MOSCOW-AREA INTERFEROMETERS: A COMPARATIVE STUDY

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78T04759A001400010047-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 24
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 4, 2003
• Sequence Number: 47
• Publication Date: June 1, 1965
• Content Type: REPORT

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MOSCOW-AREA INTERFEROMETERS:
A COMPARATIVE STUDY
Declass Review by NIMA/DOD 'f5
Tut, SECRET
"" GROUP
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Approved For Release 2003/11/21 : CIA-RDP78T04759A00140010047 ?" ?"""?"??
 Approved
MOSCOW-AREA INTERFEROMETERS:
A COMPARATIVE STUDY
FoTQPa D lkl
NATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHIC INTERPRETATION CENTER
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The cutoff date for photography and interpretation in this report
is 1 January 1965, except for the utilization of photography from Mission
in interpreting Kozelsk ICBM Complex Launch
Site F and of photography from for the
Talsi site.
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that define the electronic design para-
meters are extremely small and hardly de-
tectable at all, even under the best of photo-
graphic circumstances. This situation arises,
both from the high frequencies employed and
from the absence of any need for large me-
chanically steerable equipment- - reflector
screens, tracking dishes, and the like--since
the actual tracking is done electronically by
obtaining the phase shift between 2 or more
receivers (Figure 2).
Using pure interferometric techniques, it
is not necessary to have a transmitter col-
located with the receiver. In fact, if the target
to be tracked possesses a beacon transmitter,
it is not necessary to incorporate any terrestrial
transmitter into the system, which would then
be said to be "passive."
However, it is equally possible to have
a range-rate device. This could still employ
interferometric techniques and could also
possess the same geometric shape as a passive
interferometer (although it is also possible for
the 2 legs to form an L, instead). Such a system
would most likely employ a "central station,"
placed at the vertex, which would contain both
a transmitter and a receiver. This type of
instrumentation could be described as "semi-
active" in view of the utilization of a transmitter
at the central station. More pure triangulation
is used in a range-rate device because of its
direct radar range capabilities.
Since it is not possible to identify specific
instrumentation components on the photography
utilized in the preparation of this report, and
since only partial success was obtained in de-
termining instrument positions, the categoriza-
tion of the interferometric facilities was ac-
complished largely on the basis of their gross
overall configuration. However, while appear-
ance and even mensuration may compare
favorably, this alone is not sufficient to deter-
This report describes 4 interferometer
sites in the Moscow area, and compares these
facilities with other interferometers previously
noted at deployed ICBM complexes and at the
Sary-Shagan Antimissile Test Center (SSATC).
Six plus -shaped configurations, identified as
interferometric tracking facilities, have been
found at 4 sites in the Moscow area (Figure 1).
Four of these plus-shaped configurations are
situated west of the town of Kirzhach, where
2 plus-shaped configurations have been placed
together with a 50-percent overlap to constitute
1 interferometer site (Kirzhach Site A), and
2 other plus-shaped configurations have been
placed side by side where they apparently
operate together as a second facility (Kirzhach
Site B).
At the 2 remaining locations, Moscow/
Suponino Airfield and Bronnitsy, there are
singly deployed plus-shaped configurations
that resemble the more usual types of Soviet
interferometers.
It appears that all of the Moscow-area
interferometers are special-purpose tracking
facilities having no direct connection with inter-
ferometer sites at SSATC or at deployed ICBM
complexes. This conclusion is based on such
comparative considerations as base- leg orienta-
tion and overall site appearance; however, the
basic interferometer pattern at Kirzhach Site
B and at Bronnitsy is similar to that found at
certain of the SSATC sites.
Identification and Comparison of Interferometer Sites
It is somewhat paradoxical that the overall
geometric configuration of an interferometer
site is quite large and easily detectable while,
at the same time, the individual components
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EARTH'S
t
:A2
SURFACE
A radio-frequency interferometer is a device
used to track an aircraft, missile, or satellite by
phase comparison techniques-- that is, by deter-
mining the changing angle of a radio signal from the
target as it passes overhead.
In its simplest form, an interferometer requires
only a pair of receiving antennas, Al and A2, and a
continuous radio signal from the target. This signal
can originate either from a transmitter on board the
target, or from a ground-based transmitter and be re-
flected from the target--the principle remains the
same. In the illustration, the separation between
the 2 ground antennas, w, has been made equal to
the wavelength, w, of the radio signal.
In operation, the target's signals arrive at some
unknown angle, e, and reach Al later than A2, thus
travelling an extra distance, d. This extra distance
obviously depends on the direction from which the
target signals are coming; and the ratio of that dis-
Approveq C)pR!5MSiRt"3r11 /21 : CIA-RDP78TO4759AO01400010047-1
tance to the antenna separation is dew, which is the
cosine of the angle B. The target's direction angle,
e, can therefore be determined from the known value
w and from d. And d is measured electrically by
noting the phase delay between the signals at the
2 antennas--which translates into the fraction of
wavelength dcontains.
This measurement gives only the direction angle
of the target with respect to the line between the 2
antennas. However, by adding a similar measure-
ment from antennas placed perpendicularly to the
first set, the line of sight to the target can be es-
tablished--and the familiar plus-shaped configura-
tion is formed.
In actual practice, Al and A2 are spaced
closer and 1 or more other antennas spaced farther
out to improve precision. Also, the + shape
I
could as well be I , or L
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system.
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mine precise function or to certify positively
to the technical operating identity of similar-
appearing facilities. In short, there is no
guarantee that what looks alike also works alike.
Some of the interferometer configurations
appear to have central stations or positions
and some do not (Table 1). However, all of
the configurations have been identified as inter-
ferometers because it is believed they employ
interferometer techniques to some degree.
The Kirzhach interferometer installation
contains 2 operational sites, a northern (Site A)
at 56-05-05N 38-29-25E and a southern (Site B)
at 56-04-OON 38-30-25E. The entire installa-
tion has been previously described in NPIC/R-
918/64, November 1964, 1/ but more recent
photography allows an updating of that informa-
tion together with some refinement of details,
mensuration, and construction progress.
SITE A
Site A (Figures 4 and 5) was previously
called a "Suspect Interferometer Site," 1/ but
more recent photographic coverage (Mission
now makes it possible
to definitely identify this facility as an inter-
ferometer, primarily through the observation of
2 environmental-dome coverings, 1 at the
terminus of an interferometer leg (Figure 5,
item H) and the other on the large building in
the unidentified-activity area (item V). The
equipment housed in the second dome could
quite reasonably be an acquisition tracking or
a continuous wave (CW) illumination antenna.
Site A is quite large and is unique in
appearance (Figure 3), there being no known
similar sites in the USSR; it was most probably
built for a single specific function. There is
some evidence that it may be a range-rate
device, a possibility suggested by the building
situated at the precise point of perpendicular
bisection of each pair of legs. These 2 buildings
each have a probable antenna on the roof and
they may equate to central stations. In addition,
there are probable antennas on all of the leg
termini buildings (Figure 5, items D-K), in-
cluding the 1 with an environmental-dome cover-
ing (item H).
Site B (Figure 6) is known as a twin inter-
ferometer site, and is composed of 2 plus
configurations placed some 1,545 feet apart.
However, the road network and general site 25X1
appearance suggest that they operate together as
a single facility. Photography through F
shows that this site is'still
and that there has been no
significant change in its configuration since it
was previously described 1/ except for the
poistions at the leg termini (items A-D and G-J),
which have been built up with earth and now
permit more accurate mensuration.
The leg extensions at the northern inter-
ferometer are now all quite definite although
only half of 1 of the full extensions can be
measured. This distance (Figure 5, items S-Y)
appears to be 9,745 feet. There is a small
light-toned object, possibly an antenna, at the
western terminus (Figure 5, item S). If this
extension is equal in all 4 directions, then the
overall length of each leg would be about 19,500
feet.
There are no signs of any extensions at the
southern interferometer.
This site (Figure 7) is 3 nautical miles
(nm) southeast of Bronnitsy and 30 nm southeast
of the Kremlin. With only a few buildings in
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DISTANCES (ft,approx)
A to B
5,730
B to C
8,785
D to E
2,445
E to F
2,445
F to G
2,445
H to I
2,445
I to j
2,445
J to K
2,445
D to H
4,805
G to K
4,805
D to J
6,875
F to H
6,875
E to K
6,875
G to I
6,875
U to 0
9,240
W to 0
14,825
V to T
8,550
U to V
830
M.to N
125
N to P
800
S to y
9,745
Angles between all 4
Road
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=`4EG EXTENSIONS
INTER FEROMETER =/
All azimuth agcurateI
Angles between all 4
interferometer legs are 90?
Road
0 PROBABLE
~~ CONTROL
P Q CENTER
Si :?:
DISTANCES (ft, approx)
BUILDING DIMENSIONS (ft, approx)
A to D
1,160
M to K
2,445
S to T
185
M
240 x 45
0
60 x 30
BtoC
1,160
E to K
1,545
T to U
185
70 x 45
N
30 x 25
G to J
1,160
M to E
3,920
G to V
175
P
90x90
Q
30x15
H to I
1,160
R to S
185
its support area, this is the smallest of the
Moscow-area sites although its interferometer
is of standard size.
In addition to the 1 plus-configured inter-
ferometer with leg lengths of 1,000 feet, the
site contains 1 control/equipment building buried
at the leg bisection point, a probable tower-
mounted storage tank, 7 or 8 support buildings,
a group of earthen basins, and several small
unidentified objects. The site is secured and
road served.
Based on interpretation of photography from
there ap-
pears to be a regular pattern of ground scars or
marks along each leg. These scars or marks,
4 on each half leg, are considered to be possible
antenna positions, but the small scale of the
available photography precludes detailed men-
suration of their spacing.
FOOTINGS FOR
4 TOWERS
MOSCOW/SUPONINO AIRFIELD INTERFEROMETER SITE
This site, 13 nm east-northeast of the
Kremlin, is 1 of the most unusual Soviet
interferometer installations--not from the
standpoint of the interferometer configuration,
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1
which is similar to that of many others in the
USSR, but because of the associated buildings
and equipment (Figures 8 and 9), much of which
is felt to be electronic or at least electronics
associated. This circumstance, when taken to-
gether with the presence of the aircraft, the
airfield, and the interferometer, makes it seem
most likely that this facility is engaged in
research and development work such as airborne
instruments electronics testing, rather than in
the strictly tracking activity that is suspected
at most Soviet interferometer sites.
The original, prepared-surface portion of
the interferometer measured 670 by 670 feet,
but present ground scarring indicates that the
legs are being extended to conform more
closely with the normal Soviet size of about
1,000 feet per leg, overall.
Just east of the interferometer are 3
unidentified structures arranged to form an
equilateral triangle with an unidentified object
at the center. South and southeast of this
grouping are 3 towers and 2 unidentified objects
situated on hardstands or cleared areas. All
of these unidentified objects and towers are
believed to contain or support electronic equip-
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ment. Along the southern fenceline is a cleared
rectangular area that may contain an antenna
array.
Along the eastern fenceline are 3 large, 3
medium, and 14 small aircraft hardstands. The
3 large hardstands are occupied by twin-engine
straight-wing aircraft (probably BEAGLE).
1 25
One of the medium-sized hardstands is occupied
by a probable swept-wing fighter-type aircraft.
The remaining hardstands contain an undeter-
mined number of small aircraft. An aircraft taxi-
way that enters the site from the east leads from
the southern portion of the Moscow/Suponino
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LEG
EXTENSION
INTERFEROMETER
(PREPARED SERVICE)
5X1 D
FP
LEG
EXTENSION
00
2 Buildings
200 x 40
3 Buildings
125 x 40
1 Building
70 x 25
1 Building
55 x 55
1 Building
45 x 30
1 Building
20 x 15
1 Building
1 Building
125 x 40
120 x 45
Road
---- Trail
Fence
D Unidentified structure
Pitch-roofed building
Deck-roofed building
* Small aircraft
-r Straight-wing aircraft
~ Possible swept-wing aircraft
A Electronic tower
1 I Tower shadows
ACCESS
ROAD
MOSCOW" SUPONINO
AIRFIELD
The Talsi site (Figure 10)has been included
in this report because it is the only other known
Soviet facility equating to Kirzhach Site B. At
Approves br t C., K t l l
both sites, 2 interferometers have been placed
the same distance apart--1,545 feet, center to
center--and 1 interferometer at each site has
had its base lines extended outward in each di-
rection from the center. As at Site B, there
are at Talsi clear indications of this extension
t
15
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I
0
Road
Leg extension
Cable/wave guide
connector
? Probable antenna
position
3 Probable buried-
building entrance
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-FerTFQ9ase 5QUT/
 25X1 D Site
Kirzhach B
Bronnitsy
Moscow/Supo-
nino A/F
Talsi
SSATC 1
SSATC Sup-
port Base
SSATC 3
SSATC 4
SSATC 5
SSATC 6
SSATC 7
SSATC 8
SSATC 9
SSATC 11
SSATC 12
SSATC 14
SSATC 15
Kozelsk A
Kozelsk B
Kozelsk D
Kozelsk E
Kozelsk F
Tyumen A
Tyumen C
Plesetsk D
Plesetsk G
Omsk A
the size compare favorably, but the apparent
type of interferometer at the 2 sites seems the
same.
The major differences between the 2 sites
are 1) the alignment of the 2 configurations with
1,000
1,000
1,030
1,000
1,000
respect to each other: at Talsi, the 2 configu-
rations are inline whereas at Kirzhach Site
B the 2 are offset from each other; 2) at Talsi,
a ring road is present around 1 of the inter-
ferometers;* 3) the leg orientations are not the
same at the 2 sites (see Table 1).
extensions (19,500 feet). Also, not only does COMPARISON OF INTERFEROMETER TYPES
in each of the 4 directions, but the exact terminus
cannot be defined in all cases. However, the
visible cable scarring leads to the conclusion
that the extended interferometer at Talsi will
have base legs about 19,600 feet in length (2
times 9,800 feet), which almost exactly equates
to the estimated overall length of the Site B
ApprovedTFQ PRA 99 R /
56-05-05N 38-29-25E Over-
lapping
56-04-00N 38-30-25E Twin
45-52-50N 73-37-50E
45-36-40N 72-36-20E
45-57-OON 72-13-20E
45-53-40N 71-20-20E
46-14-OON 70-54-30E
46-37-OON 70-46-OOE
46-55-40N 70-49-30E
46-52-40N 71-52-20E
46-40-50N 72-37-40E
42-24-20N 72-34-OOE
47-07-05N 69-10-OOE
47-22-OON 67-25-OOE
53-53-50N 35-46-OOF
53-48-10N 35-47-10E
53-53-40N 35-52-20E
53-51-25N 35-41-15E
53-41-03N 35-39-05E
56-41-50N 65-35-20E
56-51-OON 65-28-05E
62-53-30N 40-47-35E
62-51-15N 40-34-40E
55-07-35N 73-37-40E
Number per
Half Leg
Under construction
4 (poss)
Unknown
Unknown
Unknown
4 (suspect)
4 (suspect)
4
4 (suspect)
4
4 (suspect)
4 (suspect)
4 (suspect)
4
Unknown
4 (max)
4 (max)
4 (max)
Probably same as
Undetermined
Undetermined
Undetermined
Undetermined
Probably same as
Separation Distance
A-B B-C C-D D-E
(See Figure 6)
(See Figure 7)
Unknown
(See Figure 9)
(See Figure 10)
(See Figure 14)
220 '220
(See Figure 17)
25X1 D
25 55 210 210
(See Figure 15)
180 r1170
19)
170
170
The final section of this report consists
of tabular and graphical material illustrating and
*On more recent photographic coverage of the area, that
of a ring road was also re-
vealed aroun the southern plus configuration.
ApprovetF~- tcpt" 3f11/21 : CIA-RDP78TO4759AO01
Length
(feet)
1,160
1,000
400**
910/1,040
1,000
1,000
1,000
1,000
t
I
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 - 0Wprc Fo J'as)3/1 j : CWDP7jW75 140W047@~@ - 1
25
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UNIDENTIFIED
LS X FACILITY
g Interferometer site
? Launch complex
^ Instrumentation site
^ Communication site
Airfield
Dirt strip
Road
Trail
UNIDENTIFIED
FACILITY
SUPPORT BASE
HEN HOUSE
ANTENNA
HEN ROOST
ANTENNAS
POSSIBLE FIELD
LAUNCH POINT
74?O0,
r'Sary-
Shaga^
Lake
Bat Mash
SAM
rRAINING C ENTER
0
N
rn
n
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rn
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 comparing the various types of interferometers.
Table 1 gives overall leg length and orientation
together with the number and distance apart
of positions per half leg. A descriptive key
to the different types of interferometers and
to the standard terminology used throughout this
report has also been prepared (Figure 11),
as well as maps locating the various sites
(Figures 1, 12, and 13). Finally, Figures 14
through 19 illustrate examples of the various
types.
Comparison of the information collected in
Table 1 shows that SSATC Sites 5-9, 11, 14,
and 15 2/ are all oriented at precisely the
same azimuths, and that these sites make up
the entire northwestern interferometer network
Approve# OPRSIEz@1RIffl~ LT r
lying beyond Sites 4 and 12 (which are also
oriented alike). This would suggest that Sites
5-9, 11, 14, and 15 were laid out to operate
in conjunction with one another, and that Sites
4 and 12 also probably operate in conjunction
with each other.
In regard to the ICBM-related interfer-
ometers, it is interesting to note that except
for the 2 interferometers at the Plesetsk
Complex, all base legs at ICBM complexes are
longer than at the majority of other interfer -
ometers in the USSR. In addition, within any
given ICBM complex, all interferometers are
oriented at the same azimuths (within the
/11/21 : CIA-RDP78TO4759A0 1400010047-1
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 A to B
B to C
Cto D
D to E
- Road
- - - Trail
Cable/wave guide
connector
? Antenna position
: Buried control/
equipment building
entrance
C to D 220' ) Buried control/equipment
D to E 220,(probable) building entrance
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ET: VT
 Apff8yed orTF1 *%sS 5CDRlf1Ti2
mmmm Road
Cable scar
Launch silo (60' x 60')
FIGURE 18. , TYPE VI INTERFEROMETER (KOZELSK ICBM COMPLEX LAUNCH AREA F).
Road
Fence
Suspect antenna
position
Earthen build-up
Probable buried
building entrance
Ato B180-
Cto C^
Cto D
D to E 170
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 Approved
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RekEL Rfibii
MAPS OR CHARTS
Moscow Area: DIA, US Air Target Chart,, Series 200, Sheet 0167-5HL, 2d ed, Apr 63, scale 1:200,000 (SECRET) 25X1 D
Talsi: ACIC. US Air Target Chart, Series 200, Sheet 0153-16HL, 4th ed, Jun 63, scale 1:200,000 (SECRET)
(TOP SECRET
2. NPIC. R-923/64 Sar -Sh? ?n Antimissile Test Center, USSR, Changes and Additions as ofl
3. CIA. SC-05773-63 Interferometers at the Sary Shagan Missile Test Center, Jun 63 (TOP SECRET
25X1 D
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LOCATION
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CUT TO
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DATE
Jul 1971
CUT TO
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DATE
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CUT TO
COPIES
DATE
CUT TO
COPIES
DATE
CUT TO
COPIES
DATE
MASTER
DATE
DATE
RECEIVED OR ISSUED
NUMBER OF COPIES
DATE
NUMBER OF COPIES
MO.
0
DAY
YR.
T
Dist. Unit ;;1 , 3,
REC D
ISS D
DAL
MO.
DAY
YR.
R
ECEIVED OR ISSUED
RECD
ISS'D
BAL
116-117
5
~
4
,W'ic* /of
1
116?- 11-7
TITLE
1
t( _ ~
roved For Release -
June 1%5 T3 I 24 =5 25
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