un (150R APPENDIX 111 ANTIAIRCRAFT DEFENSE AND REVOLUTIONARY AIR FORCE (DAAFAR)
osigned to nge of me 10. 000 ft Itteries This by TIL Latin America.
advanced the past twenty five ernient The Cuban Air Force is the largest and better equipped inThe Soviet Union has provided the Cuban Govtraining and sophisticated equipment over years to make the Cuban Air Force and Antiaircraft Defense System the best trained and equipped in It has bethe Western Hemisphere after the United States.
18, 500 and 20. 000 members, and over 350 aircrafts. IL into least 12 fighter bomber interceptor SAM battalions. The Cuban Navy also has a helicopter force which includes at least 18 Mi helicopters.
The Army also has a sophisticated inventory of anti aircraft equipment for support of its ground forces.
treen IS organized jquadrons and 24 Mission range of 10 10 lente as erations over 19 cartie Te 2119118 for The Air Force is designed to provide air cover for ground forces and attack enemy targets in front lines as well Strategic support areas in the rear. It can also support oplong distances, including transporting troops and supplying ground forces.
Following the Soviet pattern, Cuba frontal aviation is equipped for supporting combat operations of ground forces and is designed for attack. The role of defending ground troops is primarily a function of a vell developed system of antiaircraft weapons including misDAAFAR is not equipped for long range operations and siles does not have long range bombers.
But the radious of operation of the aircraft in the Cuban arsenal cold be effectively used in most of the Caribbean, Central America and possibly in South of the United States. The capacity for transporting airborne troops and supplies has been increased in the past ten years as Cuban involvement in Africa and Central America conflicts has expanded.
History IS Before the 1959 revolution, there were two air units in Cuba, one operated by the Army (Fuerza Aerea Ejercito) and the other unit by the Navy (Fuerza Aerea Marina de Guerra. Most of the planes were of WWII vintage and of American and British manufacture Cuban pilots were trained for the most part by American instructors at Pensacola, Florida and in Texas. 475