A number of domestic and foreign historians and economists regard participation in the Afghan war as a key factor contributing to the collapse of the USSR - the war required a lot of resources, especially against the background of a multiple drop in oil prices. On this point, for example, Yegor Gaidar and Zbigniew Brzezinski agreed. Nevertheless, there was a certain benefit from that war.
Arms trade
First of all, the Afghan war became a testing ground for the development and introduction of new weapons. For example, the T-72 tank already used in the Soviet Army after 1979 was repeatedly modified taking into account the military experience gained. BMP-1 and BMD-1 replaced BMP-2 and BMD-2 with a 30 mm cannon. Instead of the BTR-60PB, a limited contingent received the BTR-70, and later the BTR-80. All this equipment was later exported by the USSR, not only to socialist countries, but also to India, Indonesia, and the Middle East.
The first "Stinger" was captured from the spooks on January 5, 1987, later several more copies were added to it. This made it possible not only to improve their own portable air defense systems, but also to supply them for export. In the last years of the existence of the USSR, revenues from the export of weapons reached 1/5 of the annual union budget, according to state statistics.
Civilian aspect
The USSR had economic ties with Afghanistan since the twenties, the war somewhat reduced their intensity, but did not interrupt at all, says the website of the Center for Economic Development and Certification of the Institute for Economic Strategies - CERS INES.
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Thousands of Soviet civilian specialists worked in Afghanistan, recalls Vyacheslav Lebed, in those years he was the chief engineer of the Kazdorstroy trust. The executives had a three-year contract, and the rank-and-file specialists - for 11 months. By the end of the business trip, the manager decided on the spot whether to renew the contract or not. Goods flowed in a thin stream from Afghanistan to the Soviet Union, primarily agricultural products and spices, carpets. According to data for 1979/80, agriculture and forestry accounted for 60.3% of the country's GDP, the mining industry accounted for 20%, construction - 5.4%, trade and services - 7.4%, transport and communications - 3, 7%.
Unfortunately, the fighting did not give an opportunity to develop and develop Afghan mineral deposits. According to modern estimates, only the reserves of rare earth metals in Afghanistan are estimated from $ 1 to $ 3 trillion, and there is also oil, gas, coal, gold, sulfur, gypsum …
It can be assumed that the USSR made good money by paying officers and soldiers who participated in the Afghan war. Instead of rubles, they were given Vneshposyltorg checks in denominations of 1 kopeck to 100 rubles. The monthly check allowance for warrant officers and junior officers was 100 rubles, senior officers up to generals - up to 150 rubles, privates and sergeants - from 4 to 8 rubles. In the USSR, checks were purchased at Berezki, but when they were closed in 1989, the checks were exchanged for Soviet rubles at the official rate of 1: 1, which benefited the treasury.
Konstantin Baranovsky