EVALUATION OF SOVIET BACKFIRE PERFORMANCE CLAIMS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: Library of Congress
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): LOC-HAK-557-6-12-4
• Release Decision: RIPLIM
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 7
• Document Creation Date: January 11, 2017
• Document Release Date: March 19, 2010
• Sequence Number: 12
• Publication Date: January 29, 1976
• Content Type: MEMO

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? anuary 1976*
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?'MEMORANDUM FOR: Verification .Panel Working GrouA
' SUBJECT ? Evaluation Of Soviet Backfire 'Pel-friance
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Claims ?? .? ? ?.
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[MORI/CDF per CO24187321. ?
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Attathed in response to tasking at the Verifcation ?
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Panel Working Group meeting of January 26 js an Oaluation - ?
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.of Soviet Backfire performance claims. With the exception
1
of the .paragrap14 it relects the views of both CIA ?
. bnd DIA. - 1.
DIA review(s) completed.
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SUMMARY
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The performance characteristics attributed to the Backfire
by official Soviet sources have been analyzed. They are found
to he generally consistent with current engineering 'estimates "
of locktire performance if certain operational parameters are
Wolf-INI. The only real inconsistency noted is the claimed
2400 1:m (1300 nia) operational radius for an all-subsonic
fjfqht at 12 15,000 meter (49,000 fi) altitude. This altitu
vignificantly above Backfire's subsonic, non-afterburning
orertitional ceiling except at very low gross weights. ?. gecause
of ambiguity in the data provided, we have learned little ?
to confirm or refute current engineering estimates of the .
Dnel.rire?14 5000 Itm ( 2700 nm) range capability on high-altitude ?
. . r
"P 1
ouboonic cruise missions.
MACAL LIMITATIONS
u044? ??? ??? ? gam! ? ..?.?? 04..J.00 ??? .% -
he flackfiro performance data provided by
the Soviets does not provide the basis for
determination of an intercontinental capa-
bility, or lack of it. Terms in 'which the
data is reported, such as "official maxi-
mum operational radius", "intermittent super-
,00nic and subsonic speeds" and "minimal " or
S. ?"maximalopayloads, are not meaningtul.terms ? .
in any technical I.ense. We have applied our .
-intc?rpretations of these terms and have used
our best etimates for gross weight, fuel weight !
and wing sweep angle to assess the performance.
data reported.. In addition, our estimates are?
based on the use of cruise cliMb procedures --
? a standard Soviet practice. .
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Baafire DoplotTent
There are nine, possibly eleven, Backfires at Poltava
onal Lon Ranre Aviation base in the Southwestern ?
an opo
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? There are eleven, possibly seventeen Backfires at
Oktyabrskoye, an operational Naval Aviation base on the
? ? rrimea.n Peninsula./
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? ? .The Soviets are replacingBadger intermediate-range .
. .
? bombers with Backfires at Poltava.and Oktyabrskoye. Prior '
:to the delivery of Backfires to Poltav'as there were two .
? regiments at the airfield, with a total of some fifty-five
, Badgers. Presently there are about forty Badgers and either
'nine or eleven Backfire at Poltava. Prior..to.the ,delivery
. of .Backfires tip Oktyabrskoye? there was a single Badger
:regiment of -about twenty-five. aircraft. Presently there are
.about fifteen: Badgers and, either eleven or*.sevent?een Backfires ,
.. at Oktyabrskoye. ? .. . ?? .? ?
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.., . :?stationed at poltava'?and Oktyahrskoy.e.-is net:.currently,:.knowa., "?-:???
' ..*. ?? .. The. Soviets may have :retired :these- ai.rc:r'aft l'Or ..:'.they may 1.-iavil. ?1:-- ?
:., . ? - . r ed e to ed then) to 'other ?intermpaiate-range.?bcimber. reOments,.,..- , ..
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intercontinental capability..ye r.each.thiS judgement based ,.....,? ... ?? ,
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