Soviet Strategic Airlift and Power Projection

Within the past 15 years, the Soviet Union has developed a strategic airlift force capable of projecting Soviet power anywhere in the world. The development of this force is traced from the early years of the revolution, through the first tentative strategic airlift effort to Peru in 1970, to the invasion of Afghanistan in 1979. The Soviets learned a new lesson with each operation and a pattern of increasing capability soon emerged. By using case studies, this thesis evaluates the improvements in the Soviet strategic airlift force, especially the An-12, An-22, and Il-76 and its ability to support Soviet foreign policy objectives. The improvements are very impressive, but it appears that the Soviets will concentrate their efforts in strategic control in Africa and the Middle East while retaining a capability to intervene anywhere with the VTA and Aeroflot as their delivery vehicles.

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