They were definitely hyped up as high-tech weapons in the western press back then. I remember reading articles as a kid how the wholesome mujahedeen fought off soviet gunships thanks to the advanced targeting system. No idea how true that was, given that such articles are practically written by the IMC's PR department and always show everything as the next Wunderwaffe, but it was common knowledge in the West that post-invasion, the USA was arming the jihadists in Afghanistan with SAMs.