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Issue 21: Is the Soviet Bear’s Bark Greater Than Its Bite
Events surrounding the destruction of KAL flight 007 in September highlight some interesting flaws in the Soviet military in general and the Soviet air defence system in particular.
To look at reality, it is inconceivable that the KAL 747 was on a clandestine spy mission as the Soviets claim. Even a mildly attuned aviation and defence buff appreciates that the introduction in recent years of reconnaissance satellites such as the KR-11 and the fine-honing of electronic surveillance have made conventional overflights by manned aircraft largely ineffective by comparison. The fact that much of the region was harbouring a cloud cover that night would also make it difficult for the 747 to have been on a photographic mission. Using a commercial airliner with 269 civilians aboard for this purpose would, as we all appreciate, even transcend the most sensational spy fiction to say the least. Still that was the story the Soviets told their people and indeed the world.
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