OTH Radar and the ASBM Threat

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Hungarian Strategic Air Defense: A Cold War Case Study

INTRODUCTION

The Hungarian strategic SAM network provided an important piece of the Warsaw Pact's air defense picture during the Cold War. Modernization efforts in the early 1980s expanded the coverage of the network ensuring the defense of both the capital and the most significant industrial area in the nation. As a regionally structured air defense organization, the Hungarian strategic SAM network provides an interesting study of air defense deployment during the Cold War.

GENERAL LAYOUT

The Hungarian strategic SAM network operated four SAM systems at various points in its history, the SA-75 Dvina and S-75M Volkhov (SA-2 GUIDELINE), S-125 Neva (SA-3 GOA), and S-200VE Vega (SA-5 GAMMON). Tactical air defense was likely provided by 2K12 Kub (SA-6 GAINFUL) units, but garrison locations for these units have yet to be discerned. Strategic SAM assets were initially assigned to three different anti-aircraft regiments, or PLRPs. Engagement ranges of the strategic SAM systems are as follows:

SA-75 Dvina: 34 km
S-75M Volkhov: 43 km
S-125 Neva: 25 km
S-200VE Vega: 240 km

In the imagery contained within this article, SAM systems will be identified as follows: SA-75 and S-75 series sites are marked with triangles and red range rings, S-125 series sites are marked with stars and light blue range rings, and S-200 series sites are marked with hexagons and purple range rings.

INITIAL DEPLOYMENT

The deployment of strategic SAM assets in Hungary began in 1959 with the introduction of the first SA-75 Dvina SAM batteries. Between 1959 and 1983, the Dvina system provided the bulk of Hungarian strategic air defense, with a maximum of 14 sites being operational through 1976. The Dvina batteries were subordinate to three PLRPs, the 11th, 104th, and 105th.

Budapest

The Hungarian capital of Budapest was initially defended by SA-75 Dvina batteries of the 11th and 104th PLRPs. Each PLRP controlled five Dvina sites. The 11th PLRP's Dvina sites were organized along the western side of the capital, with the 104th PLRP's sites being located along the eastern side. Taken in total, the 11th and 104th PLRP's sites formed an ellipse, with Budapest being situated as the northern focus.

The following image depicts the Dvina site locations and engagement zones around Budapest. 11th PLRP sites are blue, 104th PLRP sites are orange.
Miskolc

The 105th PLRP controlled four SA-75 Dvina sites situated around Miskolc. Miskolc is Hungary's second largest city and has been the nation's center of industry since the end of the Second World War. It is therefore logical that a third PLRP would be tasked to provide strategic air defense of the area.

The following image depicts the Dvina site locations and engagement zones around Miskolc:
REORGANIZATION

Between 1977 and 1986 the Hungarian strategic SAM network underwent a significant modernization. The SA-75 Dvina was replaced with the longer-range S-75M Volkhov from 1977 to 1983. 6 Dvina sites were retained and re-equipped with the new system, while 7 new sites were constructed to house the remainder of the Volkhov batteries. By 1983 the Dvina had been completely phased out in Hungarian service, and the Volkhov system would serve until 1995. 1978 saw the introduction of the S-125M Neva SAM system, which would take residence at seven locations, serving until 1995. In 1986 the S-200VE Vega long-range SAM system was introduced at a single location. The Vega would outlast its shorter-range counterparts, serving until 1997. All of these new systems were subordinate to the same regiments that had operated the Dvina system under the old air defense architecture, the 11th, 104th, and 105th PLRPs.

Budapest

The 11th PLRP assumed responsibility for defense of the Hungarian capital under the reorganized air defense network. The 11th PLRP saw the number of batteries under its control swell under the reorganization, with seven Volkhov and six Neva sites being subordinate to the regiment. All batteries were operational until 1995 with the exception of a single Neva battery located near Piliscsaba, which left the inventory in 1994.

The following image depicts the sites and engagement zones of batteries subordinate to the 11th PLRP after the reorganization, circa 1981:
Dunaujvaros

Following the reorganization, the area of responsibility for the 104th PLRP moved southwest of Budapest to the area surrounding the city of Dunaujvaros. By 1986 the 104th PLRP contained three Volkhov batteries and Hungary's sole Vega site. The 104th PLRP's Volkhov batteries were among the first to be deactivated, leaving the inventory in 1990, at which time a Neva battery was emplaced on the grounds of the Vega site to provide close-in air defense for the system.

The following image depicts the sites and engagement zones of batteries subordinate to the 104th PLRP after the reorganization, circa 1986. The engagement zone for the Vega is omitted in this graphic.
Miskolc

The 105th PLRP survived the reorganization largely unscathed. The area of responsibility remained the same, the territory surrounding Miskolc, and only the northeastern site did not receive the Volkhov as it had been deactivated in 1965. The remaining three locations were reequipped with the S-75M in 1983 and served until 1990.

The following image depicts the sites and engagement zones of batteries subordinate to the 105th PLRP after the reorganization, circa 1983:
SOVIET AIR DEFENSES

Soviet forces stationed in Hungary during the Cold War included eight air defense units manning S-125M Neva batteries. These Neva batteries were located at airfields around the nation to provide air defense for deployed Soviet Air Force units. One advantage to having the Soviet Neva batteries in-country was that they were often situated in areas not covered by any other air defense assets.

The following image depicts the Soviet Neva sites in Hungary and their corresponding engagement zones:
OVERALL COVERAGE

Given the extreme fluidity of the Hungarian strategic SAM network, the overall coverage should be examined chronologically. The following images will depict the SAM network for a given point in time. Each image will be preceded by a brief line of text denoting the time period depicted and the number and type of systems operational for that time period. Soviet S-125M Neva batteries will not be included as there is no historical documentation of their deployment dates.

1959 to 1960: 1 Dvina

1961: 9 Dvina

1962 to 1965: 14 Dvina

1966 to 1976: 12 Dvina

1977: 9 Dvina, 3 Volkhov

1978: 3 Neva, 8 Dvina, 4 Volkhov

1979: 6 Neva, 7 Dvina, 5 Volkhov

1980: 6 Neva, 6 Dvina, 6 Volkhov

1981 to 1982: 6 Neva, 5 Dvina, 7 Volkhov

1983 to 1985: 6 Neva, 13 Volkhov

1986 to 1989: 1 Vega, 6 Neva, 13 Volkhov

1990: 1 Vega, 7 Neva, 12 Volkhov

1991 to 1994: 1 Vega, 7 Neva, 7 Volkhov

1995: 1 Vega, 6 Neva, 7 Volkhov

1996 to 1997: 1 Vega

LIMITATIONS

The primary limitation of the Hungarian strategic SAM network during the Cold War was one of coverage. Portions of the central and northeastern parts of the nation were typically well covered by Dvina, Volkhov, and Neva batteries, but no attention was paid to the remainder of the nation. In particular, the western border with Austria was ignored. The southern border was less significant as Yugoslavian air defense units would have been initially responsible for targets ingressing from that direction during a conflict with NATO. Yugoslavia was not a Warsaw Pact member state but would likely have not been allied with NATO during a conflict, providing a degree of security. Hungary's position in Central Europe also likely aided its security as NATO's primary focus would have been Soviet Army units located in East Germany and support facilities located in Poland. Hungary was a significant location of Soviet tactical air power during the Cold War, but fortunately for the Hungarians the majority of the fighting would likely have been elsewhere.

It should be noted that unlike East Germany and Czechoslovakia, Hungary relied upon older strategic SAM systems. The S-300PMU, supplied to both of the aforementioned nations, was not delivered to Hungary. As a result, Hungarian strategic SAM units were limited by the characteristics of their weapon systems. Each strategic SAM battery of the Dvina, Volkhov, and Neva variety was only capable of engaging a single target at a time due to the command guidance methods employed. Only the single Vega battery enjoyed something of a multiple target capability, thanks to the presence of two firing positions, each controlled by a separate engagement radar. Even with this added capability introduced with the Vega in 1986, the Hungarian strategic SAM network was still vulnerable to saturation with very little effort. From 1986 to 1989 when the network was at its maximum strength with 20 operational SAM sites, the overall network still only provided the ability to engage 21 simultaneous targets.

CONCLUSION

Despite being located away from most of the significant military facilities and units with which the Warsaw Pact would have employed to wage war against NATO, the Hungarian strategic SAM network provided an important piece of Warsaw Pact air defense during the Cold War. While the network was initially relatively pedestrian, modernization efforts would transform the overall network into a much more robust and layered organization. Despite these efforts, however, the strategic SAM network was ultimately incapable of repelling am assed air attack by the air forces of NATO.

ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION

Feel free to discuss this feature at the IMINT & Analysis Forum discussion thread found here.

GOOGLE EARTH PLACEMARK DATA

The range rings used to create this article can be downloaded as a Google Earth placemark file here.

SOURCES

-Satellite imagery provided courtesy of Google Earth

Hungarian SAM sites by Google Earth user LeX2
Hungarian air defense units
Hungarian air defense units
Jane's Land-based Air Defence, various editions

Czechoslovakian Strategic Air Defense: A Cold War Case Study

INTRODUCTION

The Czechoslovakian strategic air defense network provided air defense for a critical portion of territory in the Warsaw Pact during the Cold War. Various SAM sites provided air defense for the Warsaw Pact's southwestern region, theoretically preventing NATO air strikes from being mounted into Czechoslovakia or onward into East Germany or Poland.

GENERAL LAYOUT

The Czechoslovakian strategic SAM network operated five SAM systems at various points in its history, the SA-75 Dvina and S-75M Volkhov (SA-2 GUIDELINE), S-125 Neva (SA-3 GOA), S-200VE Vega (SA-5 GAMMON), and S-300PMU (SA-10B GRUMBLE). Tactical air defense was provided primarily by 2K12 Kub (SA-6 GAINFUL) units. Strategic SAM assets were assigned to five different anti-aircraft brigades, or PLRBs. Engagement ranges of the strategic SAM systems are as follows:

SA-75 Dvina: 34 km
S-75M Volkhov: 43 km
S-125 Neva: 25 km
S-200VE Vega: 240 km
S-300PMU: 90 km

In the imagery contained within this article, SAM systems will be identified as follows: 2K12 sites are marked with green circles, SA-75 and S-75 series sites are marked with triangles and red range rings, S-125 series sites are marked with stars and light blue range rings, and S-200 series sites are marked with hexagons and purple range rings.

71 PLRB

The 71st PLRB provided air defense for the Czechoslovakian capital of Prague. Initial air defense units were equipped with the SA-75 Dvina. In 1965, these units were reequipped with S-75M Volkhov batteries, with the Dvina batteries being relocated to stand up the 77th PLRB. In 1973 the 71st PLRB began to receive the S-125 Neva, and in 1985 the S-200VE Vega arrived. By the end of 1989, eight S-75M and eight S-125 sites were active, alongside the S-200VE site. The S-300PMU arrived in 1990, displacing one of the S-75M batteries near Lisek. Czech air defense units were reorganized in 1994, with the 72st PLRB becoming the 41st PLRB. The 41st PLRB's S-200VE battery disbanded in 1994, and the entire unit was disestablished in 1999.

The following image depicts the coverage of the 71st PLRB in 1989. S-200VE coverage is not depicted.


The following image depicts the coverage of the 41st PLRB in 1994:


76 PLRB

The 76th PLRB provided air defense for the city of Brno and the surrounding areas. Stood up with the SA-75 Dvina at four locations in 1965, the 76th PLRB added four S-125 batteries in the mid 1970's. In 1985 two Dvina batteries reequipped with the S-75M Volkhov, the two remaining Dvina batteries being retired by 1989. 1989 also saw the addition of the second Czechoslovakian S-200VE site. Unlike the 71st PLRB, when the 76th PLRB underwent reorganization the S-200VE was retained. The 76th PLRB became the 42nd PLRB under the reorganization, and was disestablished in 1999.

The following image depicts the coverage of the 76th PLRB in 1985. Note the larger engagement zones of the two S-75M batteries.


The following image depicts the coverage of the 42nd PLRB in 1994:


77 PLRB

The 77th PLRB was established in 1965 to defend the region surrounding Ostrava. As previously mentioned, the initial equipment came from the 71st PLRB in the form of surplus SA-75 Dvina systems which were deployed at five locations. Between 1985 and 1990, the 77th PLRB was reequipped with S-75M Volkhov batteries. The 77th PLRB survived the 1994 reorganization unscathed, retaining all five operational batteries until the unit was disbanded in 1999.

The following image depicts the coverage of the 77th PLRB in 1990. 43rd PLRB coverage was identical.


185 PLRB

The 185th PLRB was established in 1962 to defend the western border of Czechoslovakia and the approaches to Prague. Given that the western border was shared with the southeastern border of West Germany, a layered air defense posture such as this would provide greater defense against a NATO aerial attack. The first S-75M Volkhov batteries stood up in 1964, eventually equipping five locations. The northern two locations were disbanded between 1985 and 1990. The 185th PLRB did not survive the reorganization, having been disestablished sometime between 1990 and 1994.

The following image depicts the coverage of the 185th PLRB at full strength in 1984:


186 PLRB

The 186th PLRB was established in the early 1960's to provide defense of the area surrounding Bratislava. After reception of the S-125 in the mid 1970s, the 186th PLRB consisted of four S-75M sites and four S-125 sites. The 186th PLRB was renamed the 37th PLRB following the split of Czechoslovakia in 1993, becoming part of the new Slovakian air defense network. The 37th PLRB was inactive by 2002.

The following image depicts the coverage of the 186th PLRB in 1989:


2K12 KUB

Tactical air defense for armored units was provided by nine 2K12 Kub units. These units were stood up between 1975 and 1985. Each unit was based at a garrison and was provided with a fixed launch site for field deployment to allow the Kub batteries to perform as part of the overall air defense network. Two Kub units became part of the Slovakian air defense network following the split in 1993. The western unit at Nitra became part of the 36th PLRB, with the eastern unit becoming part of the 35th PLRB.

The following image depicts the locations of the 2K12 batteries. Where known, the placemarks depict the locations of the firing locations.


OVERALL COVERAGE

Taken as a whole the Czechoslovakian Cold War SAM network was arranged geographically, with each brigade being responsible for defending a set piece of territory usually surrounding a major population center. The only exception to this rule would be the 185th PLRB, which was emplaced to provide an additional barrier of defense for Prague.

The following image depicts the locations of the various strategic SAM units based in Czechoslovakia during the Cold War up through 1989. 71st PLRB sites are orange, 76th PLRB sites are red, 77th PLRB sites are yellow, 185th PLRB sites are purple, and 186th PLRB sites are blue.


The following image depicts the overall coverage of the Czechoslovakian air defense network as it existed in 1989:


The following image depicts the coverage of the SAM network following the 1994 reorganization of the Czech Republic's air defense assets:


LIMITATIONS

The main drawback to the Czechoslovakian SAM deployment strategy was that a large swath of territory between Prague and Brno was largely undefended, only falling under the umbrella of the S-200VE batteries of the 71st and 76th PLRBs. As the S-200VE did not perform well at low altitudes or against maneuvering targets at long ranges, the potential for a NATO strike package to ingress through the area was high. It is likely that this are would have been monitored and defended by Soviet and Czechoslovakian interceptors during a time of war, minimizing this potential. In fact, this area may have been set aside for use as an egress corridor for Soviet and Warsaw Pact strike packages, the lack of SAM coverage preventing any friendly fire incidents during the opening stages of a critical air campaign against NATO.

Apart from the deployment strategy, the primary weakness of the Czechoslovakian air defense network, especially during the latter stages of the Cold War, was an overreliance on older SAM systems. NATO members had experience against all of the SAM systems deployed in Czechoslovakia, and the potential for a debilitating electronic warfare campaign was very high. Also, each SAM battery could only engage a single target per engagement radar, with only the S-200VE sites featuring multiple engagement radars. This made the Czechoslovakian strategic SAM network vulnerable to saturation. This was a primary drawback of any nation relying on Soviet-era SAM systems for strategic air defense: until the arrival of the S-300P series SAM systems, a prohibitive number of SAM batteries would be required for any strategic SAM network to be regarded as a truly reliable means of defense.

THE S-300PMU

The S-300PMU was delivered to Czechoslovakia in 1990, becoming part of the 71st PLRB. The S-300PMU was intended to replace most of the extant S-75M Volkhov units inside of Czechoslovakia, but the cessation of the Cold War brought to a halt any future plans for reequipment. In the end only a single S-300PMU battery was activated in Czechoslovakia, replacing an S-75M battery at a site near Prague. The Czechoslovakian S-300PMU battery was positioned at 49°58'07.64"N 14°00'42.37"E. Following the breakup of Czechoslovakia in 1993, the S-300PMU battery was transferred to Slovakia, where it became part of the Slovakian 36th PLRB.

The following image depicts the Slovakian S-300PMU battery near Nitra:


The Slovakian S-300PMU site was active as of August 30, 2005, as evidenced by Digital Globe imagery contained in Google Earth. Recently, however, Google has provided coverage of the majority of Slovakia from Geodis Slovakia, imagery which was gathered in 2004. The 2004 imagery does not depict the S-300PMU battery, suggesting that it was not active at Nitra before that date.

The following image from Digital Globe, dated 30 August 2005, clearly shows the Nitra S-300PMU location, circled in red:


CONCLUSION

Czechoslovakian strategic air defense assets would have played a critical role in any Warsaw Pact confrontation with NATO. Aside from providing air defense of critical areas of the nation, the S-200VE batteries combined with those of East Germany and Hungary to provide a significant air defense umbrella for the majority of the Warsaw Pact's western front. Interestingly, there does not appear to have been any significant Soviet contribution to the strategic air defense network in Czechoslovakia. This was likely due to the relatively small number of Soviet military units located in-coutry when compared to other Warsaw Pact states like East Germany or Poland.

ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION

Feel free to discuss this feature at the IMINT & Analysis Forum discussion thread found here.

GOOGLE EARTH PLACEMARK DATA

The range rings used to create this article can be downloaded as a Google Earth placemark file here.

SOURCES

-Imagery provided courtesy of Google Earth and Digital Globe

Czech Air Defense Units
Jane's Land-based Air Defence, various editions

Forum Update

I'm going to be trying to revitalize the forum attached to this site with a few different ideas.

First off, the SAM Site Overview and Image of the Week features will have their own dedicated discussion threads. The links will be provided below, as well as in a few places on the site here.

Secondly, every new article (except for the above two features and updates like this) will have a link at the bottom to a discussion thread set up for that topic on the forum.

Lastly, I'll be making an effort to start populating the forum with more good stuff, and I'll be logging in there at least once a day to respond to anything in there. I admittedly let the forum slide over the past few months, so I hope this can help get it going. We get around 10,000 viewers a month here right now, so hopefully we can get some good discussions going and share some interesting information.

The forum does not mean that commenting will be disabled, by the way. Still feel free to leave a comment here if you wish to contribute in that fashion.

Links:

The IMINT & Analysis Forum
SAM Site Overview Discussion
Image of the Week Discussion

DDR Strategic Air Defense: A Cold War Case Study

INTRODUCTION

By the end of the 1980's a robust air defense network existed in the Deutschen Demokratischen Republik (DDR). DDR and Soviet air defense units combined to provide a layered air defense network capable of defending the Warsaw Pact's northwestern front. As such, the air defense assets located in the DDR provide an interesting and insightful look into Cold War era air defense.

GENERAL LAYOUT

Strategic SAM systems employed by the DDR included the S-75 Dvina and S-75M Volkhov (SA-2 GUIDELINE), S-125M1A Neva (SA-3 GOA), S-200VE Vega (SA-5 GAMMON), and S-300PMU (SA-10B GRUMBLE). Tactical SAMs included the 2K11 Krug (SA-4 GANEF), 2K12 Kub (SA-6 GAINFUL), and 9K33BM Osa-AK (SA-8 GECKO). Engagement ranges of the strategic assets are as follows:

S-75 Dvina: 34 km
S-75M Volkhov: 43 km
S-125M1A Neva: 25 km
S-200VE Vega: 240 km
S-300PMU: 90 km

In the imagery contained within this article, SAM systems will be identified as follows: tactical SAM garrisons are marked with green circles, S-75 series sites are marked with triangles and red range rings, S-125 series sites are marked with stars and light blue range rings, S-200 series sites are marked with hexagons and purple range rings, the DDR's S-300PMU site is marked with a diamond and a white range ring, and the 64N6 (BIG BIRD) battle management radar site associated with the S-300PMU battery is marked with a square and a blue range ring.

DDR air defenses were organized into two divisions. The 1st Air Defense Division (LVD) consisted of two Air Defense Brigades (FRBr) and one Air Defense Regiment (FRR), while the 3rd LVD consisted of two FRRs and one FRBr. Technical Department 310 controlled two S-75 sites and one S-125 site for training purposes. Also present were 8 tactical SAM regiments.

1ST LVD

The 1st LVD, consisting of the 31st FRR, 41st FRBr, and 51st FRBr, provided coverage of the capital area surrounding Berlin, as well as the DDR's southern flank, as seen in the image below. 31st FRR sites are colored orange, 41st FRBr sites are colored white, and 51st FRBr sites are colored purple.
The 31st FRR consisted of five S-75M sites. The 41st FRBr consisted of six S-75M sites, four S-125M1A sites, and one S-200VE site. The 51st FRBr consisted of five S-75M sites and one S-200VE site. The 41st FRBr and 51st FRBr also controlled four reserve S-75 Dvina sites each. These sites, containing older, shorter-ranged S-75 systems, would be used to increase the capabilities of each regiment during wartime.

The 31st FRR covered the southeastern portion of the DDR, as seen in the image below:
The 41st FRBr covered the capital area surrounding Berlin, as seen in the following image. The four reserve S-75 sites were located along the southwestern portion of the 41st FRBr's area of responsibility.
The 51st FRBr covered the DDR's southwestern flank, as seen in the following image. The four reserve S-75 sites were located in the eastern portion of the 51st FRBr's area of responsibility, along a north-south diagonal stretching from Halle to Chemnitz.
3RD LVD

The 3rd LVD, consisting of the 13th FRR, 23rd FRR, and 43rd FRBR, provided coverage of the DDR's northern flank, as seen in the image below. 13th FRR sites are colored yellow, 23rd FRR sites are colored light blue, and 43rd FRBr sites are colored dark blue.
The 13th FRR consisted of four S-75M sites. The 23rd FRR consisted of five S-75M sites. The 43rd FRBr consisted of six S-75M sites, five S-125M1A sites, one S-200VE site, and one S-300PMU site. The S-300PMU's 64N6 radar facility was also subordinate to the 43rd FRBr.

The 13th FRR covered the northwestern portion of the DDR, as seen in the image below:
The 23rd FRR covered the northeastern portion of the DDR near the Polish border, as seen in the image below:
The 43rd FRBr covered the northern area of the DDR between the 13th FRR and 23rd FRR areas of responsibility, as seen in the image below:
SOVIET CONTRIBUTION

As was the case with many of the Warsaw Pact member states, there was a significant Soviet presence in the DDR. This presence included a number of strategic air defense units. These air defense units defended both DDR airspace, providing coverage not present under the 1st and 3rd LVD, and Soviet military facilities, including airfields home to Soviet combat aircraft. Identified Soviet air defense assets in the DDR included two S-75M sites, 24 S-125M1 sites, and one S-200M site. These Soviet air defense sites were concentrated in the 1st LVD's area of responsibility.

Soviet air defense coverage in the DDR can be seen in the image below:
Various Soviet tactical SAM units were also present in the DDR. These systems included the Krug, Osa, 9K37 Buk (SA-11 GADFLY) and S-300V (SA-12 GLADIATOR/GIANT). As tactical SAM units would have been tasked to provide mobile air defense for Soviet Army units pushing into NATO, they are not covered here.

S-200 COVERAGE

Long-range air defense of the DDR was provided by four S-200 sites. As previously mentioned, one of these sites was a Soviet-controlled battery located east of Madgeburg. These four S-200 batteries not only provided coverage over the entire DDR, but also provided significant cross-border coverage to the north and east, potentially allowing targets to be engaged before crossing into DDR airspace. S-200 effectiveness was reduced at low altitude, but the system still posed a serious threat to medium-high altitude aircraft, in particular nonmaneuverable aircraft such as ISR platforms. After an outbreak of hostilities, the S-200 batteries would be well suited to deny NATO reconnaissance aircraft from operating in close proximity to the DDR border.

The coverage provided by the four S-200 series batteries located in the DDR can be seen in the image below:
OVERALL COVERAGE

The six DDR air defense units within the 1st and 3rd LVDs, when combined with the Soviet air defense units in country, provided an overlapping air defense network to defend DDR airspace. The image below illustrates the locations of all of the DDR and Soviet strategic SAM sites, tactical SAM garrisons, and training sites, the latter of which are brown in color:
The overall coverage provided by the entire air defense network can be seen in the image below:
The deployment strategies employed by the DDR and Soviet units indicate a desire to defend both key border areas as well as major residential and industrial areas. During a postulated Soviet conflict with NATO, Soviet and Warsaw Pact units advancing into Western Europe would likely have contained organic tactical air defense units. The volume of strategic air defense units present in the DDR would suggest that the Soviets placed a great deal of importance on defending the major logistical support areas and lines of communication in the DDR. This meshes well with the Soviet concept of rapid advance of armored units into enemy territory. In order for these advances to be successful, the logistics support train must be well defended.

LIMITATIONS

One of the primary limitations of the DDR was the lack of suitable modern air defense systems during the latter stages of the Cold War. The main drawback of the most numerous strategic SAM systems in service with the DDR was the inability of each battery to prosecute multiple targets. The only system capable of a multiple target engagement capability was the S-200, and this could only be achieved by deploying multiple 5N62 (SQUARE PAIR) engagement radars at each location. The S-200 would typically employ one 5N62 for each 6 launcher cluster present at the site. That being said, this lack of serious multiple target engagement capability, coupled with Western advances in ECM and SEAD/DEAD tactics and weapons, threatened to make the DDR's air defense network virtually obsolete.

The S-200's degraded capability at low altitude also posed a problem for the DDR in the event of a low-level strike. Consider the following example situated in the area of the 3rd LVD. Discounting the S-200, a low-level strike package would face the following threat picture circa 1985:
Eliminating the 14th FRR's northern three S-75 sites and a solitary Soviet S-125 site provides the beginning of an undefended corridor of airspace for striking at targets in the region, as illustrated below:
There is a tactical SAM garrison in the area opened by the postulated strike, but this was an Osa garrison. Operation DESERT STORM proved that the Osa was ineffective at dealing with fast jets backed by EW, SEAD and DEAD assets, recording no successes against Coalition aircraft. Ergo, the strike package would likely not be threatened by the Osa TELARs in the area, being able to proceed deeper into the DDR. A turn to the south reveals another narrow corridor leading to the 1st LVD's area of responsibility being vulnerable were a second Soviet S-125 battery to be destroyed. Clearly, newer air defense systems were necessary to deal with the increased threat posed by NATO strike aircraft and their support assets.

The answer came in 1989 when the first S-300PMU battery entered operational service. Site preparation had begun in 1984 near Retschow in the 43rd FRBr, and system operators were trained in the USSR between August and December of 1988. Superimposing the S-300PMU's range ring over the corridor generated by the postulated strike package, it can be seen that the system was capable of defending the vulnerable area in the northwest.
The exact location of the DDR's S-300PMU site has not been determined with complete certainty, but it is known that the system supplemented, if not replaced outright, the Retschow S-75 battery in the 43rd FRBr. Given this location and the fact that the Retschow S-75 site remains unmodified, the following site stands out as a potential location for the S-300PMU battery:
It is known that Soviet engineers did travel to the DDR to construct S-300P series SAM sites, suggesting that they were responsible for constructing the Retschow site. This would suggest that the above location is a distinct possibility as it has clearly undergone significant deconstruction, potentially erasing evidence of built up revetments and radar platforms. The Soviet engineers may also have constructed Soviet S-300P series sites as well, and the following image presents an example from the 51FRBr where such a site may have been constructed adjacent to a DDR S-75 site:
CONCLUSION

Had the Cold War continued, modernization of DDR air defenses would have necessitated priority status within the USSR and the Warsaw Pact. Aging systems, proving to be more and more unreliable against modern combat aircraft, would likely have been supplemented and replaced by further S-300P series SAM systems in both the DDR and Soviet inventories. Only then would the air defense network of the DDR have been able to be relied upon to forestall any significant action by NATO.

GOOGLE EARTH PLACEMARK DATA

The range rings, site icons, detail tags, and East German border can be downloaded as a Google Earth placemark file here.

SOURCES

-Satellite imagery provided courtesy of Google Earth

DDR Air Defense Units
43rd FRBr S-300PMU
SAMs of the PVO, Mikhail Pervov, 2001
Jane's Land-based Air Defence, various editions