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Eastern Order of Battle

Baku Red Banner Air Defence District
in January 1, 1968
North Caucasus, Transcaucasian and Western Turkestan Military District

The Baku Red Banner Air Defence District defended the air space of the Soviet Union in a very sensitive region in the sixties years. Here were the Turkish NATO border, Caspian Sea oil and gas deposits, US friendly Iranian border, South-Russian industrial facilities, etc.

In the sixties years established seventeen Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment in the region. The SA-75 Dvina/Volkhov ‘SA-2’ guide missiles, Su-9 ‘Fishpot’ and MiG-19 ‘Farmer’ interceptors of the Baku Red Banner Air Defence District were able to capture high-altitude and high-speed air targets. The vintage MiG-17 ‘Fresco’ was used against low altitude and slow air targets.
 

Soviet Su-9 Fishpot-A at Kopitnari

167th Guard Fighter Air Regiment PVO’s Su-9 ‘Fishpot-A’ air defence fighter at Kopitnari airport

MiG-19 pilots of the 627th Guard Air Defense Fighter Regiment

Soviet MiG-19 pilots of the 627th Guard Air Defense Fighter Regiment PVO. Photo: Tamara Volgina collection

In the sixties, the Baku Air Defence District got one regiment Su-11 ‘Fishpot-C’ and three regiments Yak-28P ‘Firebar’ interceptor fighter aircraft. These were equipped with more powerful Oryol ‘Skip Spin' radar and R-8M ‘AA-3 Anab’ medium-range air-to-air missile.

Baku Red Banner Air Defence District Order of Battle in 1968
Baku Red Banner Air Defence District Order of Battle in 1968 map
Baku Red Banner Air Defence District Order of Battle in 1968
USSR Su-11 Fishpot-C at Privolzhskiy, Astrakhan

Soviet Su-11 ‘Fishpot-C’s of the 393rd Guard Regiment

Baku Red Banner Air Defence District Order of Battle in 1968


 

Baku Red Banner Air Defence District Order of Battle in 1968

The 2nd Guard Fighter Air Regiment PVO became to fighter-bomber regiment in December 1967 and later moved to the Transbaikal Military District area, in Aug 1969.  *

Baku Red Banner Air Defence District Order of Battle in 1968

Unfortunately, the new modern high powered Su-11 ‘Fishpot-C’ and Yak-28P ‘Firebar’ interceptor models were not able to intercepted low-altitude targets. The use of fighter aircraft is illustrated by history below: The Yak-28P ‘Firebar’ of the 171st regiment intercepted an Antonov An-2 biplane defector on 13 March 1967. The An-2 tried to fly over the Black Sea to Turkey. The An-2 didn't have much of a heat signature flying very low over the waves.

The Yak-28P ‘Firebar’ crew wasn't able to get a good missile lock, but the ‘Firebar’ interceptor was able to use its long-range radar to guide the other MiG-17 from 171th regiment to the slow target, which then shut down the biplane into the sea with cannon fire.

 

MiG-17 fighter of the 166th Guard Fighter Air Regiment PVO

 

Soviet MiG-19P Farmer-B

Ground crew of 627th Guard Fighter Air Regiment PVO in front of their MiG-19P ‘Farmer-B’ interceptor fighter in the sixties.

USSR MiG-17 Fresco-A at Marneuli, Sandar

Soviet 166th Guard Fighter Air Regiment PVO’s MiG-17 ‘Fresco-A’ at Marneuli, Sandar in the second half of the sixties

It made the Baku Red Banner Air Defence District's task more difficult that they needed to annihilate a lot of American propaganda air balloons too.

The fighter regiments of the Baku Air Defence District used MiG-15UTI ‘Midget’ and Su-7U ‘Moujik’ two-seaters trainer aircraft in the sixties.
 

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Baku Red Banner Air Defence District in January 1, 1973