Pitfalls of Army Reform: Officer Screening, Air Force Future

This document, a 1990 JPRS report titled 'Birds of Steel' by Jaroslav Spurny, provides an analysis of the state of the Czechoslovak Air Force during a period of significant political and military transition. The author highlights that Czechoslovakia maintains a high number of warplanes per capita, which imposes a heavy financial burden on the state. The report details the logistical and economic inefficiencies of the current military structure, noting that the Air Force is heavily dependent on the Soviet Union for equipment and spare parts. Spurny discusses the strategic disadvantages of the country's geography and the necessity of reforming the Air Force to ensure 'reasonable defensive sufficiency' rather than maintaining an overly expensive and potentially vulnerable force. The document outlines plans for a likely reduction in the number of personnel and aircraft by half, the closure of certain airfields, and a shift in procurement strategy away from total reliance on the Soviet Union. Furthermore, the report touches upon the internal challenges of the Air Force, including the political vetting of its generals and the high cost of pilot training. The author concludes that the Air Force's problems cannot be viewed in isolation from the broader issues facing the Czechoslovak Armed Forces, citing Minister Vacek's assertion that a professional army is currently too expensive for the nation's financial capabilities. Notably, the report mentions that the MIG-29, while modern, has little civilian use, except for the investigation of 'unidentified flying objects'.