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Osprey Air Campaign #35
Afghanistan 1979–88: Soviet air power against the mujahideen
The first English-language book to examine the crucial part air power played in the Soviet-Afghan War.
The Soviet Union's invasion of Afghanistan was fought as much in the air as on the ground. From the high-level bombing raids that blasted rebel-held mountain valleys, to the Mi-24 helicopter gunships and Su-25 jets that accompanied every substantial army operation, Soviet control of the air was a crucial battlefield asset. Vital to every aspect of its operations, Mi-8 helicopters ferried supplies to remote mountain-top observation points and took the bodies of fallen soldiers on their last journey home in An12 'Black Tulips'.
But this was not a wholly one-sided conflict. Even before the Afghan rebels began to acquire man-portable surface-to-air missiles such as the controversial US 'Stinger,' they aggressively and imaginatively adapted. They learnt new techniques of camouflage and deception, set up ambushes against low-level attacks, and even launched daring raids on airbases to destroy aircraft on the ground.
Featuring information previously unknown in the West, such as the Soviets' combat-testing of Yak-38 'Forger' naval jump jets, Soviet-expert Mark Galeotti examines the rebel, Kabul government and the Soviet operation in Afghanistan, drawing deeply on Western and Russian sources, and including after-action analyses from the Soviet military. Using maps, battlescenes and detailed 'Bird's Eye Views', he paints a comprehensive picture of the air war and describes how, arguably, it was Soviet air power that made the difference between defeat for Moscow and the subsequent stalemate that they decided to disengage from.
The Soviet Union's invasion of Afghanistan was fought as much in the air as on the ground. From the high-level bombing raids that blasted rebel-held mountain valleys, to the Mi-24 helicopter gunships and Su-25 jets that accompanied every substantial army operation, Soviet control of the air was a crucial battlefield asset. Vital to every aspect of its operations, Mi-8 helicopters ferried supplies to remote mountain-top observation points and took the bodies of fallen soldiers on their last journey home in An12 'Black Tulips'.
But this was not a wholly one-sided conflict. Even before the Afghan rebels began to acquire man-portable surface-to-air missiles such as the controversial US 'Stinger,' they aggressively and imaginatively adapted. They learnt new techniques of camouflage and deception, set up ambushes against low-level attacks, and even launched daring raids on airbases to destroy aircraft on the ground.
Featuring information previously unknown in the West, such as the Soviets' combat-testing of Yak-38 'Forger' naval jump jets, Soviet-expert Mark Galeotti examines the rebel, Kabul government and the Soviet operation in Afghanistan, drawing deeply on Western and Russian sources, and including after-action analyses from the Soviet military. Using maps, battlescenes and detailed 'Bird's Eye Views', he paints a comprehensive picture of the air war and describes how, arguably, it was Soviet air power that made the difference between defeat for Moscow and the subsequent stalemate that they decided to disengage from.
96 pages, Paperback
First published February 14, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
November 19, 2024
fantastic book. hope osprey publishes more
The Soviet-Afghan War was a significant event in the 20th century and a pivotal moment in the Cold War. This conflict resulted in substantial loss of life, with air power playing a crucial role. I found the information about Soviet air power particularly fascinating, especially the details regarding Stinger missiles. Exploring Soviet air capabilities during the war was highly enlightening. It’s a valuable addition to Osprey Publishing.
The Soviet-Afghan War was a significant event in the 20th century and a pivotal moment in the Cold War. This conflict resulted in substantial loss of life, with air power playing a crucial role. I found the information about Soviet air power particularly fascinating, especially the details regarding Stinger missiles. Exploring Soviet air capabilities during the war was highly enlightening. It’s a valuable addition to Osprey Publishing.
August 14, 2023
While the author should be commended for trying to shed some light on this little known and often misunderstood war book suffers from the fact that it tries to cover a lot in a short book. War lasted 9 years and that by itself means there is a lot of ground to cover. In addition both sides changed their weapons, tactics and doctrine so there's more. Nature of fighting itself changed so more to cover.
In the end author paints the war in very broad strokes and barely touches each topic he wants to cover. Changing Soviet doctrine and increased reliance on helicopters, evolution of CAS doctrine and weapons, use of heavy bombers, different uses of helicopters, issues with terrain, climate and weapons.... Mujahedeen are covered even more broadly. Interesting topic but to cover everything in something approaching good analysis would require 2 if not more such volumes.
Too bad.
In the end author paints the war in very broad strokes and barely touches each topic he wants to cover. Changing Soviet doctrine and increased reliance on helicopters, evolution of CAS doctrine and weapons, use of heavy bombers, different uses of helicopters, issues with terrain, climate and weapons.... Mujahedeen are covered even more broadly. Interesting topic but to cover everything in something approaching good analysis would require 2 if not more such volumes.
Too bad.
April 1, 2024
This was very interesting book covering air warfare during the Afghanistan war 1979-1988.
It covers some main points on Soviet Air Force involvement, aircraft and helicopter types utilized, attack tactics used (from all aspects, fighter-bombers, assault, gunship helicopters, intelligence and logistics) and challenges faced (mostly form Pakistani Air Force but also from Iran side (which was revealing to me at least). Very interesting are comments on the effectiveness of MANPADs used by Aghani tribes and how propaganda is something that is always present in every conflict.
While actual use of combat flying machines was done by Soviets, Mujahideen troops also developed their own tactics (helped also by myriad of western backed military consultants and fighters) to deal with the assault craft, at least those flying at the very low level. Not so much is said here - air defense of dispersed clan forces is not something that would occupy many pages unlike ground war , because it comes to use of high speed automatic guns and shoulder launched missiles so beside listing of weapons used only option is to list every possible air ambush executed (which would be a phone book size set of data) - but what is covered describes the challenges and approaches used in a clear and understandable way.
As one of the reviewers said, lots of things are put into this book and due to the available book length (below hundred pages) not that many details are made available that could be of interest to aficionados of air warfare. But again Osprey was never in the field of providing full information (like Harpia or Helion publishers for example) but more of a short digest view of the battlefield with as much details as 60-100 pages allow for, weapons used and people involved.
With that in mind book is very good, 4 stars. Would it be great to have more details, of course but it is as it is.
Two things stand out here to me:
- Author's comment that Afghanistan war was never analyzed by Soviet/Russian army - this was a little bit awkward because books involving Lester Grau as an editor were actually compilations of writings from Soviet army on the war, lessons learned and applied. Author's statement is more weird considering these books are referenced in the bibliography section.
- It is obvious that author can write a very good military analysis, only problem is that he can do it with things from the past (as in lets-honor-our-enemies-now-they-are-dead approach). As soon as author enters the arena of contemporary Russian military, all objectivity goes out of the window, and pretty rude and insulting comments start to appear. Hopefully this will change at some point, especially since author is one of the very few English speaking sources on the subject, which just makes author's approach more strange and disappointing.
If you are looking for a detailed albeit brief overview of air war during Soviet intervention in Afghanistan, this book is highly recommended.
It covers some main points on Soviet Air Force involvement, aircraft and helicopter types utilized, attack tactics used (from all aspects, fighter-bombers, assault, gunship helicopters, intelligence and logistics) and challenges faced (mostly form Pakistani Air Force but also from Iran side (which was revealing to me at least). Very interesting are comments on the effectiveness of MANPADs used by Aghani tribes and how propaganda is something that is always present in every conflict.
While actual use of combat flying machines was done by Soviets, Mujahideen troops also developed their own tactics (helped also by myriad of western backed military consultants and fighters) to deal with the assault craft, at least those flying at the very low level. Not so much is said here - air defense of dispersed clan forces is not something that would occupy many pages unlike ground war , because it comes to use of high speed automatic guns and shoulder launched missiles so beside listing of weapons used only option is to list every possible air ambush executed (which would be a phone book size set of data) - but what is covered describes the challenges and approaches used in a clear and understandable way.
As one of the reviewers said, lots of things are put into this book and due to the available book length (below hundred pages) not that many details are made available that could be of interest to aficionados of air warfare. But again Osprey was never in the field of providing full information (like Harpia or Helion publishers for example) but more of a short digest view of the battlefield with as much details as 60-100 pages allow for, weapons used and people involved.
With that in mind book is very good, 4 stars. Would it be great to have more details, of course but it is as it is.
Two things stand out here to me:
- Author's comment that Afghanistan war was never analyzed by Soviet/Russian army - this was a little bit awkward because books involving Lester Grau as an editor were actually compilations of writings from Soviet army on the war, lessons learned and applied. Author's statement is more weird considering these books are referenced in the bibliography section.
- It is obvious that author can write a very good military analysis, only problem is that he can do it with things from the past (as in lets-honor-our-enemies-now-they-are-dead approach). As soon as author enters the arena of contemporary Russian military, all objectivity goes out of the window, and pretty rude and insulting comments start to appear. Hopefully this will change at some point, especially since author is one of the very few English speaking sources on the subject, which just makes author's approach more strange and disappointing.
If you are looking for a detailed albeit brief overview of air war during Soviet intervention in Afghanistan, this book is highly recommended.
November 25, 2025
A good book, well written; it has to cover a lot in a small space, so not too many accounts of individual actions, but covers the campaign well. Recommended.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews