[1]: 169  The Angolans had built a series of radar and early warning stations at Cahama, Chibemba, Lubango and Menongue.

[1]: 169  On the morning of the 23 August, SAAF combat aircraft consisting of two Canberra bombers, eight Mirage F-1's and two Buccaneers attacked facilities at Cahama.

[1]: 169  Minutes later a further two Canberra bombers, sixteen Mirage F-1's attacked the radar installations at Chibemba.

[1]: 174  The following day FAPLA engineers arrived at the towns and begun to rebuild the radar installations and upgrade the defensive positions.

At the same time a mechanised battalion of PLAN arrived at Cahama, under FAPLA command, to take up a defensive position.