Defense
Defense
Satellite Reconnaissance Report
Target: Angola
DIA Report, December 10, 2009
The following report was compiled using IMINT data from both a KH12 and a Lacrosse SAR satelite during the period from Dec. 2 to Dec. 8. Both of these satellites had a daily TOT of about 1800 hours. While the Lacrosse satellite had a good view of the entire country, the KH12 was not able to observe the eastern portion of the country due to its flightpath (Orbit 1). This satellite was the best available for the job, however, given that the other KH12 and 8X would have overflown the target at about 0300 hours on the same flightpath and the KH13 was specifically tasked to observe Cuba and Honduras. In fact, there are no EO-IR satellites currently in the optimum flightpath for covering Angola (Orbit 2). (Permission to shift a satellite to a new orbit can must be granted by the Air Force Chief of Staff). A SIGINT satellite was also tasked to this mission as well, which was helpful in making up the shortfall in data from the eastern regions.
IMINT and SIGINT analysis of the last 10 days revealed the following:
Angolan forces in the central regions have pushed eastward toward UNITA positions, pushing some of their forces back deeper into the desert while completely destroying others. UNITA insurgents in western Moxico province in central Angola were overwhelmed by a mechanized infantry regiment which struck from the north, forcing the band of rebels to scatter and regroup east of the Rio Cuando. CAS from MiG-21s secured Angola's victory.
Meanwhile, a combined force of Angolan troops consisting of a truck-deployed infantry regiment and a mechanized infantry regiment, supported by a squadron of MiG-21s, attacked and destroyed an entire UNITA stronghold in the town of Cuito Cuanavale. Exploiting this success, these combined Angolan ground forces pushed on into the hinterland along a narrow, unpaved road to the village of Mavinga. Supplies were observed being moved up to this location, indicating another attack being mounted -- probably targeting the UNITA stronghold in Chiume about 60 kms. to the northwest.
Meanwhile, in the far western region, two Angolan mechanized infantry regiments trapped and crushed a large group of UNITA rebels in the town of Lucusse. This town was a major supply area for UNITA forces in this region. Stockpiles of supplies were captured by government troops, though we were not able to see what type of supplies without any quality optical imagery of the supply depot available.
While the regiments involved in these attacks are certainly a sizeable force, there were also a large number of truck-deployed infantry regiments that remained behind to the west and the north. We believe that this is a deliberate, cautionary deployment on the part of General Yuhu designed to secure Angola's own supply lines in the event of hostilities with British forces in the northern portion of the country. Currently, these garrisons are strong enough that the British peacekeeping forces would not be able to attack them successfully without reinforcements or a significant amount of air support.
As if anticipating the air-support contingency, Angola's air force increased its frequency of patrols along the coast as well as its CAS for its forward-deployed troops. Angolan fighters were also seen patrolling rivers and mountain passes that are often used by UNITA forces to move troops and equipment.
Radar imagery detected a large gathering of UNITA forces in Chiume, whose buildings and riverbank defenses along the Rio Cuando could be difficult to crack if the UNITA rebels are supplied with enough ammunition and some SAMs and anti-tank weapons. This force represents the last UNITA stronghold inside Angolan borders, and the last hope for the cause of freedom and democracy. Reinforcements could be sent from their base location at Bagani in Namibia, but this force has problems of its own, as Angolan forces in Rundu (which was captured by Angola in November) in northern Namibia appear to be preparing for an attack on Bagani from the east.
SIGINT analysis has determined that Angola's main army headquarters is located in Lubango, specifically in a hotel not far from the center of the city. SIGINT analysts have detected a high concentration of long- and medium-range SAM tracking and targeting radars in most of the larger cities, particularly in Luanda, Benguela and Lubango. It appears there are clusters of nearly every type of SAM in Angola's inventory at these three locations.
KH12 IMINT shows that the cities -- Lubango in particular -- are heavily guarded with Angolan forces and air defenses, including manpack SAMs and mobile ZSU AAA units which have been set up on the rooftops for clear fields of fire.
IMINT analysis in northern Namibia shows that the Angola forces have not reinforced but they have greatly builty up their fortifications. Virtually all mechanized infantry regiments have their APCs set up in hull-down positions and in many cases are deeply entrenched, oriented to the south. The infantry has dismounted and are protected at the very least by foxholes while others are in deeply dug-out bunkers, fortified witih cinder blocks, sandbags or mounds of earth dug up by bulldozers. The line of fortifications runs along the southern and eastern side of the roads leading from Opuwo to Ruacana to Oshakati to Ondangwa. A heavy concentration of armor is dug in and entrenched east of Ondangwa, oriented south and southeast. From the looks of these photos it appears General Yuhu is more concerned with holding the ground he has taken than advancing or destroying any more Namibian forces. (Had he wished to do so he could have wiped out Namibia's remaining defenses rather easily, especially if he included air strikes.) As mentioned earlier, Lacrosse IMINT has detected two mech infantry regiments further to the east in the town of Rundu, which are entrenched, but supply trucks have been observed en route to this town, suggesting that these forces are preparing to attack the UNITA stronghold in Bagani. A tank regiment is currently entrenched between Rundu and the western forces near Ondangwa, possibly serving as a reserve force.
Close inspection of the land just south of Angola's line of defense show several hundred small mounds of earth, no bigger than a foot or two square, which appear to have been recently dug up. Another similar discovery was an occasional series of much larger mounds of earth -- most of which were oblong shaped and anywhere from 20 to 100 feet long -- which were spotted near a number of villages throughout the interior regions of Angola. Unfortunately, further inspection of these mounds was impossible due to the less than optimal flightpath of our KH12. To obtain more detailed IMIINT data of these mounds one of our optical satellites will have to be shifted to a different orbit.
Interestingly, IMINT data seemed to show surprisingly fewer villagers and refugees in the interior regions of Angola than we had expected, given the months of bloodshed that has taken place in these areas. It is possible that many of them fled east where UNITA forces are stronger and where our KH12 does not cover. (Our Lacrosse analysts were too overworked to to have examined this issue as well.)
-------------------------------------------------
DIA Report, December 1, 2009
Satellite analysis of Angolan ports reveals a significant increase in merchant shipping, mostly in the form of small, ocean-going tramp steamers. Most of these ships have been reported to CINCLANT, who in turn has ordered the CVBG George Washington to provide a closer inspection using ES-3 aircraft and SH-60 helos and see if they can provide any more information.
Airfields continue to maintain the same level of air operations and SIGINT traffic as before, with frequent daily sorties and combat missions over Namibia. Few of the combat missions actually result in strikes, however, since most of Namibia's military has pulled out of the contested region, leaving few targets for Angola to strike. A pair of E-111s continue to rotate patrols in order to sustain 18-20 hours of maritime surveillance over the coastal area near the Namibian border. Each E-111 is guarded by a pair of MiG-21s.
Several firefights were observed this week throughout Angola, as Angolan forces attempted to clean up its rear areas (evidentally before UN Peacekeeping forces begom to take over such activity). Apparently the Angolan army ganged up its superior forces and devastated at least two UNITA strongholds, each defended by at least a full battalion.
A total of 4 motorized rifle regiments and 3 tank regiments are currenlty occupying the northern 100-mile tract of land in Namibia, with one motorized rifle regiment in reserve in Angola near the Namibian border. This represents an increase of 2 to 3 regiments that have occupying Namibia.
The motorized rifle regiment in Ruacana is guarding the western FARP. The area is protected by at least one battery of SA-6 SAMs. This is a rocky, somewhat mountainous region near the foothills of the very rugged and mountainous terrain along the west African coast. The terrain is extremely arrid and barren, with little vegetation but with good cover provided by the rocky crags in the mountain areas.
Most of Angola's forces are digging in around Ondangwa, which consists of two tank regiments and a motorized rifle regiment. This force is protected by at least 2 batteries of SA-6 and 1 battery of SA-9. This region is completely arrid and parched and represents the northern rim of the great Kalahari Desert in nearby Botswana.
During the last 10 days, Angolan forces have further fortified their positions in northern Namibia with extra sandbags, mines, barbed wire, tank traps and entrenchments throughout the provinces of Kaokoland and Owambo. FARPs have been set up in these provinces, too, just south of the Angolan border.
SIGINT analysis suggests that General Yuhu is no longer operating out of the Presidential Palace in Luanda, but further south nearer to the fighting. The two most likely locations are either Benguela, which is the second largest city and has the second largest airfield and AD facilities, and Lubango, which is the source of the highest level of SIGINT and is closer to the fighting in Namibia.
DIA Report, October 20
Reference: Angola situation map, October 20. This map is also accessible as a detail of the South African situation map, in the Map area.
A satellite reconnaissance mission was conducted during the week of October 10, per request of the J3-6 team. Satelites tasked for the mission were not optimally timed, as the best choices seemed to be limited to a KH12 EO-IR satellite, overflying Angola at 1800 hours, and a Lacrosse SAR satellite, overflying Angola at 0630. (If a detailed description of day to day operations of Angolan forces are required, we recommend that the J3 authorize a shift of one of these or other satellites for better times of observation.)
Notes:
Little movement was seen in any of the photos, which was to be expected given the times that photos and radar images were taken. The result was that analysts were looking at a series of snapshots where all the action happened in between, thus forcing the observer to make conjectures about the fighting and tactics that may have been used. With no SIGINT asset tasked to the region, communcations levels, radar and ADA types, HQ locations and the exact breakdown of force structures was difficult to discern.
Analysis for week ending October 20:
Somewhere between 4-6 Angolan motorized rifle regiments and between 2-4 armored regiments have crossed into neighboring Namibia, presumably to ferret out and destroy UNITA supply bases. Another regiment of foot soldiers has been observed in the mountain areas around Opuwo, where most of Namibia's diamond mines are. This is about the same size ground force that was reported invading Namibia earlier in the month, and it appears that these forces have not advanced south any more than the 50 miles or so that they advanced a few weeks back. However, it appears there has been a great deal of shifting of assets through Angola's interior in support of these troops -- such as heavy artillery (at least three battalions), SAMs, and one combat helicopter battalion. Most of the infantry is dismounted and over time have been becoming harder to detect as they have become more adept at using camouflage. Two FARPs have also been brought forward to positions just south of the Namibian border. A number of trucks have been making supply runs between the FARPs and the forward troop positions, while another series of trucks have been making runs back and forth between Lubango and the FARPs.
Burning vehicles and bodies were sighted in the towns of Oshakati on the road to Ondangwa, most of whom were Namibian troops who were apparently attacked by overwhelming Angolan forces. More destruction was seen on October 11 in Ondangwa itself, with many buildings demolished and fires raging all around the town. By the evening of October 12 only Angolan motorized infantry forces were seen occupying the town, with the nearest Namibian forces seen retreating to the southeast. The Angolan forces did not pursue. Rather a regiment was sent north to trap an enclave of UNITA freedom fighters in the town of Ondiva, who for several days had managed to stave off an attack from two motorized rifile regiments. The attack from the rear broke the back of the resistance, however, and from the photos seen toward the end of the week there seemed to be few -- if any -- survivors from that engagement.
While this was happening, a tank regiment had advanced westward following a series of air-to-ground attacks from MiG-23s on a UNITA battalion located near Caiundo just east of the Rio Cubango River. Last reports indicated that the tank regiment took the town easily. The town controls a vital bridge used by UNITA for moving supplies from its supply base in Namibia. This leaves only a narrow river trail as the sole supply route capable of being traversed by poor quality utility vehicles (which is what UNITA has been using).
IR readings indicated a high level of activity at Lubango airfield, even in the nighttime hours. We believe this indicates there was a high daytime sortie rate (even though no flights were observed at the time of our overflight), which would explain some of the devastation of UNITA defenses in Oshakati and Ondangwa.
Angolan foot infantry has increased in the region of the diamond mines. In addition, a nightly truck run was observed between the the mining town of Opuwo and the city of Lubango.
The anti-UNITA offensive seems to be a widespread operation, with a number of other advancing columns of Angolan forces (mostly motorized rifile regiments) pushing east. The matchup in these other regions was not anywhere near as overwhelming as in the south, however, and in fact most of the fighting did not result in any advancement whatsoever.
By the end of the week UNITA still held onto key road junctions at Menongue, Chiume and Lucusse. These positions allow supplies to still be conducted to the UNITA forces, but given the small size and poor condition of these roads and paths, supplies will no doubt be arriving at just a trickle.
TG 2.1 meanwhile has reported numberous sorties of MiG-21s and MiG-23s from Luanda, mostly heading off in a south or southeasterly direction.
An EMB-111 continues to patrol the coastline, no doubt keeping
an eye on TG 2.1 off the coast of Angola just southwest of Luanda.
This aircraft is genereally escorted by 2 MiG-21s.
Previous reports
Date: August 20, 2009
This is a comprehensive report of all sightings of Angolan forces during a six-day mission from August 12 to August 17, using our KH13 (which normally targets principle buildings and installations in Moscow) targeted over Luanda. Its flightpath gave us a remarkably clear view of the coastal region and inland up to a distance of 400 miles. To take over the remaining interior area, a Lacrosse satellite (Lacrosse-9) was tasked on a separate orbit (Orbit 2), giving us good overall coverage of the eastern half of the country. No SIGINT satellite was available for this mission. (If a SIGINT satellite is required for this area, it will have to be moved from another orbit). Daily overflight time for the KH13 was approximately 1000 hours each day, while the overflight time for the Lacrosse was roughly 1400.
Analysis
We had expected to find the greatest concentration of forces near the capitol of Luanda, whose air base was the source of a great deal of fighter activity lately (many of whom actively harrassed our own naval aircraft, as most of you know). While it is true that this area was quite active in terms of air cover, Angolan ground forces seemed more concentrated in the southern portion of the country. Without a SIGINT satellite to detect communications emissions, radar and SAM installations could not be detected.
Needless to say, the UNITA freedom fighters are at a distinct disadvantage when going toe-to-toe against Russian-supported Angolan forces. However, we have confirmation through British Intellience that UNITA is indeed being supported by South Africa, who in turn is relying on Namibia to provide supply bases and logistics routes for the rebels. A careful study of KH13 photos shows periodic buildups of supplies in various UNITA strongholds, indicating they are most likely getting them shipped to them from their supply bases in Namibia by truck during the night. This would make sense, given that the Angolan pilots have not displayed a nighttime air-to-ground capability. That is, not until recently. On August 19, photos were taken of a destroyed convoy of burning trucks not far from the Namibian border, all headed northbound, along roads leading to UNITA strongholds inside Angola. Close inspection of some of the wreckage indicates that the trucks were carrying mortars, grenade launchers and other heavy support weapons. We had thought the destruction was caused by mines until one of our analysts spotted what looked to be an unexploded missile nearby. Upon enhancing the KH13 image (which is accurate to within a few centimeters) sure enough, we were able to identify the ordnance as an unexploded S-5K 57mm rocket, clearly the weapon of an air attack. Unless this convoy was travelling during daytime, which would have been unusual, it appears the Angolan air force may have attained the rather impressive ability to interdict ground targets at night, something that even air forces in more modern countries are not often able to do.
Angola appears to have invested quite heavily in its air force, in fact. Given the number of MiG-21 fighter squadrons observed this week alone, we estimate their numbers are well over 100, perhaps even two or three hundred -- far more than the handful of squadrons noted in the most recent Order of Battle survey. (Recruitment posters for fighter pilot training are seen in all major cities in Angola, a clear sign that there is a suplus of planes in comparison to trained personnel.) The Angolan Air Force appears to be going through significant aircraft upgrades, too. In fact, 6 MiG-25 Foxbat E aircraft were seen on the ground at Luanda, which is known as an interceptor aircraft whose speed outmatches most of our own aircraft. One theory is that they were acquired from Russia to defend against a possible air strike from South Africa should the war against UNITA escalate beyond an internal conflict. Another, of course, is to help defend against US air strikes into Angola should our two countries enter a state of war.
According to SIGINT traffic, the Angolan air force appears to be headquartered at Lubango, in the South, not at Luanda as we expected, which appears to base almost half of Angola's MiG-21s. Luanda was the second-most active air base (located alongside the civil runways) and had a mix of aircraft of various types, including MiG-23s, Su22s and Su-25s as well as some maritime patrol aircraft and a handful of EMB-110P2 transports.
A third, smaller base was detected halfway in between the other two at Benguela, which apparently was a base for more MiG-21s as well as a large number of attack and transport helicopters supporting Angolan troops in the interior.
Angolan air operations were highly active this last week, with as many as a hunded sorties a week and a CAP of two to four aircraft overhead at all three air bases with often as many as 10 or 12 aircraft aloft simultaneously. Some squadrons were deployed to areas along the interior front with UNITA forces but some appear to have been for training purposes only, with a wide range of combat skills. We are not sure if these exercises were conducted as posturing, or if there is some other reason for the high level of activity.
Among the many sorties this week was a continuous daytime patrol of an EMB-111A aircraft loitering about 50 miles west of Luanda, along with an escort of two MiG-21s. We believe this is aircraft is being used to scout for the approach of our carrier or its air wing, which is operating a good 100 miles or more off the coast, well away from any land-based SAMs.
Naval forces have been, and still are, close to minimal for a country the size of Angola, with only a handful of fast attack craft to patrol its shoreline. Most of these are deployed near the Namibian border, evidently to guard against munitions and other contraband meant for UNITA forces.
Ground force deployments are far more alarming and more massive than expected, with as many as 8 regiments -- or 24 battalions -- fielded, half of which are located in the southern region, near the Namibian border. (An Angolan "battalion" is somewhat smaller than its US counterpart, being more comparable to a Russian battalion and with almost no added anti-tank attachments.) Forward area supply points (FARPs) have been detected in the southwest sector.
With no SIGINT satellites tasked to this mission, we were unable to detect the location of any of Angola's headquarters, or determine the level of activity of such installations (a clue that indicates whether a major operation is under way).
Another sighting of notw: several high-ranking Cuban officers have been seen meeting with General Yuhu during the past week in addition to the Russian officers sighted earlier. A digital enhancement revealed one of them to be General Filipo Marquez, Cuba's top Army general under Fidelito Castro himself. No Russian officers were seen this week.
END REPORT.
