ABSTRACT
This chapter outlines the dimensions of that threat and the conventional means by which North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) could neutralize it. The Warsaw Pact tactical air forces are a second critical component of the combined arms threat to NATO. The Warsaw Pact’s fighter-bombers and light-bombers are capable of striking targets throughout the Central Region with modern ground attack munitions and air-to-surface standoff missiles. The Warsaw Pact option for the use of their tactical air forces which would be most threatening to NATO’s conventional defense would be their use of massive air raids at the onset of their aggression. In the area of airfield attack delivery systems, NATO should adopt a phased modernization program to take advantage of improved delivery capabilities as they become available. In addition, NATO could offset certain of these Warsaw Pact countermeasures by expanding the actions recommended in this Report.
