Soviet Strategic Airlift and Power Projection

<p>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.</p><p>This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore you will see the original copyright references library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world) and other notations in the work.</p><p>This work is in the public domain in the United States of America and possibly other nations. Within the United States you may freely copy and distribute this work as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.</p><p>As a reproduction of a historical artifact this work may contain missing or blurred pages poor pictures errant marks etc. Scholars believe and we concur that this work is important enough to be preserved reproduced and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.</p><br>