| 99th Missile Brigade | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1955-1992 |
| Countries | Afghanistan |
| Branch | Afghan Air Force and Air Defense |
| Type | Tactical ballistic missile Air defense |
| Garrison/HQ | Kabul,Afghanistan35°21′N69°35′E / 35.350°N 69.583°E /35.350; 69.583 |
| Equipment | Scud missiles |
| Engagements | Soviet-Afghan War |
The99th Missile Brigade (Russian: 99-я ракетная бригада) was aballistic missile brigade of theAfghan Air Force and Air Defense, formed in 1955–56 by Prime MinisterMohammad Daoud Khan and disbanding in 1992, following theAfghan Civil War.[1][2][failed verification]
The brigade was formed in 1955–56, after the arrival of aSoviet Army mission, led byMarshal D.D Solovski, a veteran ofWorld War II. They assisted MinisterDaoud Khan with modernizing and re-arming theAfghan Army, using missile systems of the Soviet 111th Missile Brigade.[3]
The brigade participated in theBattle of Jalalabad in 1989, being under the constant protection of theAfghan Commando Forces. Soviet operators of the brigade were awarded by Afghan government for their actions during theirdefense of Khost.[4][better source needed] There was also an additional missile brigade alongside the 99th, such as the 92nd Missile Brigade, as of 1988. TheAfghan Air Force and Air Defense also had the 66th AAA (anti-aircraft) battalion under its command, and an unknown radar regiment.[5]
After the resignation ofMohammad Najibullah in April 1992,Ahmad Shah Masoud's forces captured the 99th'sScud missile launchers; however, the 99th Missile Brigade ditched their uniforms and left, leaving Massoud’s forces with no way of operating their newly acquired Scud launchers.[4][failed verification][6][failed verification]
On October 12, 1992, remnants of theAfghan Armed Forces launched anaerial bombing attack on Massoud'sforces destroying multiple armedScud launchers inKabul. From 1989 to 1991, it is reported the 99th Missile Brigade launched 1,548 Scud missiles.[7][better source needed]
In the same year, units of the 99th Missile Brigade in westernKabul were overrun byShia mujahideen factionsHezb-e-Wahdat andHarakat-i-Islami, although the missile operators safely fled. As a result, the two factions could not launch their newly-acquired Scud missiles, only using them for show during military parades in the capital.[8]
The 99th Missile Brigade was armed withS-125 Neva/Pechora surface-to-air rocket systems, as well asS-75 Dvina surface-to-air rockets systems used by the Royal Afghan Air Defense.[9] They had 18S-125 Neva/Pechora SAMs in 1992, and in the same year,[citation needed] at least 2000 missiles had been launched by the brigade. The 99th Missile Brigade's usage of Scuds was the most intensive – and less well-known – use of the weapon. The 99th Missile Brigade had a large quantity ofScud-Bs and someScud-Cs as well.[10]
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