Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!harpo!eagle!karn
From: karn@eagle.UUCP (Phil Karn)
Newsgroups: net.aviation
Subject: Russian fighter query
Message-ID: <1084@eagle.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 6-Sep-83 02:33:57 EDT
Article-I.D.: eagle.1084
Posted: Tue Sep  6 02:33:57 1983
Date-Received: Tue, 6-Sep-83 04:40:42 EDT
Lines: 17

In Reagan's speech this evening regarding the destruction of KAL 007,
he mentioned that "standard international wave-lengths" for use by
planes in distress are not provided on board Soviet fighters, "because
it would make it easier for pilots to defect."

I assume he is referring to 121.5 or 243.0 mhz, which to my memory (I'm
not a pilot) are the standard civil and military emergency frequencies. 
I am a little surprised; does anyone have any info (like an AW&ST
article or authoritative military reference) to substantiate this?

Does anyone know what radio equipment IS standard on Soviet military
aircraft?  How about American military aircraft? The excerpts played
during the speech sounded like conventional analog radio, probably not
encrypted. I'm surprised that the Soviet pilots would talk openly when they
must have known they were being monitored.

Phil Karn