SOVIET INDEPENDENT AIRBORNE BRIGADES

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80T01782R000300270001-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 8
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: October 29, 2010
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: November 1, 1980
• Content Type: REPORT

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imagery analysis report
Soviet Independent Airborne Brigades (S)
Secret
Z-20162/80
IAR-0246/80
NOVEMBER 1980
Copy 170
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Warning Notice
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(WNINTEL)
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REL ... This Information has been Authorized for
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SOVIET INDEPENDENT AIRBORNE BRIGADES (S)
1. (SAD) Seven airborne armored personnel carrier (BMD)-equipped Soviet airborne units
have been identified since January 1980. Five of the units are in border military districts (MD) of
the Soviet Union, and
one is in Afghanistan (Figure 1). Each of these units appears to contain at least a battalion of
BMD reinforced by artillery and motor transport assets.
Aktogay
2. (SAD) The airborne unit at Aktogay Army Barracks AL-I/SA-6 Regiment
appears to be a composite or brigaded unit* containing elements of two BMD battalions, a
signal unit, an artillery unit, and a motor transport unit (not illustrated). The two BMD battalions
contain 55 BM D-including 17 of the new modified version. The signal unit contains at least two R-409
CATS PAW and ten R-125 communications van trucks. The artillery unit contains one antiaircraft
(AA) battery with eight ZU-23 AA machine guns, a rocket launcher battery with six multiple rocket
launchers (MRL.) M-1975, a howitzer battalion with twenty 122mm howitzers D-30 (only three illus-
trated on imagery), and a mortar battalion with twenty-three 120mm mortars (Figure 2).
3. (SAD parachutes were seen on the ground near the unit, indicating this is
an active unit.
4. (SAD) A training area consisting of an airborne obstacle course, harness stocks, and a
jump tower was identified northwest of the installation in late August.
5. (S/D) Aktogay is approximately 120 nautical miles (nm) north of the Sino/Soviet border
in the Central Asian MD.
~(SAD) The second brigade was found at Brest Army Barracks Southeast AL-2
on the Soviet/Polish Border in the Belorussian MD (Figure 3).
7. (SAD) A parachute jump tower
canvas-covered probable BMD, and nine GAZ-66
Six armored vehicles, 15 GAZ-66, and eleven
at least 100 parachutes were
cargo trucks were seen at Brest AL-2
122mm howitzers D-30 were observed
being packed in the installation.
8. (SAD) The vehicle parks where the airborne equipment was seen have the shed capacity
for approximately 330 vehicles and formerly housed an engineer battalion of a second-generation
motorized rifle division.
9. (C/ Soldiers wearing uniforms of the motorized rifle and tank branches, with
military parachutist badges, and airborne troops (VDV) were reportedly seen in Brest
The sightings of various military branch uniforms with parachute badges lends further
credence to a brigade structure for this unit.'
*Brigade. a formation of troops from different service branches and special troops from the various
Services, consisting of several battalions and special subunits.'
SECRET 1.I R-O2-16/SU
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to CHERNYAKHOVSK,
R
BREST W Lenmg,ad y
O
Moscow
~~? NIKOLAYEV
y ~hA
Chernyahovsk
.Volgograd
fq Nf T 4
nsk
\Ashkhabad
Semg>alatmsk
c
? AKTOGAY~
MC
Vakutsk*
BIROBIDZHAN
-Chrta f
VW.wstok
CHINA ",
NGOLIAA~
QONDUZ CHINA ~.?_.?
(KUNDUZ)
FIGURE 1. LOCATIONS OF SOVIET INDEPENDENT AIRBORNE BRIGADES
10. (S/D) The third brigade was found at Chernyakhovsk Army Barracks North AL-3
trucks.
with this unit.
Equ
twenty-fiv
ipment seen at that time included 38 BMD and 89 GAZ-66 cargo
e 120mm mortars and eighteen 122mm howitzers D-30 were seen
14 additional BMD were observed with the brigade, apparently
forming a second BMD battalion. Although no airborne training devices have been identified at
this installation, a jump tower is in the ground forces training area adjacent to the barracks.
Chernyakhovak is approximately 26 nm north of the Soviet/Polish border in the Baltic
MD (Figure 4).
Nikolayev
11. (S/D) The fourth brigade is at Nikolayev Army Barracks AL-6
Odessa MD (Figure 5).
p~ C
12. (S/D) a parachute jump tower under construction and three BMD were seen
at Nikolayev AL-6. three 122mm howitzers were seen this installation.
Fourteen BMD and eighteen 12 mm howitzers were present Nikolayev Army
Barracks AL-6 formerly housed an amphibious tank regiment. The barracks had been virtually
unoccupied since May 1979.
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Birobidzhan
13. (S D The fifth brigade
racks AL-I in the Far East Military District (Figure 6).
33 parachutes, and a jump tower and harness stocks were identified in the installation.
14. (S/D) The jump tower and harness stocks were under construction
wer appeared complete, and nine parachutes were present. 13M D were first
hen four were seen.
BMD,
Qonduz
18. (S/D) Elements of an independent airborne brigade were first identified at Kunduz
(Qonduz) AirfieldF __j Afghanistan (Figure 8) when a BMD company
was seen. The unit contains at least two BMD battalions, one mm howitzer D-30 battalion, one
GAZ-66 rocket launcher battery, one 120-mm mortar battery, a signal unit, and a motor
transport unit.
19. (S/D) A comparison of all seven brigades shows at least one BMD battalion with
artillery and motor transport assets as the basic unit structure.
20. (S/D) Although the mission and subordination of the brigades are unknown, some
possibilities can be examined. If all of the known Soviet airborne (VDV) divisions retain their
present unit structure, these apparently independent brigades could represent an additional cap-
ability to rapidly deploy highly mobile, lightly armored forces to support frontal operations.
Another possible role for these units could be as a special operations unit. The Soviet Special
Operations Forces (SOF) units appear to use light infantry weapons. These new brigades could
represent a more heavily equipped force for rear area actions.
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Z_20162/RO SECRET
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