November 6, 1999

Angola bought considerable stocks of Soviet/Russian AA-7 and AA-8 air-to-air missiles during the late 80s and early 90s in case of an aerial conflict with South Africa. When this conflict never happened and a peace accord was signed, the missiles were stacked in the open at various airports, exposed to the elements. Most of these missiles (one was stolen by South African agents in 1995) are still there, and in obviously deteriorated condition. As the UNITA rebels appear to have acquired a few old MiG-23s, the government could well use these missiles but they are unserviceable. Angola must now spend hard currency buying more of them.--Stephen V Cole