Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!wuarchive!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!pacific.mps.ohio-state.edu!linac!tellab5!laidbak!mcdchg!att!cbnews!military From: tohall@mars.lerc.nasa.gov (Dave Hall (Sverdrup)) Newsgroups: sci.military Subject: Re: East German aircraft. Now NATO? Message-ID: <1990Oct17.005532.11323@cbnews.att.com> Date: 17 Oct 90 00:55:32 GMT References: <1990Oct10.000459.46@cbnews.att.com> <1990Oct11.051011.29673@cbnews.att.com> <1990Oct15.033810.12838@cbnews.att.com> Sender: military-request@att.att.com Organization: NASA Lewis Research Center Lines: 67 Approved: military@att.att.com From: tohall@mars.lerc.nasa.gov (Dave Hall (Sverdrup)) From: tohall@mars.lerc.nasa.gov (Dave Hall (Sverdrup)) In article <1990Oct15.033810.12838@cbnews.att.com>, bxr307@csc.anu.oz.au writes... > > >From: bxr307@csc.anu.oz.au >In article <1990Oct11.051011.29673@cbnews.att.com>, henry@zoo.toronto.edu >(Henry Spencer) writes: >> From: henry@zoo.toronto.edu (Henry Spencer) >>>From: Hubert Bartels >>> Being a fan of Mil-24 helicopters, ( Hinds), I was wondering what >>> has happened to East German aircraft, now that Germany has reunited... >> >> The German air forces have, in principle, reunited too. Details on this are >> still being worked out, last I heard. Yes, the East German half still has >> all its Soviet-built equipment. In fact, there was some fuss a little while >> ago over MiG-29 deliveries -- the West Germans wanted to cancel them, while >> the Soviets said "those were firm orders, you *will* pay for them and take >> delivery". (!) The subject of Soviet-built military equipment in the former GDR is a very interesting one. The return of Soviet built aircraft is a simple matter - just fly it back to where it came from. The aircraft, in my opinion, are just the tip of the iceberg. My understanding is that the "Eastern sector" contains a HUGE military infrastructure built up over the last 40 years by the Soviets. Take, for example, a major military airfield installation. It would contain, among other things, the following: a) GCI, air defense and traffic control radar systems with miles of wiring, dedicated buildings and a large HVAC power grid to run it all. The removal of the "espionage-sensitive" transmitters, computers, IFF and ILS systems may be possible, but what about the nuts and bolts aspects? How can they remove the control tower for instance? b) Aircraft repair hangars, hardened shelters, and fuel depots/tank farms. Not at all removable. c) Personnel housing, air raid shelters, hardened command post, runways, perimeter fence, mess hall, etc. Most not removable. Over the years, the GDR has been portrayed as a vast honeycomb of military airfields, army bases, tank depots, artillery posts and command centers. It amazes me that the Soviets are giving away this infrastructure by allowing the former GDR to join NATO. I read where the FRG government has agreed to pay the USSR a couple of billion dollars in consideration of the loss of the GDR. Most news sources implied that the money would be used to supply housing/ employment for the Soviet troops that will be de-mobilized and relocated back to the Rodina. Is some of this payment intended to offset the loss of military installations as well? The Soviet troop withdrawals are planned to last several years. Perhaps they need that long to dismantle/disable their facilites before they transition to NATO control? Has the new German government set any rules for dismantling procedures? Can the Soviets spike the runways and dynamite the control towers if they wish? I am surprised that I have not heard anything in the news about this subject. Have I missed something? Has anyone on the net heard about plans for the disposition of military facilites in the former GDR? >