elements of the Cuban Revolutionary Air Force (CRAP) are one MIG-
23 (FLOGGER) ground attack squadron, four MIG-21 (FISHBED) air defense squadrons, one FISH BED
reconnaissance squadron, four MIG-15~-17 (FAGOT~FRESCO) ground attack support squadrons, one
(possibly two) HIP helicopter ground attack support squadron, and one AN-26 (CURL) military
transport squadron. A second CURL squadron is in Cuba but bears Soviet civil markings (Table 1).
25X1
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Top Secret
C OMIREX NO.
See below
NIETB NO.
See below
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Top Secret RUFF
Table 1.
Cuban Air Order-of-Battle Summary
This sable in i!s entirety i.r classified TOP SECRET RUFF
Type of Aircraft
Report
Function*
Number Of
Number
Inventory2
Squadrons
Observed
FLOGGER
12
AD~GS
1
10
FISHBED
125
AD/IRE
5
67
FAGOT/
47
GS
4
47
FRESCO
HIP
19
GS~TR
1
25-
30
HOUND
62
GP/TN
0
15-
20
COKE
3
TR
0
6
CURL
15
TR/GP
2
20
CLANK
-
AS~RE
0
2
CRATE~CAB
21
RE~TR
2
22
CODLING
12
TR
0
10-12
COLT
59
TN~GP
4-5
50 (approx)
Remarks
Plus 2 fighter trainer
detachments
In addition to several
ground support/transport
detachments
Being replaced by HIP
variants; remaining aircraft
organized in small detach-
ments
1 with craft insignia, 8
with Soviet markings, and 2
2 with Cubana Airlines
markings
]0 with craft insignia, 8 with
Soviet markings, and 2
with Cubana Airlines
markings
Squadron element
Organized into 5
detachments
4 associated with VIP
transport; 8 prob operated
by Cubana Airlines
*AD -Air defense GP -General purpose RE -Reconnaissance TR -Transport
AS -Aerial survey GS -Ground support TN -Trainer
3. (TSR) CRAF squadrons appear to be composed of 10 to 12 aircraft each, except for H I P
helicopter squadrons which may consist of 15 to 18 aircraft.
4. (TSR) There are approximately 200 airfields in Cuba. Of these, nine are considered to be of
primary importance and eight are of secondary importance (Figure 1). Primary airfields are defined as
those facilities currently hosting at least one military tactical or training squadron on a permanent basis or
which have a moderate-to-heavy volume of civil or military air traffic. Secondary airfields are those
facilities with no permanently assigned squadron elements and limited or no sustained air traffic but which
could easily and rapidly support military or civil air operations in the event of a military or domestic
emergency. Only those air facilities with runway lengths equal to or greater than 1,500 meters
(approximately 5,000 feet) will be discussed in this report. This figure was chosen because it allows a
reasonable operational safety margin for all aircraft currently in the Cuban inventory.
5. (TSR) Six of the nine designated primary airfields have a predominantly military association
(Table 2). San Antonio de Los Banos Airfield has two high-performance fighter squadrons (one
FLOGGER ground attack and one FISHBED air defense), one FISHBED reconnaissance squadron, and
one detachment of two MI-8 (HIP) helicopters. Santa Clara Airfield houses five fighter squadrons-one
FISHBED (air defense) and four FAGOT/FRESCO (ground attack/support). Holguin Airfield consists of
two FISHBED (air defense) squadrons. Cienfuegos Airfield consists of one HIP helicopter attack
squadron. Campo Libertad Airfield consists of one FISHBED air defense fighter detachment, one IL-14
(CRATE) reconnaissance squadron, two CURL military transport squadrons (one with Cuban markings
and one with Soviet markings), one AN-30 (CLANK; aerial survey) detachment, and two or three AN-2
(COLT) squadrons whose function has not been identified. San Julian Airfield accommodates one COLT
training squadron and one MI-4 (HOUND) helicopter training detachment.
6. (TSR) The three remaining primary airfields are used predominantly for civil air service but do
occasionally service combat aircraft. The largest of these three, Jose Marti International- Airfield, is the
major civil air facility in Cuba. Although it has no permanently assigned military aircraft, it is the base of
operations for most Soviet TU-95 (BEAR) deployments to Cuba. Antonio Maceo Airfield is the
commercial air link with Santiago de Cuba and the assembly point for most, if not all, YAK-40
(CODLING) aircraft entering Cuba. Ignacion Agramonte Airfield apparently shares its facilities equally
between transient civil and military aircraft, including deployments of fighter aircraft on training exercises
in the area. One transport squadron consisting of COLT, CRATE, and L[-2 (CAB) aircraft is stationed at
this airfield.
Top Secret
RCA -OS /0002/80
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Top Secret R U F F
PRIMARY AIRFIELDS (LETTERED)
SECONDARY AIRFIELDS (NUMBERED)
A.
SAN ANTONIO DE LOS BANGS
1.
PLAYA BARACOA
B.
SANTA CLARA
2.
SAN PEDRO HIGHWAY STRIP
C.
HOLGUIN
3.
MANAGUA
D.
ANTONIO MACEO
4.
KAWAMA
E
IGNACION AGRAMONTE
5.
MANZANILLO INTERNATIONAL
F.
CIENFUEGOS
6.
LOSCANOS
G.
JOSE MARTI INTERNATIONAL
7.
NUEVA GERONA
H.
CAMPO LIBERTACI
8.
PINAR DEL RIO SOUTH
I.
SAN JULIAN
Nassau
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Providence
Cat
Island
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JAMAICA
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D 6
7. (TSR) The secondary airfields serve a variety of functions but generally exhibit light flight
activity. Playa Baracoa is the only designated secondary airfield housing an assigned aviation unit. It has a
military transport detachment consisting of CODLING, AN-24 (COKE), and HIP aircraft. These assets
are probably used in support of the Cuban Parachute Infantry (airborne) Battalion, which is quartered at
the airfield, as well as for VIP support. Three of the secondary airfields (Kawama, Los Canon, and San
Pedro Highway Strip) have been used infrequently and temporarily by fighter aircraft. Manzanillo
International Airfield and Nueva Gerona Airfield (Isle of Pines) are civil air facilities. Managua Airfield is
seldom used, but its close proximity to centers of Soviet and Cuban military activity necessitates its
classification as a facility of potential significance. Pinar Del Rio South Airfield was observed in the early
stages of construction.
8. (TSR) Electronics at Cuban airfields are relatively unsophisticated. All major airfields are
equipped with ground controlled approach and/or instrument landing systems. Perhaps the most
sophisticated airfield-associated electronics equipment in Cuba is the RSBN-4 tonal navigation system at
San Antonio de Los Banos Airfield. However, two components of that system, the TALL PATH radar
landing beacon and the THIN PATH landing radar are not present. This system is normally deployed in
the Soviet Union, in countries receiving Soviet aid, and at airfields hosting third-generation, high-
performance aircraft such as the FLOGGER and late-model FISHBED aircraftl.
9. (TSR) Construction has been ongoing at several Cuban airfields during the past few years. The
planned renovation of Jose Marti International Airfield is approximately 70 percent complete. All three
major fighter bases have hardened aircraft shelters under construction in the following quantities: San
Antonio De Los Banos Airfield, l6; Santa Clara Airfield, 16; and Holguin Airfield, 20. The primary runway at
San Antonio de Los Banos Airfield has been extended as has the single runway at Ignacion Agr