ORGANIZATION OF SOVIET ARMY AVIATION HELICOPTER ASSETS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP84T00491R000100580001-3
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 19
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: January 24, 2012
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: February 1, 1984
• Content Type: MISC

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Secret
NATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHIC INTERPRETATION CENTER
imagery analysis report
Organization of Soviet Army
Aviation Helicopter Assets (S)
Secret
Z-14014/84
IAR-0073/83
FEBRUARY 1984
Copy 4 4
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Warning Notice
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(WN INTE L)
NATIONAL SECURITY INFORMATION
Unauthorized Disclosure Subject to Criminal Sanctions
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ORGANIZATION OF SOVIET
ARMY AVIATION HELICOPTER ASSETS (S)
INTRODUCTION
1. In the late 1970s, the Soviet Air and Ground Forces were reorganized. A key element of that
reorganization was the re-creation of army aviation, which had technically been abolished in May 1942
when these assets were incorporated into tactical air armies. The reestablishment of army aviation
provides combined-arms and tank army commanders and their subordinate division commands with
organic air support to enhance their capabilities to conduct independent operations. (S/WN)
2. The Soviets reorganized their helicopter force by resubordinating many units from frontal avia-
tion to army aviation. This report discusses the helicopter assets of Soviet army aviation, including their
composition and probable function. The assessment of the major helicopter components of army aviation
was based on an analysis of imagery and on collateral information on the composition, size, and deploy-
ment patterns of helicopter units. (S/WN)
DISCUSSION
3. Army aviation, elements of which are subordinate to the front, army, and division levels (Figure
1), provides commanders at all echelons in the front with air assets with sufficient flexibility to serve in a
transport and resupply, a fire support, and a liaison function when necessary.2 (S/WN)
AIR FORCES
OF THE
FRONT
FIGHTER,
FIGHTER-
BOMBER AND
RECONNAISSANCE
REGIMENTS
TRANSPORT
HELICOPTER
REGIMENT
n
ELECTRONIC
COUNTER-
MEASURES
HELICOPTER
SQUADRON
AVIATION
OF THE
COMBINED-
ARMS OR TANK
ARMY
ATTACK
HELICOPTER
REGIMENT
ARMY
LIAISON
SQUADRON
RECONNAIS-
SANCE DRONE
SQUADRON
COMBINED-
ARMS/TANK
ARMIES
COMPOSITE
TRANSPORT
UNIT.
MOTORIZED
RIFLE
DIVISIONS
INDEPENDENT
HELICOPTER
DETACHMENT OR
COMBAT SUPPORT
SQUADRON
TAN K
DIVISIONS
INDEPENDENT
HELICOPTER
DETACHMENT OR
COMBAT SUPPORT
SQUADRON
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FIGURE 2. SOVIET ARMY AVIATION HELICOPTERS
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4. The helicopter portion of army aviation is composed of HOOK, HIP, HIND D/E, HOPLITE, and
the recently produced HALO A helicopters (Figure 2). In addition, DR-3 reconnaissance drone squadrons
are associated with army aviation, and the FROGFOOT A (Figure 3), the new Soviet ground-attack aircraft
now in service in Afghanistan and operationally deployed to Chervono-Glinskoye Airfield
USSR, may be introduced into the army aviation inventory.; The FROGFOOT A, a twin-jet, single-
seat, subsonic aircraft which is similar to the US Fairchild A-10 Thunderbolt II, is apparently designed to
provide direct aerial fire support for tank and motorized rifle maneuver forces. (S/WN/NOFORN)
5. Helicopters are deployed in detachment, squadron, and regimental strength. Although directly
subordinate to the front, combined-arms/tank army, or division commanders, helicopter assets are
manned, maintained, and supported by the Soviet Air Force.' (S/WN)
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Installation
Legnica Airfield
Klyuchevoye Airfield
Kobrin Airfield
Torzhok Airfield
7 Sambor Airfield
8 Malina Airfield
9 Aleksandriya Airfield East
10 Kherson Airfield
Front-Level Units
6. In addition to ground forces assets and fixed-wing aircraft units, the commander of the front*
may have a transport helicopter regiment, a HIP electronic countermeasures squadron, and possibly a
composite transport unit under his control. A transport helicopter regiment (Figure 4) is usually
composed of 20 to 25 HOOKs and 35 to 40 HIPs. These regiments allow the front commanders to move
more than 2,200 troops (one motorized rifle regiment) or 240 metric tons of material, or any combination
of both, over a 100-nautical mile radius in one regimental sortie.4 The transport helicopter regiment
serves in a variety of functions at the front level, including logistical support, resupply, and heavy
transport for various frontal forces. In addition, like the Soviet Military Transport Aviation (VTA) forces,
the transport helicopter regiment provides transport and resupply in support of air assault operations.
Sixteen transport helicopter regiments are in the USSR and three are in Eastern Europe (Figure 5). The
three in Eastern Europe are subordinate to the Northern Group of Forces, the Southern Group of Forces,
Three of the 16 in the USSR (those at Mogocha Heliport,
Isulukidze Airfield, and Mag agac i Airfield) are directly subordinate to adjacent air-mobile assault
brigades.2 The others are probably subordinate to the military district (MD) in which they are located. In
those MDs where a transport helicopter regiment is directly subordinate to an air-mobile assault brigade,
a second transport helicopter regiment is present to support the MD. (S/WN)
7. The front commander may also have an electronic countermeasures squadron composed of as
many as ten HIP J and ten HIP K helicopters (Figures 6 through 8) at his disposal. The HIP J is
distinguishable by two boxes mounted along the window line on both sides of the
aircraft. The HIP K has an antenna array on each side of the rear portion of the fuselage, immediately aft
of the engine access panels. These helicopters probably operate in unison to disrupt enemy radar and
communications frequencies.5 These squadrons have followed the typical deployment pattern of new
front assets-at least one per MD in the Western USSR, and one in Hungary (Figure
9). In addition, an export version of the HIP K has been identified in Syria. (S/WN)
*Fronts are higher-level, operational field forces which may be assigned operational or, in some cases, strategic
missions, Fronts are supported by, and may have in their composition, elements from all branches of the armed
forces. Fronts will be formed in wartime by military districts and will operate under the control of the Supreme High
Installation
11 Tsulukidz6 Airfield
12 Telavl Heliport
13 Troitsk Airfield)
14 Kagan Airfield,-, South
15 Dzharnbul Airfield
16 Nerchinsk Airfield
17 Mogocha Hejiport
18 Magdagachl` Airfield
19 Khabarovsk/Nekrasovka
Airfield
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2 Alakurtti Airfield
3 Arkhangelsk/Kholm Airfield
4 Jelgava Airfield
5 Kobrin Airfield
6 Debrecen Airfield
7 Lutsk Airfield North
8 Kiyev/Borispol Airfield
9 Tiraspol Airfield
10 Blagoyevo Airfield
11 Tskhinvali Airfield South
FIGURE 9. LOCATIONS OF ELECTRONIC COUNTERMEASURES HELICOPTER SQUADRONS IN THE USSR AND
EASTERN EUROPE
8. The front commander may also have a composite transport unit (Figure 10) under his control.
These units are unique in that they are composed of both fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft. The composite
transport unit comprises a general-purpose and a special-purpose segment. The general-purpose seg-
ment consists of standard HIP, HOOK, and HOPLITE helicopters and CUB, COKE, and CURL aircraft. The
primary function of this segment is liaison, which includes transportation of VIPs, logistical support,
reconnaissance, medical evacuation, and administrative support. The primary function of the special-
purpose segment is command and control. This segment may be equipped with either COOT As, special-
purpose (SP) CATs, SP CURLs, HOOK Bs, HOOK Cs and/or HIP Ds. Ten composite transport units in the
USSR, four in Eastern Europe (Figure 11), and one at Kabul Airfield in Afghanistan (Figure 25X1
11) have been identified. These units are usually collocated with, or in close proximity to, the MD/Group
of Forces headquarters that they support. The aircraft composition varies greatly among MDs because
civil as well as military aircraft are usually present. (S/WN)
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Army-Level Units
9. The commander of the army may have an attack helicopter regiment, a reconnaissance drone
squadron, and an army liaison squadron under his control. The attack helicopter regiment (Figure 12),
equipped with 20 to 25 HIPs and 35 to 40 HINDs, has a primary function of providing fire support to the
army. In some instances, this regiment may be subordinate to the MD/Group of Forces or, in wartime, to
a front-level or a lower-echelon commander. The HIPs can be equipped to carry as many as six 32-shot 57
mm rocket pods and either AT-2 SWATTER or AT-3 SAGGER antitank guided missiles. The HINDs can
carry four rocket pods and either SWATTER or AT-6 SPIRAL antitank guided missiles and can also carry a
small assortment of free-fall bombs.2 Twelve attack helicopter regiments in the USSR, in Mongolia
(Figure 13), seven in Eastern Europe (Figure 14), and one at Kunduz Airfield in Afghanistan
have been identified. As of June 1982, another regiment may have been forming at Polotsk Airfield
HIPs were present and helicopter hardstand construction has been underway, However, they continued
presence of HALO As at Polotsk is unusual in that heavy-lift helicopters are not usually deployed with
attack helicopter regiments. (S/WN)
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10. The DR-3 reconnaissance drone squadron (Figure 15) is composed of a mobile photographic
processing laboratory, two to four DR-3 transporter-resupply vehicles, and two to four DR-3 transporter-
erector-launchers. Fifteen to 20 DR-3 shipping containers are usually present. The primary function of the
unit is to provide the army commander with a battlefield surveillance capability. The DR-3 is a low-
altitude photoreconnaissance drone with a probable conventional load of cameras as well as a television
surveillance system with a down link.2 Although usually collocated with an attack helicopter regiment,
the DR-3 reconnaissance drone squadron may be located elsewhere within the army area. Thirteen of
these squadrons have been identified in the USSR, Mongolia, and Eastern Europe (Figure 16). (S/WN)
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11. The general-purpose support function is satisfied at the army level by an army liaison squadron
(Figure 17). These squadrons are usually composed of two to four HOOKs, five to ten HIPs, and ten to 15
HOPLITEs and are usually near the army headquarters, although they may be housed elsewhere in the
army area. One or two HOOKs are usually modified with blade antennas either atop the fuselage or on
the rear of the tail boom to provide command and control support (Figure 18). Twenty-nine of these
squadrons have been identified-23 are in the USSR and Mongolia (Figure 19), and six are in Eastern
Europe (Figure 20). (S/WN)
1 Kaliningrad/Lugovoye Heliport
2 Nurmalitsy Airfield
3 Leningrad/Kasimovo Airfield
4 Grodno Airfield
5 Lapel East Heliport
6 Dubno Airfield Northeast
7 Brody Airfield North
8 Zhitomir Airfield
9 Tiraspol Airfield
10 Kutaisi Heliport
11 Leninakan Airfield
12 Kyzylagadzh Airfield
13 Alma-Ata Airfield North
14 Semipalatinsk Airfield
15 Nizhneudinsk Airfield
16 Ulan-Ude/Mukhino Airfield
17 Ulan Baatar Airfield Southwest
18 Borzya Airfield
19 Belogorsk Airfield
20 Birobidzhan Airfield South
21 Novo-Aleksandrovsk Airfield
22 Vedenka Airfield
23 Ussuriysk Airfield Southeast
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Division-Level Units
12. Ready/deployed tank and motorized rifle divisions are usually supported by an independent
helicopter detachment or a combat support squadron. An independent helicopter detachment usually
consists of two to four HIPs and six to eight HOPLITEs (Figure 21). The primary function of this unit is
liaison, but one or two HIP Cs are usually modified to perform limited command and control functions.
(S/W N )
13. A combat support -quadron usually consists of four to six HIND D/E, four to six HIP, and four to
six HOPLITE helicopters (Figure 22). This type of unit is new to the Soviet inventory and is formed by
upgrading independent helicopter detachments to squadron strength by adding four to six HIND D/E
and two to four i HIP helicopters. Previously, HINDs were almost exclusively deployed in regimental
strength. The primary function of the combat support squadron is to provide the division commander
with a limited fire support and transport capability. In addition, the liaison capability, formerly a function
of the independent helicopter detachment, is retained. (S/WN)
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1 Pechenga Airfield
2 Kirovsk Airfield South
3 Kaliningrad/Lugovoye Heliport
4 Minsk/Slepyanka Airfield
5 Korosten Airfield
6 Alabino Headquarters Guards
Motorized iRifle Division
and Airbase AL-1
7 Ashkhabad Airfield Northwest
8 Kyakhta Airfield
9 Choyr East Airfield
10 Choybalsan Airfield Northeast
11 Khada Bulak Airfield North
12 Dauriya Airfield
13 Belogorsk Airfield
14 Chernigovka Airfield
15 Ussuriysk Airfield Southeast
16 Burevestnik Airfield
FIGURE 23. LOCATIONS OF COMBAT SUPPORT SQUADRONS IN THE USSR AND MONGOLIA
14. A combat support squadron was first observed at Belogorsk Airfield in 1977. At this same time,
the adjacent tank regiments underwent combined-arms reorganizations. In retrospect, it appears that the
squadron at Belogorsk and a squadron that was formed at Korosten Airfield in the Carpathian MD in 1978
were experimental units for the Soviets' two experimental divisions.6 Between 1980 and late 1983, 35
additional combat support squadrons were identified (Figures 23 and 24). (S/WN)
IMAGERY ANALYST'S COMMENTS
15. Since the reorganization of the Soviet Air and Ground Forces in the late 1970s, significant
helicopter-related activity has been observed, with helicopter units formed, upgraded, and extensively
redeployed. In addition, Soviet combined-arms exercises apparently involve more extensive and intensive
use of helicopters for airlift and fire support than ever before. This activity emphasizes the significance
the Soviets place on helicopters in combined-arms warfare. If this trend continues, we can expect to see
attack helicopter regiments formed to support armies which are currently without their services.
Additional combat support squadron deployments (primarily in ready/deployed divisions) and continued
DR-3 and electronic countermeasures helicopter squadron deployments are also likely. (S/WN)
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DOCUMENTS
1.
Soviet Military Encyclopedia, 1976, Vol 1 (UNCLASSIFIED)
2.
DIA. DDB-1340-20-83, USSR: Employment of Helico ter Units in Combined Arms Operations (U), Apr 83
(SECRET/NOFORN/WNI NTE
3.
DIA. DIAIAPPR 49-83, USSR: Army Aviation and Combined Arms Formations (U), 13 May 83 (SECRET/
NOFORN*)
4.
CIA. Organization of Soviet Combat Helicopter Regiments (U), 26 Jan 81 (TOP SECRET
CODEWORD/NOFORN**)
5.
SSO FSTC. New Soviet Heliborne Jammer Maybe Dual Purpose System (C), 092100Z Apr 82 (SECRET)
6
Development of Helicopter Squadro
CIAO Sov M 83-10023CX
ns in Soviet Ground Forces
.
,
Divisions, 28 Jan 83 (TOP SECRET CODEWORDS/ORCON/GAMMA/NOFORN
*
Extracted information is classified CONFIDENTIAL/NOFORN.
**Extracted information is classified SECRET.
***Extracted information is classified SECRET/WNINTEL.
REQUIREMENT
This report is in response to current national interest in the reorganization of Soviet Air Forces and the
reestablishment of Army Aviation.
')Fyl
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