NETWORK OF SOVIET ARMS ARMS DEALS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP88-01314R000100270035-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: December 16, 2016
• Document Release Date: October 15, 2004
• Sequence Number: 35
• Publication Date: April 3, 1970
• Content Type: NSPR

Approved For RelIrR
ease 1'R47TJ1Z8'PdRrR61
.3 APR 191u
,a . rms:'. ... deals
By Joy Gerville-Reache
Staff writer of The Christian Science Monitor
By far the biggest supplier of arms to the Arab countries
today is the Soviet Union, which barely, had a toehold in the..!,,
area 15 years ago. The growing Russian influence has been }
mainly at the expense of the United States and Britain.
Soviet equipment appears in Arab arsenals from Morocco
in the west to the two Yemeni Republics at the southern. tip of
the Arabian peninsula.
Five of the "radical" Arab states are almost entirely
equipped with Soviet weapons. They are the United Arab Re-
public, Syria, Iraq, Algeria, and (North) Yemen.
But Algeria is showing signs of wanting to move away from
sole dependence on the Russians and recently has putin several
orders for French weapons. And Iraq. Is reportedly considering
buying French Mirage V ground attack planes.
Two other Arab "radicals" - Sudan and the South Yemen
People's Republic -? are becoming increasingly dependent on'., the Russians, although they still retain a number of British
weapons.
But Libya, the newest of the "radicals," where a group'of
young officers overthrew the monarchy last Sept. 1, has so far
made no move toward buying Soviet military hardware?
Instead it has concluded a deal for the purchase 'of 110 Mi-
,,rage jet planes from France. The contract. is for Mirage III :
interceptors, Mirage V's, and for trainer/reconnaissance' air
craft. Deliveries will start in 1971 and will be spread over four,
years.
Israel has strongly protested the French- ibyan deal on the
grounds that Libya does not need the Mirages and that they
1 will probably find their way to the United Arab Republic.
But the French argument is that it is better for a Western . ,
power to supply Libya than for the' Soviet Union to.gain.yet.'
?
another foothold in North Africa.
Three "conservative" Arab monarchies - Jordan, Saudi
Arabia, and Kuwait - still depend on' the United States,
Britain, and France for their military equipment, although.
Jordan's King Hussein has found it hard.to resist Soviet offers.
Another monarchy, Morocco, has bought,a? number of ' Soviet
tanks and aircraft. But few of them are operational owing to"i
shortage of spare parts and lack of trained personnel to handle'.
them. ,
Tunisia and Lebanon, the Arab moderates,. rely mainly Yon
French arms.
Communist China comes into the Middle East arms picture ,
as a supplier of light weapons to the Palestine guerrillas under
a 1965 agreement. The Soviet Union has so far refraintli from'.
sending weapons to the guerrillas directly. But some Soviet,
arms reach the Palestinians from Egypt?and-other sources. .
ITT
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 t1Pi1'Y'Tat~`
ARAB
>;Puar,
01970 The Christian Science Publishing Society. Ail rights reserved'
These tables were compiled by Priscilla A. Clapp, research
associate with the International Studies Division of Bolt Berslnek
and Newman, Inc., of Cambridge, Mass.
Morocco $n'tall arms: NATiD?type 7.62F-mm. rifles and
Va machine guns produced in Morocco
Armed forces: 54,000 :'Navy: 1 frigate (ex-British), 1 corvette (ex-
,Aircraft: 14 MIG?17 jet fighters (Soviets-, -French), 1 seaward patrol craft (ex-
not believed to be operational) . r hbr. French), 1 patrol vessel (built in ..
12-15 F-5 supersonic fighters (U.S.) 411' France with another on order), 1 ittil=
2 11-28 light bombers (Soviet) ? ' t itv landing craft (built in France)'
(French) Algeria
12 T-6 trainers (ex-French)
6 MS. 733 light transports (French)'.; rArmed forces: 57,000 with current draft call-
ing for 20,000 more personnel
^? 1 Heron transport (British) craft: 130 MIG fighters (Soviet) -.30
P 4 C-47 transports (U.S.) MIG-15's, 50 MIG-17's, and 50 MIG.21's
2 C-119G transports (U.S.) ?~ -?
2 Bonanza transports (U.S.) ; ' $. (These figures are low estimates
`? 6 Broussard transports (French) a: based in part on the poor mainte-
,ra MS 500 aircraft (French) nance record of the Algerian Air
4 Bell 47 helicopters (U.S.) Force.).
8 Alouette II helicopters (French) It 20.30 11-28 light bombers (Soviet)
A few UH-12E helicopters and HH? 28 Fouga Magister armed jet trainers
(on order from France)
43B helicopters (U.S.) 30.40 Yak-11 trainers (Soviet)
24 Agusta-Bell 204B helicopters (made e':w 10 An-12 and 10 1114 transports
in Italy under U.S. license) '.` ?
Armor: 30-40 AMX-13 light tanks (French) (Soviet) 30-40 Mi-4, helicopters (Soviet)
70 T?34 and T-54 medium tanks (Soviet 2 SA-330 Puma helicopters (French)
and Czech. Probably few are opera Missiles: 50 SA-2 Guideline surface-to-air
tional for lack of spare parts.) 'r missiles (some believed to have been
EBR-75 and Panhard armored cars of brought In from the U.A.R.)
Armors 300-350 T?34 and T-54/55 medium
(French)
Artillery: 40 90-mm. Scorpion self-propelled a? tanks (Soviet) I
antiaircraft guns (U.S.) 150 BTR-152 armored personnel car-,
y== mortars and antitank weapons
tiers (Soviet)
recoilless guns (Soviet) ?.i.'' AML armored cars (probably in ser.,
.r.
ably French) merle)
-
StvT?100 self-propelled guns (Soviet)
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81CIi1A IRAQ
Persian
A GUN
continued
 ArtWery: All Soviet
82 mm. mort and s b a ll(~itll ~A
mortars Approve ;ro:~Felese 004/1 /28 : DP88-01314R000100270Q35-8
small rocket launchers Armed orces.
.a._. r.. 10
-20' IG-21 Interceptors delivered
57-mm. and 85-mm. antitank guns `"'"""''
.4 BAC Jet Provost. T.51 trainers,,
76-mm. field guns
122-mm. corps guns'
122-mm. and 152-mm. howitzers
SU-100 self-propelled guns
5?lu bu-l52 self-propelled guns ' 3 Pembroke transports (British).
140-mm. and 240-mm. multiple, rock-' 2 C?47 transports (U.S.)
et launchers for four ?artillery-Sroups L-29 Delfin jet trainers (Czech)
Small arms: all Soviet . W ", Sudan Is believed to have sent two.
Navy: all Soviet
04 its Jet Provosts to Nigeria. The
6 submarine chasers air force has been trained by Britain,.
2 coastal minesweepers Ethiopia, Yugoslavia, and the Soviet
8-10.P-6 motor torpedo boats Union.
6 Komar missile, patrol boats, Armor: 20 T-34 medium tanks (Soviet)
4 Osa' missile patrol boats . 10 or more T-54 medium tanks (Soviet),
30 Sherman tanks (U.S:)
Tunisia 14, Saladiin'?armored care (British),
Artillery and'small'arms : British,; Soviet and
Armed forces: 17,000 , German ,
Aircraft: 15 Saab 91D Safir trainers (Swed..,:Navy: 4. patrol, boati..(built'iii'YutaiuxI
ish) ;
12 T-6 trainers (ex-French) Y'. Jordan
8 MB.326 jet trainers (Italian)
2 Alouette II helicopters (French) ? ;Armed forces: 55,000 ?
3 Flamant transports (French). Iraq has 12,000 troops in Jordan,',
Armor: 15-20 M-41 Bulldog'tanks (U.S.). Syria about 5,000,, and Saudi Arabia
' 1,500 communications troops. There''
15-20 AMX-13 light? tanks (French) also ' is, a contingent of about 300
Panhard armored cars'(French) ;,.
Artillery and small arms:-U.S. and British Pakistani troops..
Navy: 1 corvette and 1, patrol.craft (bout.', raft-. 17 Hunter jet fighth~sp(~f+ompBAin?
ex-French)
Libya
Armed' forces: 8,000 ~. .
Aircraft: 10 F-5 supersonic fighters ' (U.S.
Another 8 on order)
ercu es on o e
6,C-130 H1 transports rd r
2 helicopters (U.S.)'
transport (U.S.)
7 Hunting ' Provost T.53 trainers
(British)
2 Gomhouria trainers- (U.A.R.)
other squadron.)
18 F?104A superso:tic fighters (U.S.
Another_ squadron of 18 is on order.
A few Vampire jet fighters in reserve
operationa
,
y
not 5
l)
trainers
an
Hun
F 104B je
4 C-47 transports (U.S.)
4 Westland Whirlwind helicopters
(U.S.) (B itish)
110 Mirage jets on order from France,-. Missiles:'Hawl, surface-to-air missiles.(U.S.) '1
.Armor: 8 or possibly a few more Centurion . ' Tigercat surface-to-air missiles--part
tanks (British) of a British air defense system, ap-
Saracen, Saladin, and Ferret armored ` installed although It Is not
parently
cars for one armored regiment (all known if it Is operational.
British). An order for 188 British Chief--Armor: 250 M.47/48 Patton tanks (U.S.) ?i
tain tanks is awaiting confirmation. 100 Centurion tanks, marks 9 and 10
If it is withdrawn French AMX4O . ' (British)
'tanks will probably be bought.. ' Some older Centurions (marks 3`to 7).
I' Artillery: Some French guns 'have been sent by. Egypt and Iraq.
Bazookas , With old Jordanian Centurions, there-
60-mm. and 81-mm. mortars (U.S.) ? may be about 50-75 altogether,
105-mm. howitzers 200 M-113 and Saracen' armored per-
Small arms: British and.U.S. ' , sonnel carriers ? (U.S. and British)'
Navy: 3 fast missile patrol boats on order,,,. M-114 armored reconnaissadee vehi?
from Britain, at least one delivered Iles (U.S.)
2 customs patrol vessels (built in Brit- Artillery: Antitank and antiaircraft weapons"
tain) (U.S.) ? .
3 fast patrol launches on customs duty. 106-mm. jeep-mounted recoilless rifles;
4150 Saladin and Ferret armored care
(U.S.)
50 105-mm. and' 155-mm. howitzers
(U.S.)
155-mm. Long Tom guns (U.S.)
several batterie4 of 25-pounder' artila,
lery (British) '
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6.8 BAC '.145 Jet Provost T.52 trainers
continued
 10 Chipmunk 10rotlreAl#W1d I9
Age 20b411
3.7 Alouette Ill I helicopters (re
A few Vampires (British)
missiles: Crotale (French surtace-to?air mis-
sile) believed to be on order with. de-
liveries to begin in 1971
Armor: 18 M-41 light tanks (U.S.)
42 AMX-13 light tanks (French)
C t ons (British)
t-
Iet-PrAl rain
8.10 An-12 transports
About 10 I1.14 transports
1300270035-8
4 Dover and Heron transports
(British)
Yak, MIG-15 UTI and Il-28U trainers
11 Wessex helicopters (British)
40 en -
A number of old Charioteer tanks
(from Jordan)
Artillery: Probably mostly French
Small arms: French or U.S.
Navy: 1 coastal escort (French)
3 coastal patrol launches (U.S.)
1 landing craft (U.S.) ?
Syria
180 T-34 medium tanks
55 Centurion medium tanks (British)
40 M-24 light tanks (U.S.)
75' AML-60 and AML-90' armored cars
? (French). (The option for another 75'
57-mm. and 85-mm. antitank guns
37-mm., 57-mm., 85-mm,, and 100-mm..; ?
antiaircraft guns, some with radar,
Field. guns: 122-mm. and 152-mm. howitzers:
in Syria.
All weapons are Soviet unless o t h e r -
- A i r c r a f t : 20 Su-7 fighter bombers. 82-mrr., 120-mm., and 160-mm. mar
70 MIG-15, MIG-17, and MIG-19 fight-'. tars
55-60 MIG?21 interceptors lery
.5-10 MIG-15 UTI trainers
multiple rocket launchers
Yak=11 and Yak-18 trainers antitank guided missiles
Chipmunk trainers (British) Small arms: Mainly Soviet, although Britain.'
transports (u-,-) nition for certain infantry weapons..
1K M;-i and Mi-4 helicopters. and a~ ,v_,.-... Cnt_a...ain., t-...:a.:
few Mi-8 helicopters ,.V. r 12 P-fi motor 'torpedo 'baste, "not' a
face-to-air missiles (about 100 launch.'
ers)
Armor: 150 T-34 medium tanks
300 T CA /KK medium tanks
Aircraft: 40 Lightning fighters (British, not
500 BTR-152 armored personnel car- I ? pected
riers .
.Artillery: 37-mm., 57-mm., 85-mm., and. SAlit~l ~,1-31~liit
m antiaircraft guns with radar ?
100
?m
57-mm. and 85=mm. antitank guns . ~: Armed forces: 34,000
elled
o___ ~,.
40 .7V-lw ocu-p op
152 self-propelled guns . '
0 SU
-
2
82-mm., . 120-mm., and 160-mm,' mor-'
tars
le' rocket launchers ish) '
lti
p
mu
6 T-33A jet trainers (U.S.)
antitank guided missiles
Small arms: all Soviet
Navy: 2 T43 minesweepers (ex-Soviet)
3 coastal patrol vessels (ex-French
submarine chasers)
4 old patrol boats . (built', in -Britain
in 1937) .
;~ 11 F-86F fighters (U;S.).,._..
A few T-34A, T-41A and T-6 trainers--'
(U.S.)
10-12 Chipmunk trainers (British)
9 C-130E, 2 C-118, 10 C-47 and a feW" ti,
C-123B transports (U.S.)
25 AB 205/206 helicopters (Italian)
6.10 Komar missile patrol boats (ex-
15-21 motor torpedo boats (ex-Soviet)
several small craft (built in France)
1 destroyer and 2 M-class submarines Saudi Arabia employ's some mercen
reportedly on order from the Soviet ?? ary pilots '
Union. Missiles: 6 batteries of Hawk surface-toaair
missiles (U.S.)
At least 37. Thunderbird surface-to-i
Iraq air missiles ($rttish)
Armed forces: 78,000, Armor: AMX-13 light tanks (French) ,'
All. weapons Soviet unless- otherwise.'! M-24 and M-41 light tanks (U.S.)
marked. M-47 medium tanks (U.S.)
Aircraft: 20 SU-7 fighter bombers. 100 Chieftain tanks, on -order', from
50 MIG-21 Interceptors . ' . Britain ? ?
45 MIG-17 and MIG119 fighters AML-90 Panhard armored ears
8 TU-16 medium bombers ~~ 5 .. (French. Estimates vary. Some say''
10 Ii 211 light bombers ''- only 60. Others 200.220.)
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.6 Alouette III helicopters (French) ? ?' '?
' (U S)
 Attillery: light m
25-pounder a rt,~,1~,si yet
`(B:Weleas 20UMPA CIA 9-PDP88-013148000100270035-8
Vigilant antitank missiles (British) 'Armed forces: 5,000, some stationed In
antiaircraft artillery Egypt
Small arms: Probably U.S. and/or British Aircraft: 4 Huller FGA .57 (British)
Navy: one coastal escort vessel (ex-U.S... ."12 Lightning F53 Interceptor ground
Coast Guard). attack planes, not all operational
.15 fast naval fiatrol boats on order-,. ? , (British)
from Britain . ;'; .. ?:,.::' . .;, 6 Jet Provost armed jet trainers
T ?~ o Otit, log iJLrlKUMUbmr arnica ,~c&
Yemen (North) ,, j?;? -? trainees (British)
AU weapons oov:et ,,. , y ? ~ .. , .. -., r....
Aircraft: 20-25 MIG-17 fighters -.(British)
16 MIG?21. interceptors, (with Soviet 6 Agusta?Bcll helicopters (Italian,
pilots) more may be on order)
8.12 I1.28 light bombers (with Soviet
2 Lightning T.55 trainers (British)
pilots) ..2 HS Devon light transports (British)
a few I1-10 piston aircraft I Argosy freighter (British)
11-14 transports The Kuwaiti Air Force is trained by.
20-30 Yak-11 trainers the Royal.Air Force. RAF person el
Mi?1 and Mi-4 helicopters MY fly some' of the nownr Tr.....p:.:
possibly T-54 medium tanks and PT-76 Missiles: Crotale surface-to-air missiles be.
light tanks lieved to be on order (French)
50 BTR armored personnel carriers. Armor: 12 Centurion medium tanks (British)
Artillery: 57-mm. and 85-mm. antitank guns 70 Vickers MBT tanks on order, due
82-mm. and 107-mm. recoilless rifles for delivery in 1971 (British)
82-mm, and 120-mm. mortars
25-50 Ferret armored cars (British)
85-mm. field guns Saracen armored cars (British)
122-mm. howitzers Panhard AML armored
cars
130-mm. long-range cannon (French) '
Multiple rocket launchers Artillery: Light and heavy mortars
Many of these weapons may not be Several batteries of 25 pounder artil?
operational now yjBritish)
-small arms: All Soviet. Many of them may 350 F,iiant antitank missiles or6red
fr
h
B
om
ave reached Yemen by way of the ,
ritain, some delivered
U.A.R.. Small am:s: all British
Southern Yemen
Armed forces: 12,000 - Palestine guerrillas
Aircraft: 12 MIG-17 fighters (flown by Soviet
,
?
Jet
pilots) ?, 7.62-mm. AK-47 assault rifle, 12.7 mm.'
4 BAC 167 St
?, r
ik
G
t
j
t
i
r
emas
er
e
tra
ners
y
oryunov SPG heavy machine gun
(British, manned by Italian pilots un- and 7.62 mm. RPK machine gun
,der contract) (Soviet received from E
'
best)
4 Jet Provost T.52 "
jet trainersChinese Communist copies :.o the
(British) Soviet 7
62
.
M. AK-47 rifle and of the
fs" - 10 MIG-21 interceptors (flown and Germain Schmelsser automatic rifle
m
i
t
i
d b
M
R
i
a
n
a
ne
y
uss
ans)
ortars (origin not certain)
4 C-47 transports (ex-British) 130?mm. rocket launchers
6 DT-Tr Beaver transports (ex-British) !' oriuinl I . (Soviet
6 Westland Sioux helicopters (British) 240-mm. rocket launchers (Soviet de.,
Armo
40 T?34
or
T-54 medium tank
(S
si
Vi
.
.
s
o-
gn, _ uipplied by Czechoslovakia)
cu a.a Last of hrthree, s
Artillery: 57-mm._ or.100-mm. antiaireraft,;mLus > e ;_urveys on'th. MiddleEast
s
ca
(
i
b, n
, O...all
libe.
Sr
etj __._. . A .,
antiaircraft guns, - probably 37-mm.
(Soviet)
portable ? mortars and rocket lduncho
ers (Soviet)
heavy field 'artillery (Soviet)
Small arms: Soviet and British
Navy: 3 inshore minesweepers' (ex-British)' i
+...v. cu Ncaav..uva %ariaCrs --au weapons. It Shmddnot be cola- .i.
(Soviet) sidered as emmn:..+e
avya 4 patrol boats ordered from Britain,
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