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"Operation Kavkaz", Soviet Military Mission to Egypt during War of Attrition, 1970
In early 1970, the Soviets initiated Operation Caucasus, and deployed an over-strength division of Soviet PVO air defence troops, comprising 18 battalions in three brigades, led by General Smirnov of the PVO, and drawn from PVO units in the Dnepropetrovsk, Moscow, Leningrad and Belarus districts. Each battalion comprised four SA-3 batteries, a platoon of ZSU-23-4 SPAAGs and supporting SA-7 MANPADS teams. While these units were ostensibly “instructors”, they were dressed in Egyptian uniforms and provided full crewing for the deployed SAM systems. Through early 1970 the PVO units were deployed along the Suez Canal. Operational doctrine was similar to NVN, with batteries relocating frequently, and setting up ambushes for Israeli aircraft, using multiple mutually supporting batteries.
The Soviet S-125/SA-3 Goa was designed primarily to provide point defence of fixed target areas against attacking aircraft at low to medium altitudes. The command link guided weapon had a fixed thrust solid propellant rocket sustainer motor, and was supported typically by an X-band SNR-125 engagement radar, and a P-15 Flat Face UHF-Band acquisition radar, with respectable low altitude clutter rejection performance. Nominal redeployment time for a battery was several hours, not unlike the S-75/SA-2, dependent in part on battery crew proficiency, and in part on terrain, as a large convoy of vehicles was required for movements.
In subsequent engagements against the Israelis, the Soviets are claimed to have shot down five Israeli aircraft using the SA-3, making for a cumulative total of 22 lost to SA-2, SA-3 and AAA during this period.
[18th Rocket Division - Air defence of Egypt in 1970-72 yy, 10.000 soldiers]
MG Smirnov, komander of soviet 18 Rocket Div. in Egypt
Two officers receive Gold Star of Hero of the Soviet Union
Capitan Popov
and capitan Kutynzev
photo from Egypt - two capitans and MG Smirnov , 1970
"Operation Kavkaz-2", Soviet Military Mission to Syria after Lebanon War at Bekaa Valley, 1983
The formation of Syria's more or less modern air defenses has its roots the early 1980s, and stems from the Air Defense Force's humiliating defeat at the hands of Israeli air power during the 1982 Lebanon War at Bekka Valley. A year later, in 1983, the Soviet Union transferred its S-200VE long-range air defense system, along with the technical personnel to man them and train their Syrian counterparts. The S-200's deployment was unusual, with Syria getting the systems before even the USSR's Warsaw Pact allies did.
Yuri Andropov having concluded a new large-scale arms deal with Syria as early as November 1982, 1st he rapidly carried out Brezhnev’s pledge (given during Asad’s visit to Moscow in late June 1982) to dispatch Soviet air defence units to Syria: in late 1982 Israeli and American intelligence services detected preparations for the instalment of two Soviet-manned SAM-5 surface-to-air missile brigades in Syria and by January 1983 these units had already been deployed in the Damascus and Horns areas.
The S-200 arrived with Soviet personnel, transferred to the Syrian Armed Forces in 1984. Estimates of the number of S-200s in Syria were in 8 SAMs and 48 PUs (6 PUs per SAM).
Soviet officers pose in front of an S-200VE in Syria, 1980s.
References:
http://www.ausairpower.net/APA-SAM-Effectiveness.html#mozTocId466662
https://sputniknews.com/military/201804141063558487-syria-air-defense-forces-analysis/
https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007%2F978-1-349-11482-5_10
http://gmic.co.uk/topic/20809-arab-medals-egypt/?page=4
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2 cases of Soviet PVO units transferred in M.East
I am interested especially in Syria case. If anyone has info about number of soviet air defence troops stationed there in 1983-84 and if they engaged any israeli aicraft during that period
Also i wonder if we can find photos of the systems above and soviet personel there, exact locations of the units etc..
In early 1970, the Soviets initiated Operation Caucasus, and deployed an over-strength division of Soviet PVO air defence troops, comprising 18 battalions in three brigades, led by General Smirnov of the PVO, and drawn from PVO units in the Dnepropetrovsk, Moscow, Leningrad and Belarus districts. Each battalion comprised four SA-3 batteries, a platoon of ZSU-23-4 SPAAGs and supporting SA-7 MANPADS teams. While these units were ostensibly “instructors”, they were dressed in Egyptian uniforms and provided full crewing for the deployed SAM systems. Through early 1970 the PVO units were deployed along the Suez Canal. Operational doctrine was similar to NVN, with batteries relocating frequently, and setting up ambushes for Israeli aircraft, using multiple mutually supporting batteries.
The Soviet S-125/SA-3 Goa was designed primarily to provide point defence of fixed target areas against attacking aircraft at low to medium altitudes. The command link guided weapon had a fixed thrust solid propellant rocket sustainer motor, and was supported typically by an X-band SNR-125 engagement radar, and a P-15 Flat Face UHF-Band acquisition radar, with respectable low altitude clutter rejection performance. Nominal redeployment time for a battery was several hours, not unlike the S-75/SA-2, dependent in part on battery crew proficiency, and in part on terrain, as a large convoy of vehicles was required for movements.
In subsequent engagements against the Israelis, the Soviets are claimed to have shot down five Israeli aircraft using the SA-3, making for a cumulative total of 22 lost to SA-2, SA-3 and AAA during this period.
[18th Rocket Division - Air defence of Egypt in 1970-72 yy, 10.000 soldiers]
MG Smirnov, komander of soviet 18 Rocket Div. in Egypt
Two officers receive Gold Star of Hero of the Soviet Union
Capitan Popov
and capitan Kutynzev
photo from Egypt - two capitans and MG Smirnov , 1970
"Operation Kavkaz-2", Soviet Military Mission to Syria after Lebanon War at Bekaa Valley, 1983
The formation of Syria's more or less modern air defenses has its roots the early 1980s, and stems from the Air Defense Force's humiliating defeat at the hands of Israeli air power during the 1982 Lebanon War at Bekka Valley. A year later, in 1983, the Soviet Union transferred its S-200VE long-range air defense system, along with the technical personnel to man them and train their Syrian counterparts. The S-200's deployment was unusual, with Syria getting the systems before even the USSR's Warsaw Pact allies did.
Yuri Andropov having concluded a new large-scale arms deal with Syria as early as November 1982, 1st he rapidly carried out Brezhnev’s pledge (given during Asad’s visit to Moscow in late June 1982) to dispatch Soviet air defence units to Syria: in late 1982 Israeli and American intelligence services detected preparations for the instalment of two Soviet-manned SAM-5 surface-to-air missile brigades in Syria and by January 1983 these units had already been deployed in the Damascus and Horns areas.
The S-200 arrived with Soviet personnel, transferred to the Syrian Armed Forces in 1984. Estimates of the number of S-200s in Syria were in 8 SAMs and 48 PUs (6 PUs per SAM).
Soviet officers pose in front of an S-200VE in Syria, 1980s.
References:
http://www.ausairpower.net/APA-SAM-Effectiveness.html#mozTocId466662
https://sputniknews.com/military/201804141063558487-syria-air-defense-forces-analysis/
https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007%2F978-1-349-11482-5_10
http://gmic.co.uk/topic/20809-arab-medals-egypt/?page=4
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2 cases of Soviet PVO units transferred in M.East
I am interested especially in Syria case. If anyone has info about number of soviet air defence troops stationed there in 1983-84 and if they engaged any israeli aicraft during that period
Also i wonder if we can find photos of the systems above and soviet personel there, exact locations of the units etc..
Last edited by George1 on Tue Sep 21, 2021 7:12 pm; edited 2 times in total
