Path: utzoo!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!usc!sdd.hp.com!spool.mu.edu!news.cs.indiana.edu!att!cbnews!cbnews!military From: MEDELMA@CMS.CC.WAYNE.EDU (Michael Edelman) Newsgroups: sci.military Subject: Obsolete Soviet Air Defenses? Message-ID: <1991Mar6.035834.22525@cbnews.att.com> Date: 6 Mar 91 03:58:34 GMT Sender: military@cbnews.att.com (william.b.thacker) Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories Lines: 22 Approved: military@att.att.com From: Michael Edelman Many commentators have cited the poor showing of the Iraqi air defenses as evidence that Soviet air defense equipment is no match for US countermeasures; some have implied that this has policy implications for future US procurement and deployment. There have also been a number of quotations reported from an unnamed Soviet general to this effect. A more likely explaination can be found in the "Firepower" cable show recommended by some members of this forum, "The Weapons of Desert Shield". One analyst pointed out that Iraq had no modern long-range air-to-air missiles. Their only long range AA was the SAM-2, which was described as "obsolete even by third world standards." I believe the SAM-2 was deployed in Vietnam over 20 years ago. In medium and short range defenses the Iraqis were overloaded with radar guided guns (AAA). It was hypothesized that the Iraqis chose guns as they can also be used in a ground defense situation, and would have been useful in the war with Iran. --mike edelman medelma@cms.cc.wayne.edu medelma@waynest1