Military of Cuba
Encyclopedia
The Cuba
n Revolutionary Armed Forces consist of ground forces, naval forces, air and air defence forces, and other paramilitary bodies including the Territorial Troops Militia
(Milicias de Tropas Territoriales—MTT), Revolutionary Armed Forces (Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias—FAR), and Youth Labor Army (Ejército Juvenil del Trabajo—EJT).
The armed forces has long been the most powerful institution in Cuba and high-ranking generals are believed to play crucial roles in all conceivable succession scenarios. The military controls 60 percent of the economy through the management of hundreds of enterprises in key economic sectors. The military is also Raúl Castro
's base. In numerous speeches, Raúl Castro has emphasized the military's role as a people's partner.
from 1975–1989, and Nicaragua and El Salvador
during the 1980s.
The Soviet Union gave both military and financial aid to the Cubans. The tonnage of Soviet military deliveries to Cuba throughout most of the 1980s exceeded deliveries in any year since the military build-up during the 1962 Cuban missile crisis
. In 1994, Cuba's armed forces were estimated to have 235,000 active duty personnel and now reduced to 80,000 as of.
In 1989, the government instituted a purge of the armed forces and the Ministry of Interior, convicting Army Major General and Hero of The Republic of Cuba Arnaldo Ochoa
, Ministry of Interior Colonel Antonio de la Guardia (Tony la Guardia), and Ministry of Interior Brigadier General Patricio de la Guardia on charges of corruption
and drug trafficking. This judgment is known in Cuba as "Causa 1" (Cause 1). Ochoa and Antonio de la Guardia were executed. Following the executions, the Army was drastically downsized, the Ministry of Interior was moved under the informal control of Revolutionary Armed Forces chief General Raúl Castro
(Fidel Castro
's brother), and large numbers of army officers were moved into the Ministry of Interior.
Cuban military power has been sharply reduced by the loss of Soviet subsidies. Today, the Revolutionary Armed Forces number 79,000 regular troops. The DIA
reported in 1998 that the country's paramilitary organizations, the Territorial Militia Troops, the Youth Labor Army, and the Naval Militia had suffered considerable morale and training degradation over the previous seven years but still retained the potential to "make an enemy invasion costly.". Cuba also adopted a "war of the people" strategy that highlights the defensive nature of its capabilities.
The Cuban military has held high-level talk with the Pakistan military. The Pakistani military stressed to Cuba that it has strong defence infrastructure both in defence production and in shape of military academies to provide the necessary help and cooperation to turn the Cuban military into a modern and effective "blitzkrieg" military.
In 1984, according to Jane's Military Review, there were three major geographical commands, Western, Central, and Eastern. There were a reported 130,000 all ranks, and each command was garrisoned by an Army comprising a single armoured division, a mechanised division, and a corps of three infantry divisions, though the Eastern Command had two corps totalling six divisions.
A U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency
assessment in the first half of 1998 said that the Army's armour and artillery units were at low readiness levels due to 'severely reduced' training, generally incapable of mounting effective operations above the battalion level, and that equipment was mostly in storage and unavailable at short notice. The same report said that Cuban special operations forces continue to train but on a smaller scale than beforehand, and that while the lack of replacement parts for its existing equipment and the current severe shortage of fuel were increasingly affecting operational capabilities, Cuba remained able to offer considerable resistance to any regional power
.
The IISS reported in 1999 that the army's troop formations consisted of four to five armored brigades; nine mechanized infantry brigades; an airborne brigade; fourteen reserve brigades; and the Border Brigade. In addition, there is an air defense artillery regiment and a surface-to-air missile brigade. Each of the three territorial armies is believed to be assigned at least one armored brigade-usually attached to the army's headquarters-as well as a mechanized infantry brigade. As well, it is known that the Border Brigade in Guantanamo and at least one ground artillery regiment (attached to a mechanized infantry brigade), based in Las Tunas, are under the Eastern Army's command.
, the army is organized into three Territorial Military Commands with three Armies, one army for each command.
Revolutionary Army Command:
Western Army (deployed in the capital and the provinces of Havana and Pinar del Río)
2nd (Pinar del Río) Army Corps:
Central Army (Provinces of Matanzas, Villa Clara, Cienfuegos and Sancti Spiritus)
4th (Las Villas) Army Corps:
Eastern Army (Provinces of Santiago de Cuba, Guantánamo, Granma, Holguín, Las Tunas, Camagüey and Ciego de Avila)
6th (Holguín) Army Corps:
6th (Camagüey) Army Corps:
assault rifle AMD-65 assault rifle Vz. 58 assault rifle Škorpion vz. 61 Submachine gun Cz 75
automatic pistol RPK
light machine gun KPV
heavy machine gun PKM
machine gun SKS
carbine Dragunov SVD sniper rifle VSS Vintorez
sniper rifle Mambi
Anti-material rifle AS Val
suppressed assault rifle RPG-7
rocket-propelled-grenade launcher SPG-9
Recoilless rifle Makarov PM
semi-automatic pistol Stechkin APS
automatic pistol PM-63 RAK
sub-machine gun AGS-17
automatic grenade launcher RGD-5
Grenade
Light tanks PT-76
(50)
Medium Tanks (300) Some were modernized with 122mm artillery pieces. T-34
(300)
Main battle tanks (1,550) T-54/55 (112) modernized active, others used as Self-Propelled Artillery with D-30 mounted; 1,000+ in storage T-62
(320) T-62Ms active; T-72
(60) T-72M1/M2 (not to be confused with the Soviet export versions.)
Reconnaissance armoured vehicles (100) BRDM-1
BRDM-2
Infantry fighting vehicles (400) BMP-1
- 400 BMD-1
Armoured personnel carriers (700) BTR-152
BTR-40
BTR-50
BTR-60
Various versions of this vehicle. Including one with a T-55 turret instead of the KPV.
Towed artillery (620) ZIS-3
D-30 M-46
M-30 M1938 122 mm
Self-propelled artillery (100) 2S1 Gvozdika 2S3 Akatsiya
UNKNOWN NAME ( with a D-30 122mm) T-34/85 with a D-30 122mm mounted T-55
with M-46 130mm mounted
Multi rocket launchers (200) BM-14
BM-21
BM-21PD Locally built version of the BM-21 P-15 Termit
Mortars (2,000) M-41/43
M-38/43
Anti-tank weapons AT-1 Snapper AT-3 Sagger mounted on the BTR-60s,, and some . 9K111 Fagot D-44
SU-100
T-12
Anti-aircraft guns (+1000) ZU-23 -400 ZPU-4
-200 ZSU-23-4
-36 ZSU-57-2
-25 S-60
-200 M-1939 -300
Ballistic missiles 9K52 Luna-M - 65 Hwasong-5
/ 6
(330 – 550 km range)
SAMs SA-6 Gainful-12 SA-7 Grail SA-8 Gecko - 16 SA-9 Gaskin - 60 SA-13 Gopher- 42 SA-14 Gremlin
SA-16 Gimlet S-75 Dvina
- 144. (Easy to find in Google Earth). S-125 Neva/Pechora - 60
Self-propelled SAM SA-2
- 25 (On T-55 chassis) S-125 Neva/Pechora (On T-55 chassis) Lots of this missiles were seen in the Cuban Military Parade of 2006.
units include the Black Wasps
of the army, and Desembarco de Granma a Special marine unit of the Navy. The Ministry of interior also has a special paramilitary unit.
of Cuba.
Former aircraft include:
MiG-15,
MiG-17,
MiG-19,
North American
B-25 Mitchell
,
North American
P-51 Mustang
,
and the Hawker Sea Fury
In the 1980s, Cuba with the help of the Soviet Union was able to project power abroad, using its air force, especially in Africa. During that time Cuba sent jet fighters and transports to fight in countries such as Angola (against UNITA / South Africa) and Ethiopia (against Somalia)
In 1990, Cuba's Air Force was the best equipped in Latin America. In all, the modern Cuban Air Force imported approximately 230 fixed-wing aircraft. Although there is no exact figure available, Western analysts estimate that at least 130 (with only 25 operational) of these planes are still in service spread out among the thirteen military airbases on the island.
In 1998, according to the same DIA report mentioned above, the air force had 'fewer than 24 operational MIG fighters; pilot training barely adequate to maintain proficiency; a declining number of fighter sorties, surface to air missiles and air-defense artillery to respond to attacking air forces.
By 2007 the International Institute for Strategic Studies
assessed the force as 8,000 strong with 41 combat capable aircraft and a further 188 stored. DAAFAR is known now to have integrated another Mig-29 and a few MiG-23 which makes it 57 combat aircraft in service which are listed as 6 MiG-29s, 40 MiG-23s, and 11 MiG-21s. There were also assessed to be 12 operational transport aircraft plus trainers which include 8 L-39C and helicopters which are mainly Mil Mi-8, Mil Mi-17 and Mil Mi-24 Hind. Raúl Castro has ordered in 2010 that all MiG-29 pilots had to have full training, they now have from 200–250 hours of flight annually together with real Dogfight training and exercises. Up to 20 MiG-23 units also have this kind of training but the other 16 MiG-23 units spend more time in Simulators than real flight. MiG-21 units have limited time in this exercises and spend more time in simulators and maintain their skills flying with the commercial brand of the air force Aerogaviota
.
A look at Google Earth 22*52'28.40" N 82*30'26.04" W at San Antonio de los Banos military air field
, south west of Havana, will reveal what appear to be 8 MiG-21s, 19 MiG-23s, 2 MiG-29s and an Mi-8 left out to rust in the tropical sun. It looks like the jungle is overtaking some of these aircraft as well.
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Aircraft
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Origin
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Type
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Version
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Total Del'd
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Total Now
|-----
! style="background: #aacccc;" colspan="6"|Combat Aircraft
|-----
|Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 Fishbed
|| || fighter
trainer|| MiG-21MF
MiG-21UM || 60
10 || 7
5
|-----
|Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23 Flogger
|| || fighter
multirole fighter
trainer || MiG-23MF/MS
MiG-23ML
MiG-23UB || 21
21
5 || 19
21
2
|-----
|Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-29 Fulcrum || || fighter
multirole fighter
trainer || MiG-29B
MiG-29UB || 14
2 || 5
1
|-----
|Mil Mi-8 Hip
|| || transport/attack helicopter || Mi-8T
Mi-8TKV || 20
20 || 6
7
|-----
|Mil Mi-17 Hip-H
|| ||transport/attack helicopter || Mi-17 || 16 || 8
|-----
|Mil Mi-24 Hind
|| || attack || Mi-24D || 20 || 17
|-----
|Antonov An-24 Coke
|| / || cargo || An-24 || 20 || 4
|-----
|Antonov An-26 Curl
|| || cargo || An-26 || 17 || 3
|-----
|Yakovlev Yak-40 Codling
|| || VIP || Yak-40 || 8 || 3
|-----
|Ilyushin Il-62
|| || VIP || Il-62 || 1 || 1
|-----
|Ilyushin Il-96
|| || VIP || Il-96 || 3 || 3
|-----
|Aero L-39 Albatros
|| || trainer/attack || L-39C || 30 || 8
|-----
|Zlin Z-326
|| || trainer || Z-326T || 60 || 20
|-----
By 2007 the Navy was assessed as being 3,000 strong (including up to 550+ Navy Infantry) by the IISS
with six Osa-II and one Pauk-class fast attack craft.
Almost all of the ships of the Navy have been decommissioned and the three Koni class frigate
s were either expended as targets or sunk to build reefs. Cuba has constructed rolling platforms with Soviet P-15 Termit
missile batteries taken from its warships and placed them near beaches where hostile amphibious assaults may occur. Most patrol boats are non-operational due to lack of fuel and spares.
The Navy also includes a small marine battalion called the Desembarco de Granma. It once numbered 550 men though its present size is not known.
There are reports of new naval projects under the Raúl Castro government, including the building of a class of 4 enlarged Sang-O submarines
with the help of North Koreans, with reports that at least one unit having been built. There is also a single picture of a small black native submarine in Havana harbour, it is rumored to be called Delfin and to be armed with two torpedoes.
The Cuban Navy are also rebuilding one, maybe two large ex-Spanish fishing boats. One, the Rio Damuji n° 390, has been seen with guns and Stynx missiles on the deck. These vessels are larger than the Koni class, and it is rumored that they can be used in the amphibious
role or as frigates.
The border guards have: 2 Stenka patrol boats and 30/48 Zhuk patrol craft. Cuba makes Zhuk patrol crafts and some are seen with an SPG-9 mounted on front of the twin 30mm guns.
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
n Revolutionary Armed Forces consist of ground forces, naval forces, air and air defence forces, and other paramilitary bodies including the Territorial Troops Militia
Territorial Troops Militia
The "Territorial Troops Militia" , is a Cuban paramilitary militia composed exclusively of civilian volunteers, was established on May 1, 1980, and placed under the command of the MINFAR...
(Milicias de Tropas Territoriales—MTT), Revolutionary Armed Forces (Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias—FAR), and Youth Labor Army (Ejército Juvenil del Trabajo—EJT).
The armed forces has long been the most powerful institution in Cuba and high-ranking generals are believed to play crucial roles in all conceivable succession scenarios. The military controls 60 percent of the economy through the management of hundreds of enterprises in key economic sectors. The military is also Raúl Castro
Raúl Castro
Raúl Modesto Castro Ruz is a Cuban politician and revolutionary who has been President of the Council of State of Cuba and the President of the Council of Ministers of Cuba since 2008; he previously exercised presidential powers in an acting capacity from 2006 to 2008...
's base. In numerous speeches, Raúl Castro has emphasized the military's role as a people's partner.
Overview
From 1966 until the late 1980s, massive Soviet Government military assistance enabled Cuba to upgrade its military capabilities up to number 1 in Latin America and project power abroad. The first Cuban military mission in Africa was established in Ghana in 1961. Cuba's military forces appeared in Algeria, in 1963, when a distinctly military "medical brigade" came over from Havana to support a moribund regime. Since the 1960s, Cuba sent military forces to African and Arab countries; Syria in 1973, Ethiopia in 1978, the Cuban intervention in AngolaCuban intervention in Angola
In November 1975, on the eve of Angola's independence, Cuba launched a large-scale military intervention in support of the leftist liberation movement MPLA against United States-backed invasions by South Africa and Zaire in support of two other liberation movements competing for power in the...
from 1975–1989, and Nicaragua and El Salvador
El Salvador
El Salvador or simply Salvador is the smallest and the most densely populated country in Central America. The country's capital city and largest city is San Salvador; Santa Ana and San Miguel are also important cultural and commercial centers in the country and in all of Central America...
during the 1980s.
The Soviet Union gave both military and financial aid to the Cubans. The tonnage of Soviet military deliveries to Cuba throughout most of the 1980s exceeded deliveries in any year since the military build-up during the 1962 Cuban missile crisis
Cuban Missile Crisis
The Cuban Missile Crisis was a confrontation among the Soviet Union, Cuba and the United States in October 1962, during the Cold War...
. In 1994, Cuba's armed forces were estimated to have 235,000 active duty personnel and now reduced to 80,000 as of.
In 1989, the government instituted a purge of the armed forces and the Ministry of Interior, convicting Army Major General and Hero of The Republic of Cuba Arnaldo Ochoa
Arnaldo Ochoa
Arnaldo T. Ochoa Sánchez was a prominent Cuban general who was executed after being found guilty of treason.-Career:Ochoa was born from an old Oriente area family of farmers...
, Ministry of Interior Colonel Antonio de la Guardia (Tony la Guardia), and Ministry of Interior Brigadier General Patricio de la Guardia on charges of corruption
Political corruption
Political corruption is the use of legislated powers by government officials for illegitimate private gain. Misuse of government power for other purposes, such as repression of political opponents and general police brutality, is not considered political corruption. Neither are illegal acts by...
and drug trafficking. This judgment is known in Cuba as "Causa 1" (Cause 1). Ochoa and Antonio de la Guardia were executed. Following the executions, the Army was drastically downsized, the Ministry of Interior was moved under the informal control of Revolutionary Armed Forces chief General Raúl Castro
Raúl Castro
Raúl Modesto Castro Ruz is a Cuban politician and revolutionary who has been President of the Council of State of Cuba and the President of the Council of Ministers of Cuba since 2008; he previously exercised presidential powers in an acting capacity from 2006 to 2008...
(Fidel Castro
Fidel Castro
Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz is a Cuban revolutionary and politician, having held the position of Prime Minister of Cuba from 1959 to 1976, and then President from 1976 to 2008. He also served as the First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba from the party's foundation in 1961 until 2011...
's brother), and large numbers of army officers were moved into the Ministry of Interior.
Cuban military power has been sharply reduced by the loss of Soviet subsidies. Today, the Revolutionary Armed Forces number 79,000 regular troops. The DIA
Dia
Dia is free and open source general-purpose diagramming software, developed originally by Alexander Larsson. Dia uses a controlled single document interface similar to GIMP and Sodipodi.- Features :...
reported in 1998 that the country's paramilitary organizations, the Territorial Militia Troops, the Youth Labor Army, and the Naval Militia had suffered considerable morale and training degradation over the previous seven years but still retained the potential to "make an enemy invasion costly.". Cuba also adopted a "war of the people" strategy that highlights the defensive nature of its capabilities.
The Cuban military has held high-level talk with the Pakistan military. The Pakistani military stressed to Cuba that it has strong defence infrastructure both in defence production and in shape of military academies to provide the necessary help and cooperation to turn the Cuban military into a modern and effective "blitzkrieg" military.
Army
A U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency
Defense Intelligence Agency
The Defense Intelligence Agency is a member of the Intelligence Community of the United States, and is the central producer and manager of military intelligence for the United States Department of Defense, employing over 16,500 U.S. military and civilian employees worldwide...
assessment in the first half of 1998 said that the Army's armour and artillery units were at low readiness levels due to 'severely reduced' training, generally incapable of mounting effective operations above the battalion level, and that equipment was mostly in storage and unavailable at short notice. The same report said that Cuban special operations forces continue to train but on a smaller scale than beforehand, and that while the lack of replacement parts for its existing equipment and the current severe shortage of fuel were increasingly affecting operational capabilities, Cuba remained able to offer considerable resistance to any regional power
Regional power
In international relations, a regional power is a state that has power within a geographic region. States which wield unrivaled power and influence within a region of the world possess regional hegemony.-Characteristics:...
.
2002 Organisation
In 1999 the Revolutionary Army (Ejercito Revolucionario) represented approximately 70 percent of Cuba's regular military manpower. According to the IISS, the Army's estimated 45,000 troops included 39,000 members of the Ready Reserves who were completing the forty-five days of annual active-duty service necessary for maintaining their status, as well as conscripts who were fulfilling their military service requirement.The IISS reported in 1999 that the army's troop formations consisted of four to five armored brigades; nine mechanized infantry brigades; an airborne brigade; fourteen reserve brigades; and the Border Brigade. In addition, there is an air defense artillery regiment and a surface-to-air missile brigade. Each of the three territorial armies is believed to be assigned at least one armored brigade-usually attached to the army's headquarters-as well as a mechanized infantry brigade. As well, it is known that the Border Brigade in Guantanamo and at least one ground artillery regiment (attached to a mechanized infantry brigade), based in Las Tunas, are under the Eastern Army's command.
1996 Organisation
There are estimated to be 38,000 army personnel. As of 1996, according to Jane's Information GroupJane's Information Group
Jane's Information Group is a publishing company specializing in transportation and military topics.-History:It was founded by Fred T...
, the army is organized into three Territorial Military Commands with three Armies, one army for each command.
Revolutionary Army Command:
- Airborne brigade consisting of 2 battalions (at Havana and its immediate environs)
- Artillery division (at Havana and its immediate environs)
- SAMSurface-to-air missileA surface-to-air missile or ground-to-air missile is a missile designed to be launched from the ground to destroy aircraft or other missiles...
Brigade - An anti-aircraft artillery regiment
Western Army (deployed in the capital and the provinces of Havana and Pinar del Río)
- 1st Armored Training Division
- 70th Mechanised Division
- 78th Armored Division
2nd (Pinar del Río) Army Corps:
- 24th Infantry Division
- 27th Infantry Division
- 28th Infantry Division
Central Army (Provinces of Matanzas, Villa Clara, Cienfuegos and Sancti Spiritus)
- 81st Infantry Division
- 84th Infantry Division
- 86th Infantry Division
- 89th Infantry Division
- 12th Armored Regiment/1st Armored Division
- 242nd Infantry Regiment/24th Infantry Division
4th (Las Villas) Army Corps:
- 41st Infantry Division
- 43rd Infantry Division
- 48th Infantry Division
Eastern Army (Provinces of Santiago de Cuba, Guantánamo, Granma, Holguín, Las Tunas, Camagüey and Ciego de Avila)
- 3rd Armored Division
- 6th Armored Division
- 9th Armored Division
- 31st Infantry Division
- 32nd Infantry Division
- 38th Infantry Division
- 84th Infantry Division
- 90th Infantry Division
- 95th Infantry Division
- 97th Infantry Division
- Guantanamo Frontier Brigade
- 123rd Infantry Division/former 12th Infantry Division
- 281st Infantry Regiment/28th Infantry Division
6th (Holguín) Army Corps:
- 50th Mechanised Division
- 52nd Infantry Division
- 54th Infantry Division
- 56th Infantry Division
- 58th Infantry Division
6th (Camagüey) Army Corps:
- 60th Mechanised Division
- 63rd Infantry Division
- 65th Infantry Division
- 69th Infantry Division
Equipment
Infantry weapons AKMAKM
The AKM is a 7.62mm assault rifle designed by Mikhail Kalashnikov. It is an upgraded version of the AK-47 rifle and was developed in the 1950s....
assault rifle AMD-65 assault rifle Vz. 58 assault rifle Škorpion vz. 61 Submachine gun Cz 75
CZ 75
The CZ 75 is a semi-automatic pistol made by Česká zbrojovka Uherský Brod in the Czech Republic. First introduced in 1975, it is one of the original "wonder nines" featuring a staggered-column magazine, all-steel construction, and a hammer forged barrel...
automatic pistol RPK
RPK
The RPK is a 7.62x39mm light machine gun of Soviet design, developed by Mikhail Kalashnikov in the late 1950s, parallel with the AKM assault/battle rifle...
light machine gun KPV
KPV heavy machine gun
The KPV-14.5 heavy machine gun is a Soviet designed 14.5x114mm-caliber heavy machine gun, which first entered service as an infantry weapon in 1949. In the 1960s the infantry version was taken out of production because it was too big and heavy...
heavy machine gun PKM
PK machine gun
The PK is a 7.62 mm general-purpose machine gun designed in the Soviet Union and currently in production in Russia. The PK machine gun was introduced in the 1960s and replaced the SGM and RPD machine guns in Soviet service...
machine gun SKS
SKS
The SKS is a Soviet semi-automatic rifle chambered for the 7.62x39mm round, designed in 1943 by Sergei Gavrilovich Simonov. SKS-45 is an acronym for Samozaryadnyj Karabin sistemy Simonova, 1945 Simonov system, 1945), or SKS 45. The Sks is a scaled down version of the PTRS-41 anti-tank rifle also...
carbine Dragunov SVD sniper rifle VSS Vintorez
VSS Vintorez
The VSS , also called the Vintorez , is a silent sniper rifle developed in the late 1980s by TsNIITochMash and manufactured by the Tula Arsenal...
sniper rifle Mambi
Mambi AMR
The Mambi is a Semi-automatic anti-material rifle which was designed, and manufactured in Cuba. It was named after the Mambi who where patriotic rebel soldiers who fought against the Kingdom of Spain during the Cuban War of Independence.- Design :...
Anti-material rifle AS Val
AS Val
The AS "Val" is a Soviet designed assault rifle featuring an integrated suppressor....
suppressed assault rifle RPG-7
RPG-7
The RPG-7 is a widely-produced, portable, unguided, shoulder-launched, anti-tank rocket-propelled grenade launcher. Originally the RPG-7 and its predecessor, the RPG-2, were designed by the Soviet Union, and now manufactured by the Bazalt company...
rocket-propelled-grenade launcher SPG-9
SPG-9
The SPG-9 Kopye is a Russian tripod-mounted man-portable, 73 millimetre calibre recoilless gun developed by the Soviet Union. It fires fin-stabilised, rocket-assisted HE and HEAT projectiles similar to those fired by the 73 mm 2A28 Grom low pressure gun of the BMP-1 vehicle...
Recoilless rifle Makarov PM
Makarov PM
The PM is a semi-automatic pistol design. Under the project leadership of Nikolay Fyodorovich Makarov, it became the Soviet Union's standard military side arm from 1951-1991.-Development:...
semi-automatic pistol Stechkin APS
Stechkin APS
The Stechkin APS is a Russian selective fire machine pistol. It bears the name of its developer, Igor Stechkin.-Adoption:The Stechkin pistol was originally chambered for 7.62x25mm Tokarev...
automatic pistol PM-63 RAK
PM-63 Rak
The PM-63 RAK is a Polish 9mm submachine gun, designed by Piotr Wilniewczyc in cooperation with Tadeusz Bednarski, Grzegorz Czubak and Marian Wakalski...
sub-machine gun AGS-17
AGS-17
The AGS-17 Plamya is a Soviet-designed automatic grenade launcher currently in production in the Russian Federation and in service worldwide.-Description:...
automatic grenade launcher RGD-5
RGD-5
The RGD-5 English "Hand Grenade of the Degtyareva design", is a post World War II Soviet anti-personnel fragmentation grenade, designed in the early 1950s...
Grenade
Light tanks PT-76
PT-76
The PT-76 is a Soviet amphibious light tank which was introduced in the early 1950s and soon became the standard reconnaissance tank of the Soviet Army and the other Warsaw Pact armed forces. It was widely exported to other friendly states, like India, Iraq, North Korea and North Vietnam. Overall,...
(50)
Medium Tanks (300) Some were modernized with 122mm artillery pieces. T-34
T-34
The T-34 was a Soviet medium tank produced from 1940 to 1958. Although its armour and armament were surpassed by later tanks of the era, it has been often credited as the most effective, efficient and influential design of World War II...
(300)
Main battle tanks (1,550) T-54/55 (112) modernized active, others used as Self-Propelled Artillery with D-30 mounted; 1,000+ in storage T-62
T-62
The T-62 is a Soviet main battle tank, a further development of the T-55. Its 115 mm gun was the first smoothbore tank gun in use.The T-62 was produced between 1961 and 1975. It became a standard tank in the Soviet arsenal, partly replacing the T-55, although that tank continued to be...
(320) T-62Ms active; T-72
T-72
The T-72 is a Soviet-designed main battle tank that entered production in 1970. It is developed directly from Obyekt-172, and shares parallel features with the T-64A...
(60) T-72M1/M2 (not to be confused with the Soviet export versions.)
Reconnaissance armoured vehicles (100) BRDM-1
BRDM-1
The BRDM-1 was an amphibious armored scout car used by Russia and the former Soviet Union...
BRDM-2
BRDM-2
The BRDM-2 is an amphibious armoured patrol car used by Russia and the former Soviet Union. It was also known under designations BTR-40PB, BTR-40P-2 and GAZ 41-08...
Infantry fighting vehicles (400) BMP-1
BMP-1
The BMP-1 is a Soviet amphibious tracked infantry fighting vehicle. BMP stands for Boyevaya Mashina Pekhoty 1 , meaning "infantry fighting vehicle". The BMP-1 was the world's first mass-produced infantry fighting vehicle...
- 400 BMD-1
BMD-1
The BMD-1 is a Soviet airborne amphibious tracked infantry fighting vehicle, which was introduced in 1969 and first seen by the West in 1970. BMD stands for Boyevaya Mashina Desanta . It can be dropped by parachute and although it resembles the BMP-1 it is in fact much smaller...
Armoured personnel carriers (700) BTR-152
BTR-152
The BTR-152 was a non-amphibious Soviet wheeled armored personnel carrier that entered Soviet service in 1950. By the early 1970s it had been replaced in the infantry vehicle role by the BTR-60...
BTR-40
BTR-40
The BTR-40 is a Soviet non-amphibious, wheeled armoured personnel carrier and reconnaissance vehicle. It is often referred to as the Sorokovka in Soviet service. It is also the first mass-produced Soviet APC...
BTR-50
BTR-50
The BTR-50 The BTR-50 The BTR-50 (BTR stands for Bronetransporter (БТР, Бронетранспортер, literally "armored transporter") is a Soviet amphibious armored personnel carrier (APC) based on the PT-76 light tank. The BTR-50 is tracked, unlike most in the BTR series, which are wheeled. The BTR-50...
BTR-60
BTR-60
The BTR-60 is the first vehicle in a series of Soviet eight-wheeled armoured personnel carriers. It was developed in the late 1950s as a replacement for the BTR-152 and was seen first time in public in 1961...
Various versions of this vehicle. Including one with a T-55 turret instead of the KPV.
Towed artillery (620) ZIS-3
ZiS-3
The 76-mm divisional gun M1942 was a Soviet 76.2 mm divisional field gun used during World War II. ZiS was a factory designation and stood for Zavod imeni Stalina , the honorific title of Artillery Factory No...
D-30 M-46
130 mm towed field gun M1954 (M-46)
The 130 mm towed field gun M-46 M1954 is a manually loaded, towed 130 mm artillery piece, manufactured in the Soviet Union in the 1950s. It was first observed by the west in 1954...
M-30 M1938 122 mm
Self-propelled artillery (100) 2S1 Gvozdika 2S3 Akatsiya
2S3 Akatsiya
SO-152 is a Soviet 152.4 mm self-propelled artillery developed in 1968. It was a response to the American 155 mm M109. The development started in 1967 according to the Resolution of the Council of Ministers of USSR from July 4, 1967. In 1968 the SO-152 was completed and in 1971 entered...
UNKNOWN NAME ( with a D-30 122mm) T-34/85 with a D-30 122mm mounted T-55
T-55
The T-54 and T-55 tanks were a series of main battle tanks designed in the Soviet Union. The first T-54 prototype appeared in March 1945, just before the end of the Second World War. The T-54 entered full production in 1947 and became the main tank for armored units of the Soviet Army, armies of...
with M-46 130mm mounted
Multi rocket launchers (200) BM-14
BM-14
The BM-14 , is a Soviet-made 140mm multiple rocket launcher, fielded by the Soviet Union.The BM-14 can fire rockets fitted with chemical , smoke or high-explosive fragmentation warheads...
BM-21
BM-21
The BM-21 launch vehicle , a Soviet truck-mounted 122 mm multiple rocket launcher, and a M-21OF rocket were developed in the early 1960s. BM stands for boyevaya mashina, ‘combat vehicle’, and the nickname means ‘hail’. The complete system with the BM-21 launch vehicle and the M-21OF rocket...
BM-21PD Locally built version of the BM-21 P-15 Termit
P-15 Termit
The P-15 Termit is an anti-ship missile developed by the Soviet Union's Raduga design bureau in the 1950s. Its GRAU designation was 4K40, its NATO reporting name was Styx or SS-N-2. In Russian service today it also seems to be called the Rubezh...
Mortars (2,000) M-41/43
120-PM-43 mortar
The M-43 is a Russian 120 millimeter calibre mortar. It is based on the M1938 mortar.An improved version called the 2B11 Sani was also produced by Russia.-References:* – Jane's Infantry Weapons...
M-38/43
Anti-tank weapons AT-1 Snapper AT-3 Sagger mounted on the BTR-60s,, and some . 9K111 Fagot D-44
85 mm divisional gun D-44
The 85-mm divisional gun D-44 was a Soviet divisional 85-mm calibre field artillery gun used after World War II. It was designed as the replacement for the 76 mm divisional gun M1942 . The gun is no longer in front-line service with the Russian Ground Forces, although some 200 of the Chinese Type...
SU-100
SU-100
The SU-100 was a Soviet tank destroyer. It was used extensively during the last year of World War II and saw service for many years afterwards with the armies of Soviet allies around the world.- Development :...
T-12
T-12 antitank gun
2A19 or T-12 is a Soviet smoothbore 100-mm anti-tank gun, which served as the main Eastern Bloc towed anti-tank gun from 1955 until the late 1980s.-History:The T-12 entered service in 1955, replacing the BS-3 100 mm field gun...
Anti-aircraft guns (+1000) ZU-23 -400 ZPU-4
ZPU-4
The ZPU-4 is a towed, quadruple-barreled anti-aircraft gun based on the Soviet KPV 14.5 mm machine gun. It entered service with the Soviet Union in 1949 and is used by over 50 countries worldwide...
-200 ZSU-23-4
ZSU-23-4
The ZSU-23-4 "Shilka" is a lightly armored, self-propelled, radar guided anti-aircraft weapon system . ZSU stands for Zenitnaya Samokhodnaya Ustanovka , meaning "anti-aircraft self-propelled mount". The "23" signifies the bore diameter in millimeters. The "4" signifies the number of gun barrels. It...
-36 ZSU-57-2
ZSU-57-2
The ZSU-57-2 is a Soviet self-propelled anti-aircraft gun , armed with two 57 mm autocannons. 'ZSU' stands for Zenitnaya Samokhodnaya Ustanovka , meaning "anti-aircraft self-propelled mount", '57' stands for the bore of the armament in millimetres and '2' stands for the number of gun barrels....
-25 S-60
57 mm AZP S-60
57 mm AZP S-60 ; literally: Automatic anti-aircraft gun S-60) is a Soviet towed, road-transportable, short- to medium-range, single-barrel anti-aircraft gun from the 1950s. The gun was extensively used in Warsaw Pact, Middle Eastern and South-East Asian countries.-History:In the late 1940s, the...
-200 M-1939 -300
Ballistic missiles 9K52 Luna-M - 65 Hwasong-5
Hwasong-5
The Hwasong-5 is a North Korean tactical ballistic missile derived from the Soviet R-17 Elbrus missile. It is one of several missiles with the NATO reporting name Scud....
/ 6
Hwasong-6
The Hwasong-6 is a North Korean tactical ballistic missile. It is derived from the Hwasong-5, itself a derivative of the Soviet R-17 Elbrus. It carries the NATO reporting name Scud....
(330 – 550 km range)
SAMs SA-6 Gainful-12 SA-7 Grail SA-8 Gecko - 16 SA-9 Gaskin - 60 SA-13 Gopher- 42 SA-14 Gremlin
9K34 Strela-3
The 9K34 Strela-3 man-portable air defence missile system was developed in the Soviet Union as a response to the poor performance of the earlier 9K32 Strela 2 system. "9K34" is its GRAU designation and its NATO reporting name is SA-14 Gremlin. The missile was largely based on the earlier Strela...
SA-16 Gimlet S-75 Dvina
S-75 Dvina
The S-75 Dvina is a Soviet-designed, high-altitude, command guided, surface-to-air missile system...
- 144. (Easy to find in Google Earth). S-125 Neva/Pechora - 60
Self-propelled SAM SA-2
S-75 Dvina
The S-75 Dvina is a Soviet-designed, high-altitude, command guided, surface-to-air missile system...
- 25 (On T-55 chassis) S-125 Neva/Pechora (On T-55 chassis) Lots of this missiles were seen in the Cuban Military Parade of 2006.
Special Forces
Special ForcesSpecial forces
Special forces, or special operations forces are terms used to describe elite military tactical teams trained to perform high-risk dangerous missions that conventional units cannot perform...
units include the Black Wasps
Black Wasps
Black Wasps are the Special Forces of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Cuba . They are trained to handle any missions assigned to them by the Cuban government. This force was created in the late 1980s.-Uniform:...
of the army, and Desembarco de Granma a Special marine unit of the Navy. The Ministry of interior also has a special paramilitary unit.
Air and Air Defense Force (DAAFAR)
The Cuban Revolutionary Air and Air Defense Force (Spanish: Defensa Anti-Aérea Y Fuerza Aérea Revolucionaria) commonly abbreviated to DAAFAR in both Spanish and English, is the air forceAir force
An air force, also known in some countries as an air army, is in the broadest sense, the national military organization that primarily conducts aerial warfare. More specifically, it is the branch of a nation's armed services that is responsible for aerial warfare as distinct from an army, navy or...
of Cuba.
Former aircraft include:
MiG-15,
MiG-17,
MiG-19,
North American
North American
North American generally refers to an entity, people, group, or attribute of North America, especially of the United States and Canada together.-Culture:*North American English, a collective term used to describe American English and Canadian English...
B-25 Mitchell
B-25 Mitchell
The North American B-25 Mitchell was an American twin-engined medium bomber manufactured by North American Aviation. It was used by many Allied air forces, in every theater of World War II, as well as many other air forces after the war ended, and saw service across four decades.The B-25 was named...
,
North American
North American
North American generally refers to an entity, people, group, or attribute of North America, especially of the United States and Canada together.-Culture:*North American English, a collective term used to describe American English and Canadian English...
P-51 Mustang
P-51 Mustang
The North American Aviation P-51 Mustang was an American long-range, single-seat fighter and fighter-bomber used during World War II, the Korean War and in several other conflicts...
,
and the Hawker Sea Fury
Hawker Sea Fury
The Hawker Sea Fury was a British fighter aircraft developed for the Royal Navy by Hawker during the Second World War. The last propeller-driven fighter to serve with the Royal Navy, it was also one of the fastest production single piston-engined aircraft ever built.-Origins:The Hawker Fury was an...
In the 1980s, Cuba with the help of the Soviet Union was able to project power abroad, using its air force, especially in Africa. During that time Cuba sent jet fighters and transports to fight in countries such as Angola (against UNITA / South Africa) and Ethiopia (against Somalia)
In 1990, Cuba's Air Force was the best equipped in Latin America. In all, the modern Cuban Air Force imported approximately 230 fixed-wing aircraft. Although there is no exact figure available, Western analysts estimate that at least 130 (with only 25 operational) of these planes are still in service spread out among the thirteen military airbases on the island.
In 1998, according to the same DIA report mentioned above, the air force had 'fewer than 24 operational MIG fighters; pilot training barely adequate to maintain proficiency; a declining number of fighter sorties, surface to air missiles and air-defense artillery to respond to attacking air forces.
By 2007 the International Institute for Strategic Studies
International Institute for Strategic Studies
The International Institute for Strategic Studies is a British research institute in the area of international affairs. It describes itself as "the world’s leading authority on political-military conflict"...
assessed the force as 8,000 strong with 41 combat capable aircraft and a further 188 stored. DAAFAR is known now to have integrated another Mig-29 and a few MiG-23 which makes it 57 combat aircraft in service which are listed as 6 MiG-29s, 40 MiG-23s, and 11 MiG-21s. There were also assessed to be 12 operational transport aircraft plus trainers which include 8 L-39C and helicopters which are mainly Mil Mi-8, Mil Mi-17 and Mil Mi-24 Hind. Raúl Castro has ordered in 2010 that all MiG-29 pilots had to have full training, they now have from 200–250 hours of flight annually together with real Dogfight training and exercises. Up to 20 MiG-23 units also have this kind of training but the other 16 MiG-23 units spend more time in Simulators than real flight. MiG-21 units have limited time in this exercises and spend more time in simulators and maintain their skills flying with the commercial brand of the air force Aerogaviota
Aerogaviota
Aerogaviota is an airline based in Havana, Cuba. It operates domestic passenger charters for the national tourist authority. Its main base is Playa Baracoa Airport, Havana-History:...
.
A look at Google Earth 22*52'28.40" N 82*30'26.04" W at San Antonio de los Banos military air field
San Antonio de los Baños Airfield
San Antonio de los Baños Air Base is a military air base located near San Antonio de los Baños, a municipality in the province of Havana in Cuba. It is located approximately southwest of the city of San Antonio de los Baños, about southwest of Havana.- 1942 :The station was built in 1942 and...
, south west of Havana, will reveal what appear to be 8 MiG-21s, 19 MiG-23s, 2 MiG-29s and an Mi-8 left out to rust in the tropical sun. It looks like the jungle is overtaking some of these aircraft as well.
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Aircraft
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Origin
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Type
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Version
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Total Del'd
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Total Now
|-----
! style="background: #aacccc;" colspan="6"|Combat Aircraft
|-----
|Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 Fishbed
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21
The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 is a supersonic jet fighter aircraft, designed by the Mikoyan-Gurevich Design Bureau in the Soviet Union. It was popularly nicknamed "balalaika", from the aircraft's planform-view resemblance to the Russian stringed musical instrument or ołówek by Polish pilots due to...
|| || fighter
trainer|| MiG-21MF
MiG-21UM || 60
10 || 7
5
|-----
|Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23 Flogger
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23
The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23 is a variable-geometry fighter aircraft, designed by the Mikoyan-Gurevich design bureau in the Soviet Union. It is considered to belong to the Soviet third generation jet fighter category, along with similarly aged Soviet fighters such as the MiG-25 "Foxbat"...
|| || fighter
multirole fighter
trainer || MiG-23MF/MS
MiG-23ML
MiG-23UB || 21
21
5 || 19
21
2
|-----
|Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-29 Fulcrum || || fighter
multirole fighter
trainer || MiG-29B
MiG-29UB || 14
2 || 5
1
|-----
|Mil Mi-8 Hip
Mil Mi-8
The Mil Mi-8 is a medium twin-turbine transport helicopter that can also act as a gunship. The Mi-8 is the world's most-produced helicopter, and is used by over 50 countries. Russia is the largest operator of the Mi-8/Mi-17 helicopter....
|| || transport/attack helicopter || Mi-8T
Mi-8TKV || 20
20 || 6
7
|-----
|Mil Mi-17 Hip-H
Mil Mi-17
The Mil Mi-17 is a Russian helicopter currently in production at two factories in Kazan and Ulan-Ude...
|| ||transport/attack helicopter || Mi-17 || 16 || 8
|-----
|Mil Mi-24 Hind
Mil Mi-24
The Mil Mi-24 is a large helicopter gunship and attack helicopter and low-capacity troop transport with room for 8 passengers. It is produced by Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant and operated since 1972 by the Soviet Air Force, its successors, and by over thirty other nations.In NATO circles the export...
|| || attack || Mi-24D || 20 || 17
|-----
|Antonov An-24 Coke
Antonov An-24
The Antonov An-24 is a 44-seat twin turboprop transport designed and manufactured in the Soviet Union by the Antonov Design Bureau from 1957.-Design and development:...
|| / || cargo || An-24 || 20 || 4
|-----
|Antonov An-26 Curl
Antonov An-26
The Antonov An-26 is a twin-engined turboprop military transport aircraft, designed and produced in the USSR from 12 March 1968.-Development:...
|| || cargo || An-26 || 17 || 3
|-----
|Yakovlev Yak-40 Codling
Yakovlev Yak-40
The Yakovlev Yak-40 is a small, three-engined airliner that is often called the first regional jet transport aircraft...
|| || VIP || Yak-40 || 8 || 3
|-----
|Ilyushin Il-62
Ilyushin Il-62
The Ilyushin Il-62 is a Soviet long-range jet airliner conceived in 1960 by Ilyushin. As successor to the popular turbo-prop Il-18 and with capacity for almost 200 passengers, the Il-62 was the largest jet airliner when it first flew in 1963. It entered Aeroflot service on 15 September 1967 with...
|| || VIP || Il-62 || 1 || 1
|-----
|Ilyushin Il-96
Ilyushin Il-96
The Ilyushin Il-96 is a four-engined long-haul widebody airliner designed by Ilyushin in the Soviet Union and manufactured by the Voronezh Aircraft Production Association in Voronezh, Russia...
|| || VIP || Il-96 || 3 || 3
|-----
|Aero L-39 Albatros
Aero L-39
The Aero L-39 Albatros is a high-performance jet trainer aircraft developed in Czechoslovakia to meet requirements for a "C-39" during the 1960s to replace the L-29 Delfín...
|| || trainer/attack || L-39C || 30 || 8
|-----
|Zlin Z-326
Zlin Trener
|- Specifications :-See also:-References:*Mourik, Dick van. "A to Zlin: An Illustrated History of a Light Aircraft Dynasty". Air Enthusiast, No. 93, May/June 2001. Stamford, UK:Key Publishing. ISSN 0143 5450. pp. 59–65....
|| || trainer || Z-326T || 60 || 20
|-----
Revolutionary Navy (Marina de Guerra Revolucionaria, MGR)
In 1998, according to a CIA report, the navy had no functioning submarines, around 12 surface vessels that were combat ready, a 'weak' anti-surface warfare capability, primarily SS-N-2 Styx SSM equipped fast attack boats, and an 'extremely weak' anti-submarine warfare capability.By 2007 the Navy was assessed as being 3,000 strong (including up to 550+ Navy Infantry) by the IISS
International Institute for Strategic Studies
The International Institute for Strategic Studies is a British research institute in the area of international affairs. It describes itself as "the world’s leading authority on political-military conflict"...
with six Osa-II and one Pauk-class fast attack craft.
Almost all of the ships of the Navy have been decommissioned and the three Koni class frigate
Koni class frigate
Koni class is the NATO reporting name for a anti-submarine warfare frigate built by the Soviet Union. They were known in the Soviet Union as Project 1159. 14 were built in Zelenodolsk shipyard between 1975 and 1988. They were originally intended to replace the older Riga class frigates, but were...
s were either expended as targets or sunk to build reefs. Cuba has constructed rolling platforms with Soviet P-15 Termit
P-15 Termit
The P-15 Termit is an anti-ship missile developed by the Soviet Union's Raduga design bureau in the 1950s. Its GRAU designation was 4K40, its NATO reporting name was Styx or SS-N-2. In Russian service today it also seems to be called the Rubezh...
missile batteries taken from its warships and placed them near beaches where hostile amphibious assaults may occur. Most patrol boats are non-operational due to lack of fuel and spares.
The Navy also includes a small marine battalion called the Desembarco de Granma. It once numbered 550 men though its present size is not known.
There are reports of new naval projects under the Raúl Castro government, including the building of a class of 4 enlarged Sang-O submarines
Sang-O class submarine
The Sang-O class submarines are in use by North Korea, and are the country's largest home-built submarines. A single unit was captured by the Republic of Korea Navy after it ran aground on 18 September 1996 in the 1996 Gangneung submarine infiltration incident...
with the help of North Koreans, with reports that at least one unit having been built. There is also a single picture of a small black native submarine in Havana harbour, it is rumored to be called Delfin and to be armed with two torpedoes.
The Cuban Navy are also rebuilding one, maybe two large ex-Spanish fishing boats. One, the Rio Damuji n° 390, has been seen with guns and Stynx missiles on the deck. These vessels are larger than the Koni class, and it is rumored that they can be used in the amphibious
Amphibious assault ship
An amphibious assault ship is a type of amphibious warfare ship employed to land and support ground forces on enemy territory by an amphibious assault...
role or as frigates.
Air and Naval Air Bases
List of active bases:- CabañasCabañas, CubaCabañas is a town in the Mariel municipality of the Artemisa Province, on the northeast coast in western Cuba. Prior to 1970 was a municipality of Pinar del Río Province. Cabañas bay is a harbor with industrial and fishing facilities, with an important base of the Cuban...
(HQ Western Command) – San Julián Air BaseSan Julián Air BaseSan Julián Air Base or Base Aérea San Julián is a military air base located approximately southwest of the city of Guane a municipality in the province of Pinar del Río in Cuba...
(MUSJ)- 23rd Regiment (Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23 is a variable-geometry fighter aircraft, designed by the Mikoyan-Gurevich design bureau in the Soviet Union. It is considered to belong to the Soviet third generation jet fighter category, along with similarly aged Soviet fighters such as the MiG-25 "Foxbat"...
ML) - Primary Training (Antonov An-2Antonov An-2The Antonov An-2 is a single-engine biplane utility/agricultural aircraft designed in the USSR in 1946...
) - 1650 Combat Training (Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 is a supersonic jet fighter aircraft, designed by the Mikoyan-Gurevich Design Bureau in the Soviet Union. It was popularly nicknamed "balalaika", from the aircraft's planform-view resemblance to the Russian stringed musical instrument or ołówek by Polish pilots due to...
UM) - Combat Training Squadron (Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 is a supersonic jet fighter aircraft, designed by the Mikoyan-Gurevich Design Bureau in the Soviet Union. It was popularly nicknamed "balalaika", from the aircraft's planform-view resemblance to the Russian stringed musical instrument or ołówek by Polish pilots due to...
PFMA and Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 is a supersonic jet fighter aircraft, designed by the Mikoyan-Gurevich Design Bureau in the Soviet Union. It was popularly nicknamed "balalaika", from the aircraft's planform-view resemblance to the Russian stringed musical instrument or ołówek by Polish pilots due to...
MF) - Rwy 01/19 2041 m (6695 ft)
- Rwy 08/26 2584 m (8479 ft)
- 23rd Regiment (Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23
- HolguínHolguínHolguín is a municipality and city, the capital of the Cuban Province of Holguín. It also includes a tourist area, offering beach resorts in the outskirts of the region.-History:...
(HQ Eastern Command) – Frank País AirportFrank Pais AirportFrank País Airport is an international airport that serves the city of Holguín in Cuba. It bears the name of Cuban revolutionary Frank País and is located in the municipio of Frank País.-Airlines and destinations :-Holguín Air Base:...
(MUHG)- 1724 Interceptor Regiment (Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23 is a variable-geometry fighter aircraft, designed by the Mikoyan-Gurevich design bureau in the Soviet Union. It is considered to belong to the Soviet third generation jet fighter category, along with similarly aged Soviet fighters such as the MiG-25 "Foxbat"...
BN bomber) - 3710 Interceptor Squadron and Training
- 34th Tactical Regiment
- 1724 Interceptor Regiment (Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23
- HavanaHavanaHavana is the capital city, province, major port, and leading commercial centre of Cuba. The city proper has a population of 2.1 million inhabitants, and it spans a total of — making it the largest city in the Caribbean region, and the most populous...
– Playa Baracoa AirportPlaya Baracoa AirportPlaya Baracoa Airport is a regional airport west of Havana, Cuba that serves regional flights in Cuba.-Playa Baracoa Air Base:The airport is an inactive Cuban Revolutionary Armed Forces air base and home to Air Defense Command and VIP transport:...
(MUPB)- 3405th Executive Squadron
- 3404 Transport Squadron
- 3688 Transport Regiment
- Havana – José Martí Airport (MUHA)
- 25th Transport Regiment (Ilyushin Il-76Ilyushin Il-76The Ilyushin Il-76 is a multi-purpose four-engined strategic airlifter designed by Ilyushin design bureau. It was first planned as a commercial freighter in 1967. Intended as a replacement for the Antonov An-12, the Il-76 was designed for delivering heavy machinery to remote, poorly-serviced areas...
and Antonov An-32Antonov An-32The Antonov An-32 is a twin-engined turboprop military transport aircraft.-Design and development:The An-32 is basically a re-engined An-26. The launch customer was the Indian Air Force, which ordered this aircraft partly due to good relations between then USSR leader Leonid Brezhnev and then...
) - Rwy 06/24, Size: 4001 m (13125 ft)
- 25th Transport Regiment (Ilyushin Il-76
- La Coloma AirportLa Coloma AirportLa Coloma Airport is an airport serving La Coloma, in the Pinar del Río Province in Cuba.-Facilities:The airport resides at an elevation of above mean sea level. It has one runway designated 07/25 with an asphalt surface measuring ....
(MULM)- 1660 Training Squadron (Aero L-39 AlbatrosC)
Inactive
- MarielMarielMariel may refer to:* Mariel , given name.* Mariel, Cuba, a municipality and city in Cuba.* The Mariel boatlift, a 1980 exodus of Cubans to the United States.* Mariel Hemingway, actress and granddaughter of Ernest Hemingway....
– Mariel Airfield (MUML) – now container terminal- former anti-submarine helicopter squadron (Ka-32 and Mil Mi-14Mil Mi-14|-See also:-External links:******...
PL)
- former anti-submarine helicopter squadron (Ka-32 and Mil Mi-14
- Campo de ColumbiaCiudad Libertad AirportCiudad Libertad Airport is an airport serving Havana, Cuba. It was Cuba's main airport until 1930, when it was replaced by José Martí International Airport.-Facilities:...
– renamed Campo LibertadCiudad Libertad AirportCiudad Libertad Airport is an airport serving Havana, Cuba. It was Cuba's main airport until 1930, when it was replaced by José Martí International Airport.-Facilities:...
in 1961 (MULB)- 26th Transport Regiment (Mil Mi-2Mil Mi-2The Mil Mi-2 is a small, lightly armored transport helicopter that could also provide close air support when armed with 57 mm rockets and a 23 mm cannon.-Design and development:...
and Mil Mi-8Mil Mi-8The Mil Mi-8 is a medium twin-turbine transport helicopter that can also act as a gunship. The Mi-8 is the world's most-produced helicopter, and is used by over 50 countries. Russia is the largest operator of the Mi-8/Mi-17 helicopter....
) - Training Squadron (Aero L-39 AlbatrosC and Z-326T)
- 6775 ft runway
- 26th Transport Regiment (Mil Mi-2
- Campo Teniente Brihuega
- Playa Baracoa – Playa Baracoa Airfield (MUPB)
- 22nd Regiment
- Nicaro AirportNicaro Airport- Facilities :The airport resides at an elevation of above mean sea level. It has one runway which measures in length.-Former Airbase:The airfield was once used by the Cuban Revolutionary Armed Forces, but no military aircraft or buildings exists on the site....
(MUNC)- abandoned airfield (single 4314 ft runway)
- Punta Movida
- Soviet built base
- Cienfuegos Airport (Jaime González Air Station) (MUCF)
- single 2/20 runway (4954 ft)
- 15th Transport Regiment (Antonov An-2Antonov An-2The Antonov An-2 is a single-engine biplane utility/agricultural aircraft designed in the USSR in 1946...
and Antonov An-26Antonov An-26The Antonov An-26 is a twin-engined turboprop military transport aircraft, designed and produced in the USSR from 12 March 1968.-Development:...
) - 16th Helicopter Regiment (Mil Mi-8Mil Mi-8The Mil Mi-8 is a medium twin-turbine transport helicopter that can also act as a gunship. The Mi-8 is the world's most-produced helicopter, and is used by over 50 countries. Russia is the largest operator of the Mi-8/Mi-17 helicopter....
, Mil Mi-14Mil Mi-14|-See also:-External links:******...
, Mil Mi-17Mil Mi-17The Mil Mi-17 is a Russian helicopter currently in production at two factories in Kazan and Ulan-Ude...
)
- GüinesGüinesGüines is a municipality and city in the Mayabeque Province of Cuba. It is located southeast of Havana, next to the Mayabeque River.- History :The city was founded in 1737 by the Spanish...
- 24 Tactical Regiment (Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23 is a variable-geometry fighter aircraft, designed by the Mikoyan-Gurevich design bureau in the Soviet Union. It is considered to belong to the Soviet third generation jet fighter category, along with similarly aged Soviet fighters such as the MiG-25 "Foxbat"...
BN)
- 24 Tactical Regiment (Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23
- Santiago de CubaSantiago de CubaSantiago de Cuba is the second largest city of Cuba and capital city of Santiago de Cuba Province in the south-eastern area of the island, some south-east of the Cuban capital of Havana....
– Antonio Maceo AirportAntonio Maceo AirportAntonio Maceo Airport is an international airport located in Santiago, CubaThe airport has a drawing of Che Guevara on one of its outside walls. Pope John Paul II flew to this airport during his last visit to Cuba, flying round-trip between here and José Martí International Airport in Havana.The...
(MUCU)- 35th Transport Regiment (Antonov An-2Antonov An-2The Antonov An-2 is a single-engine biplane utility/agricultural aircraft designed in the USSR in 1946...
and Antonov An-26Antonov An-26The Antonov An-26 is a twin-engined turboprop military transport aircraft, designed and produced in the USSR from 12 March 1968.-Development:...
) - 36 Helicopter Regiment (Mil Mi-8Mil Mi-8The Mil Mi-8 is a medium twin-turbine transport helicopter that can also act as a gunship. The Mi-8 is the world's most-produced helicopter, and is used by over 50 countries. Russia is the largest operator of the Mi-8/Mi-17 helicopter....
and Mil Mi-24Mil Mi-24The Mil Mi-24 is a large helicopter gunship and attack helicopter and low-capacity troop transport with room for 8 passengers. It is produced by Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant and operated since 1972 by the Soviet Air Force, its successors, and by over thirty other nations.In NATO circles the export...
) - Rwy 09/27 4000 m (13123 ft)
- Rwy 18/36 1296 m (4252 ft)
- 35th Transport Regiment (Antonov An-2
- San Antonio de los Baños Airport (MUSA)
- 21st Regiment (Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 is a supersonic jet fighter aircraft, designed by the Mikoyan-Gurevich Design Bureau in the Soviet Union. It was popularly nicknamed "balalaika", from the aircraft's planform-view resemblance to the Russian stringed musical instrument or ołówek by Polish pilots due to...
B) - 1724 Regiment
- 3 Runways
- Rwy 01/19 2400 m (7873 ft)
- Rwy 05/23 3596 m (11799 ft)
- Rwy 12/30 2482 m (8144 ft)
- 21st Regiment (Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21
- Santa ClaraSanta Clara, CubaSanta Clara is the capital city of the Cuban province of Villa Clara. It is located in the most central region of the province and almost in the most central region of the country.- History :Santa Clara was founded by 175 people on July 15th, 1689...
– Abel Santa María AirportAbel Santa María AirportAbel Santamaría Airport is an international airport serving Santa Clara, the capital city of the Villa Clara Province in Cuba.-Facilities:The airport resides at an elevation of above mean sea level...
(MUSC)- 14th Tactical Regiment (Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23 is a variable-geometry fighter aircraft, designed by the Mikoyan-Gurevich design bureau in the Soviet Union. It is considered to belong to the Soviet third generation jet fighter category, along with similarly aged Soviet fighters such as the MiG-25 "Foxbat"...
BN) bomber - Rwy 08/26 3017 m (9898 ft)
- 14th Tactical Regiment (Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23
- Santa Cruz
- 11 Regiment (Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 is a supersonic jet fighter aircraft, designed by the Mikoyan-Gurevich Design Bureau in the Soviet Union. It was popularly nicknamed "balalaika", from the aircraft's planform-view resemblance to the Russian stringed musical instrument or ołówek by Polish pilots due to...
B)
- 11 Regiment (Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21
- Sancti SpíritusSancti SpíritusSancti Spíritus is a municipality and capital city of the province of Sancti Spíritus in central Cuba. Sancti Spíritus, Latin for "Holy Spirit," is one of the best preserved cities in the Caribbean from the time of the sugar trade.-History:...
– Sancti Spiritus AirportSancti Spíritus AirportSancti Spíritus Airport is an airport serving Sancti Spíritus, the capital city of the Sancti Spíritus Province in Cuba.-Facilities:The airport resides at an elevation of above mean sea level...
(MUSS)- 12th Regiment (Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 is a supersonic jet fighter aircraft, designed by the Mikoyan-Gurevich Design Bureau in the Soviet Union. It was popularly nicknamed "balalaika", from the aircraft's planform-view resemblance to the Russian stringed musical instrument or ołówek by Polish pilots due to...
MF) - Rwy 03/21 1801 m (5908 ft)
- 12th Regiment (Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21
- CamagüeyCamagüeyCamagüey is a city and municipality in central Cuba and is the nation's third largest city. It is the capital of the Camagüey Province.After almost continuous attacks from pirates the original city was moved inland in 1528.The new city was built with a confusing lay-out of winding alleys that made...
– Ignacio Agramonte Airport (MUCM)- 31st Regiment - Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 is a supersonic jet fighter aircraft, designed by the Mikoyan-Gurevich Design Bureau in the Soviet Union. It was popularly nicknamed "balalaika", from the aircraft's planform-view resemblance to the Russian stringed musical instrument or ołówek by Polish pilots due to...
MF fighters - Rwy 07/25 3000 m (9842 ft)
- 31st Regiment - Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21
Future
- 1 to 4 improved Sang-O classSang-O class submarineThe Sang-O class submarines are in use by North Korea, and are the country's largest home-built submarines. A single unit was captured by the Republic of Korea Navy after it ran aground on 18 September 1996 in the 1996 Gangneung submarine infiltration incident...
, North Korean-Cuban submarine - 1 to 6 Delfin class, Cuban submarine
Current
- 2 Rio Damuji class Frigates, 1 x 57mm gun, 2 Styx surface to surface missiles, 1 x 12.7mm machine gun, 2 x 25mm machine guns.
- 1 Pauk II Fast Patrol CraftPauk class corvetteThe Pauk class is the NATO reporting name for a class of small patrol corvettes built for the Soviet Navy and export customers between 1977 and 1989. The Russian designation is Project 1241.2 Molniya-2. These ships are designed for coastal patrol and inshore anti-submarine warfare...
, Coastal with 1 x 76 mm gun, 4 Anti-Submarine Torpedo Tube, 2 Anti-Submarine Weapon Rocket Launcher - 495 tons full load - commissioned 1990 - 6 Former Soviet Union (FSU) Osa II PFM missile boatsOsa class missile boatThe Project 205 Tsunami, more commonly known by their NATO reporting name Osa, are a class of missile boats developed for the Soviet Navy in the early 1960s. The Osas are probably the most numerous class of missile boats ever built, with over 400 vessels constructed for both the Soviet Navy and for...
; 13 Type II transferred - 3 ex-Soviet Union (FSU) Sonya Mine Sweeper CoastalSonya class minesweeperThe Sonya class were a group of minesweepers built for the Soviet Navy and Soviet allies between 1971 and 1991. The Soviet designation is Project 1265 Yakhont.-Design:...
; 4 transferred - 5 Former Soviet Union (FSU) Yevgenya Mine Sweeper InshoreYevgenya class minesweeperThe Yevgenia class are a group of minesweepers built for the Soviet Navy and export customers between 1967 and 1980. The Soviet designation was Project 1258 Korund.-Design:These were small minehunters built for inshore work...
; 11 transferred - 1 Intelligence Collection Vessel
- 2 amphibious assault battalion
- 122 mm artillery M-1931/3 artillery 130 mm: M-46130 mm towed field gun M1954 (M-46)The 130 mm towed field gun M-46 M1954 is a manually loaded, towed 130 mm artillery piece, manufactured in the Soviet Union in the 1950s. It was first observed by the west in 1954...
artillery 152 mm: M-1937 artillery - 10 SSC-3 surface to surface missile systems, 12 more are movil (reported)
The border guards have: 2 Stenka patrol boats and 30/48 Zhuk patrol craft. Cuba makes Zhuk patrol crafts and some are seen with an SPG-9 mounted on front of the twin 30mm guns.
Historic
- 1 Soviet Foxtrot class submarineFoxtrot class submarineThe Foxtrot class was the NATO reporting name of a class of diesel-electric patrol submarines that were built in the Soviet Union. The Soviet designation of this class was Project 641....
with 533 mm and 406 mm Torpedo Tube (non-operational); 3 transferred - 2 Soviet KoniKoni class frigateKoni class is the NATO reporting name for a anti-submarine warfare frigate built by the Soviet Union. They were known in the Soviet Union as Project 1159. 14 were built in Zelenodolsk shipyard between 1975 and 1988. They were originally intended to replace the older Riga class frigates, but were...
corvettes with 2 Anti-Submarine Weapon Rocket Launcher (non-operational); 3 transferred - 4 Soviet Osa I/IIOsa class missile boatThe Project 205 Tsunami, more commonly known by their NATO reporting name Osa, are a class of missile boats developed for the Soviet Navy in the early 1960s. The Osas are probably the most numerous class of missile boats ever built, with over 400 vessels constructed for both the Soviet Navy and for...
missile boats with 4 SS-N-2 Styx Surface-to-Surface Missile+ - 1 Soviet Pauk IIPauk class corvetteThe Pauk class is the NATO reporting name for a class of small patrol corvettes built for the Soviet Navy and export customers between 1977 and 1989. The Russian designation is Project 1241.2 Molniya-2. These ships are designed for coastal patrol and inshore anti-submarine warfare...
Fast Patrol Craft, Coastal with 2 Anti-Submarine Weapon Rocket Launcher, 4 Anti-Submarine Torpedo Tube - 1 Soviet Polnocny LSMPolnocny class landing shipThe Polnocny -class ships are amphibious warfare vessels. They were designed in Poland, in cooperation with the Soviet Navy and were built in Poland between 1967 and 2002. They now serve in several different navies, and some have been converted to civilian use...
(medium landing ship), capacity 180 tps, 6tk (non-operational)
Further reading
- Piero Gleijeses: Kuba in Afrika 1975–1991. In: Bernd Greiner /Christian Th. Müller / Dierk Walter (Hrsg.): Heiße Kriege im Kalten Krieg. Hamburg, 2006, ISBN 3-936096-61-9, S. 469-510. (Review by H. Hoff, Review by I. Küpeli)