LAUNCH COMPLEXES D, E, AND F TYURA TAM MISSILE TEST CENTER, USSR

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78B04560A000800010029-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 15
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 25, 2000
• Sequence Number: 29
• Publication Date: August 1, 1963
• Content Type: REPORT

This document contains classified information affecting the national security of the United States within the
meaning of the espionage laws U. S. Code Title 18, Sections 793 and 794. The law prohibits its transmission
or the revelation of its contents in any manner to an unauthorized person, as well as its use in any manner
prejudicial to the safety or interest of the United States or for the benefit of any foreign government to the
detriment of the United States. It is to be seen only by personnel especially indoctrinated and authorized to
receive TALENT-KEYHOLE information. Its security must be maintained in accordance with KEYHOLE and
TALENT regulations.
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PHOTOGRAPHIC INTERPRETATION REPORT
COMPLEXES D, E, AND F
MISSILE TEST CENTER, USSR
NP I C/R-172/63
August 1963
NATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHIC INTERPRETATION CENTER
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INTRODUCTION
25X1 D
The purpose of this study is to update
the photo analysis of the eight launch complexes
at the Tyura Tam Missile Test Center (Figure 1)
utilizing Missions
This report concerns Launch
Complexes D, E, and F. Analysis of Launch
Complex G is complete 1/ and Launch Com-
plexes A, B, C, and H are currently in study.
Launch Complex D was not covered on Mission
_ and additional details of Launch Complexes
E and F could not be determined.
Launch Complex D is comprised of Launch
Areas D1 and D2 and is the prototype of Type
III deployed ICBM sites. Launch Complex F
is also a hardened facility but displays a
somewhat different signature from Complex D
and may be the prototype of at least one de-
ployed site (Omsk Launch Site A).
Railroad
Surfaced Road
------ Graded Road or Trail
Fence
->- Power Line
? SA-2 SAM Site
O SA-0 SAM Site
?~ R
J
COMPLEX E
,,
ZZq" \ ROAD
SUPPORT\
AREA
COMPLEX B--{\
A I, `_- Ouar FY H O
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Launch Complex E is a soft site. No de-
ployed sites have been identified having all
the features present at E. The construction
timing as well as the spacing of the facilities
and the general layout of the complex indicate
that it is the prototype for a Type IV deployed
ICBM launch site 2/.
Launch Complex D (46-OON 63-59E) is the
easternmost launch facility at the rangehead.
It consists of two Type III launch areas which
are designated D1 and D2 (Figure 2). Area D1
is completed while Area D2, which is located
4,100 feet to the east, is in a midstage of con-
struction. Transportation to the complex is by
.road from its associated support buildings which
are located 14 nautical miles (nm) to the west
within the fenced support area which serves
Launch Complex C. A ground scar, probably
a waterline, parallels the main road and then
branches to serve each of the two launch areas.
Launch Complex D is the prototype for the Type
III ICBM sites which presently number 16 at
ten separate deployed complexes in the Soviet
Union.
LAUNCH AREA D1
Launch Area D1 (Figure 3) represents the
completed signature of Type III ICBM sites.
The - photo coverage suggests that 25X1 D
the most striking features of a Type III ICBM
site on KEYHOLE photography will be: (1) an
elongated loop road; (2) an earth-mounded con-
trol bunker; (3) three silo covers; (4)aprobable
covered water storage and cooling facility
(spray pond); and (5) two semiburied probable
tanks inside the loop road.
The loop road pattern measures about 900.
by 350 feet. The long axis of the control bunker,
e
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which measures 180 by 110 feet when mounded,
is aligned with the three silos parallel to the
loop road system. The three silo covers meas-
ure about 80 by 40 feet and are separated ap-
proximately 180 feet on center. The long axes
of the covers are canted at a 45-degree angle
from the long axis of the site. The silo covers
appear to extend a few feet above the surround-
ing flat surface and are slightly beveled, as
shown in Figure 3. Photo coverage of the site
during construction and examination of Area D2
indicate that there are two buried terminal equip-
ment bunkers located between the three silos.
No indications of these two structures could be
identified on Mission_ 25X1 D
These five structures are not centered on
the control bunker. The left silo (as observed
from the control bunker) is farther from the
control bunker than the silo on the right. This
feature is not unique to this site. It appears at
Area D2 as well as at deployed type III sites,
l
as indicated by the uncentered notch for the
control bunker. It should be noted that the
center point between the outside edge of the
right silo and the outside edge of the left
equipment bunker is centered on the control
bunker. Although the silo cover to the left
appears the same as the other two at a com-
pleted site, in no case to date has this silo
appeared the same as the other two during the
construction phase. (NPIC believes that the
four good photo coverages available of Type III
sites in a midstage of construction are not
enough evidence to determine the function of
the left silo.)
The control bunker is raised slightly higher
than the surrounding terrain. The most likely
location for a personnel entrance is on the
left side near the front. The 175- by 55-foot
building which is located along the main access
road is served by a probable concrete apron.
It appears to be a drive-in rather than a drive-
PARKING APRON
BURIED TERMINAL 180'--1
EQUIPMENT BUNKERS F -------- \ 3 SILO COVERS
eni v n
PROB
CONCRETE
APRON
100 0
-
F.-1110' -1-1110'
I ~41w
nnj,SEM I BUR I ED
Q~'d:~! 3 TANKS
PARKING APRON
100' X 80'
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25X1 D
25X1 D
terminal equipment bunkers. The fifth object,
on the left, can be identified as a silo, but its
function cannot be determined.
The two terminal equipment bunkers, which
will probably house such facilities as pump-
houses, power, air conditioning, maintenance
shops, and other related support facilities, are
under construction. The two launch silos, also
under construction, measure 55 by 55 feet and
each has a dark image which measures 30 feet
in diameter. The pair of terminal equipment
bunkers and the two silos are firm measurable
images. The different appearance of the third
silo can be attributed either to the construction
status or to the fact that a different type of silo
is under construction.
The rear side of the excavation containing
the control bunker is being backfilled. A' long
narrow excavation containing two tanks is lo-
cated about 250 feet to the left of the control
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to the probable spray
Note: Features shown in red portray
construction at Launch Area
D2 superimposed on drawing
of Launch Area D1 (shown in
gray)
FIGURE 4. COMPARISON OF LAUNCH AREAS DI AND D2.
through building. Excavations for the probable
spray pond and the two probable semiburied
tanks have been identified on previous cover-
ages. Evidence of these structures can be
identified at Area D2 and at several deployed
sites during construction. An unidentified
activity or area of discoloration measuring
about 50 feet across is located inside the loop
road near the left end.
No change has occurred since
~ in the building area located about 1,000
feet forward of the launch area.
LAUNCH AREA D2
Launch Area D2 (Figure 4) is located
about 4,100 feet east of Area D1 and is ori-
ented on the same azimuth. The larger part
of the excavation measures about 550 by 180
feet. It has not yet been backfilled. Inside
the excavation are five objects. Four of these
are well defined and the fifth is indistinct. The
well-defined objects are two launch silos and two
OR SCARRING
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pond located at D1 can be identified under con-
struction in the same relative position at D2.
At present the main access road serving
Area D2 terminates about 600 feet to the rear
of the projected loop road system. No struc-
ture comparable to the 175- by 55-foot building
located adjacent to Area D1 can be identified
at this site.
No changes have occurred in the support
facilities serving Launch Complex D, which
are located at the extreme east end of the
fence enclosing the launch support area at
Launch Complex C.
Launch Complex E (45-57N 63-12E) is lo-
cated 20 nm north-northwest of the Support
Base and 6.5 nm northwest of Launch Complex
A. This complex consists primarily of afenced
launch area containing three pads (Figure 5),
an electronics facility, 15 major buildings or
structures, and an interferometer. Just out-
side the south fence line near the entrance
gate are ancillary facilities. No separate
launch support area can be directly associated
with the complex. However, Missile Assembly
and Checkout Facility No 2, located to the rear
of Launch Complex A, may serve this need.
The complex was first observed in~ 25X1 D
in an early stage of 25X1 D
construction. In 25X1 D
it appeared to be in midstage. By 25X1 D
most of the buildings or struc- 25X1 D
tures were essentially complete, and the com-
plex was complete or in a very late stage of
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construction. It was definitely complete in
Coverage of
______________________________eals additional
information which can be attributed to better
photo quality.
Most of the facilities at the complex (Fig-
ure 6) are in an area approximately 4,500 by
2,500 feet overall, enclosed within a double
security fence. A plus-configured interfer-
ometer with base lines measuring approxi-
mately 1,200 feet is located in the west end
Road (Blacktop)
Road (Concrete)
----- Trail
x Fenc e
Ground Scar
Pole
Mounded Structure
------------- Poss Ground Scar
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of the fenced area. Its base legs are parallel
to almost all of the other interferometer de-
vices located at the rangehead.
The long axes of the most significant items
in the launch area--the launch pads, their
associated buildings, and the road net--are
oriented on an azimuth of
Included in the launch facilities are duplicate
parallel (not mirror images) layouts of four
buildings, launch pads, and their connecting
road plan. The road plan is unusual in that
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BUILDING SIZES
FEET (APPROX)
1
185 x 55 (2)
2
95 x 40 (2)
3
100 X 35 (2)
4
140 x 70 (2)
5
120 X 25
6
160 X 55
7
110 x 45
B
115 X 40
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stalls located at pads C1 and C2 of Launch
Complex C measure 145 by 35 and 185 by 35
feet, respectively. The function of this building
may parallel the function of the stalls at Com-
plex C. The smallest of the three buildings
(Figure 6, item 2) measures 95 by 40 feet and
is in line with the pad and the missile-ready
building. This building does not abut the pad
as do the two larger buildings. The third
building (Figure 6, item 3) measures 100 by 35
NPIC H-3880 (8/63)
FIGURE 7. TYPE IV ICBM SITE UNDER CONSTRUCTION=
25X1 D
straight access between connecting facilities
has been intentionally avoided. It would appear
that ground support equipment would encounter
some difficulty in maneuvering. However, road
turning radii are not prohibitive to rather long
equipment, if necessary.
At the extreme east end of the fenced area
are two buildings (Figure 6, item 4) which
measure about 140 by 70 feet and are separated
by a distance of 800 feet. These buildings are
similar to several missile-ready buildings lo-
cated at deployed ICBM sites. However, as the
photo and line drawing indicate, the roads
approach these buildings in a peculiar fashion.
In - a probable trench connected each
of these buildings to the pad west of it. A
small unidentified object is located north of each
building, and is connected to it by means of a
narrow probable pipe or conduit.
Approximately 800 feet west of each of these
buildings are three other buildings and two
probable light poles surrounding an irregularly
shaped pad (E 1 and E2). Each pad contains an
irregular dark area in the center which measures
about 65 feet across. The largest of the buildings
(Figure 6, item 1), which is aligned along the
length of the pad, measures 185 by 55 feet. It is
interesting to note that the vehicle/equipment
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darkened area in the center of each pad indi-
cates that these sites have had live firings.
The two poles or masts which are present
at both pads in the same relative position
may be light poles. There are at least four
small unidentified structures or objects lo-
cated in the space between the sets of build-
ings.
Pad E3 is located about 1,000 feet north-
west of pad E2, and is connected to the entry
road by a paved, almost circular road with
long-radius curves. The circular road meas-
ures about 370 feet in diameter and encloses
a mounded structure. In the photo 25X1 D
coverage, an excavation was present where this
structure is now located. Opposite this struc-
ture and across the pad is a heavily revetted
building or earth-mounded structure. A third
small mounded structure is located at the west
end of the pad. Due to mounding, the sizes of
these three structures are undetermined. The
configuration of the pad (nearly square) and the
three structures is similar to pad A2 at Launch
Complex A, and to the pad areas at Kozelsk B
and Tyumen C. During the construction phase
of Type IV sites (Figure 7) the pad area appears
to have an appendage or wing on each side.
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Also present, adjacent to the pad, are two
probable light poles. A trace, possibly a track
or unpaved road, curves gently and connects
with the northernmost of the two missile-ready
buildings.
Located almost 900 feet west of pad El are
four objects forming a triangle or more pre-
cisely an L-shape. These objects probably
function as an electronics facility and may be an
L-shaped interferometer with base legs meas-
uring approximately 230 feet. The fourth object
probably functions as the associated equipment
Launch Complex F (46-02N 63-06E) is lo-
cated on a small knoll 6 nm northwest of Launch
Complex E at the terminus of a well-graded
road. Figure 8) indicates that this
complex is in a very late stage of construction.
Construction of the control bunker and the left
silo, as observed from the control bunker, were
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control bunker for the facility. This electronics
facility relates to the plus configurations located
at deployed Type IV ICBM sites (Figure 7).
A light-toned ground scar connects this facility
with a 120- by 25-foot building (Figure 6, item 5)
located nearby.
Just outside the fence line near the access
road are at least two possible tanks and two
buildings or structures (Figure 6, items 7
and 8). The function of this facility, as well as
the T-shaped building inside the fence to the
east, is undetermined.
confirmed from this mission.
Construction of the com lex was started
sometime in the between
was served only by an unimproved road leading
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to a probable trough-like excavation of undeter-
mined depth containing three dark objects or
holes. Later coverages proved these to be three
silos in varying stages of construction. The
complex was covered again on
. Although the photo quality was
poor, a dark rectangular image could be located
where the trough was previously identified.
None of the three objects in the trough could be
identified at that time. Across the loop service
road was an excavation or earth scarring in
the snow. The quality of the four successive
coverages,
~ was not sufficient for reliable detailed
analysis. Only gross features could be observed
and no significant changes were apparent.
The first good-quality coverage of this
complex occurred on
~ Construction could have been underway
as long as 21 months at that time. As of
several significant items could
be identified. These included: (1) two silos
which appeared as domelike structures; (2) a
third silo which appeared different from but was
in line with the other two silos; (3) possible sub-
structure for the control bunkers; (4)awell-de-
fined loop road system which enclosed the above-
mentioned items; and (5) a probable spraypond.
In addition, all the buildings which were pre-
viously identified at the complex could be
measured more accurately. The two successive
coverages were accomplished on
The former was of poor quality; however con-
struction activity in the area of the control bunker
could be identified. The complex could only be
identified on the latter coverage. The coverage
is of better quality
than all the previous missions. The detailed
description of the complex was derived primarily
25X1 D from The differences
in the nearly completed signature and orientation
from those observed at Complex D indicate this
complex is the prototype for a new hardened
configuration. The lack of good-quality com-
parative photo coverage precludes a compre-
hensive analysis through all construction phases.
The complex was still under construction in
and the status of completion could 25X1 D
not be determined from photography of 25X1 D
25X1 D
Launch Complex F (Figure 9) has several
striking similarities to Complex D, but con-
struction techniques at Complex F maybe unique
in that the control bunker was built in a sepa-
rate excavation. Until more sites of this type
are observed, no specific determination of ex-
cavation practices can be predicted.
Each of the three silos is separated by a
distance of 180 feet. The midpoint between the
right silo and the middle silo is centered on the
control bunker. Thus the left silo is farther
from the control bunker than the other two.
The pair to the right appear to be domed on
while the one 25X1 D
on the left is rather vague and casts a cor-
respondingly vague shadow. - later,
on the silo to the left appears to 25X1 D
be domed while the other two appear as rather
indistinct low-lying objects or mounds and cast
almost no shadow. Evidently backfilling had not
been completed on the silos when the shadows
were longest and most apparent, or an environ-
mental cover was in place, or the image resulted
from a combination of the two situations. In each
case the domes appeared to have a diameter of
about 50 feet.
Although all three silos appeared essentially
the same at one phase of construction, it cannot
be stated conclusively that all three are identical.
The center and right silos are probably complete
but no definitive shapes such as the covers at
Complex D could be identified. At no time during
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construction were the terminal equipment bunk-
ers identified between the silos at Complex D
identified at Complex F.
A rectangular facility is located about 275
feet in front of the left silo. It is probably a
covered spray pond, being closely compatible in
size and appearance to the one at site D1. No
other well-defined construction activity was ob-
served inside the loop road pattern. All of the
buildings in the area seem to be associated with
construction activity rather than operationally
associated. One building which measures about
100 by 40 feet is located just forward of the loop
road on the right side but has no apparent good
road connection.
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1. NPIC. R-85/63, Launch Complex G, Tyura Tam Missile Test Center, USSR, May 63 (TOP SECRET
RUFF)
2. NPIC. R-15/63, Reexamination of Launch Complex E, Tyura Tam Missile Test Center, USSR,
Feb 63 (TOP SECRET CHESS RUFF)
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NPIC. R-48/63, Launch Complex D, Tyura Tam Missile Test Center, USSR, Apr 63 (TOP SECRET CHESS
RUFF)
NPIC. R-30/63, Silo ICBM Launch Areas in the USSR, Mar 63 (TOP SECRET CHESS RUFF)
NPIC. R-144/62, Launch Complex F, Tyura Tam Missile Test Center, USSR, Oct 62 (TOP SECRET
RUFF)
NPIC. R-133/62, Launch Complex E, TyuraTam Missile Test Center, Sep 62 (TOP SECRET CHESS
RUFF)
REQUIREMENTS
AF 2-63
OSI/R-144/63
OSI/R-140/63
NPIC PROJECT
J-79/63 (partial answer)
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