EIGHT-ARM RADIAL PROBABLE DIRECTION FINDING FACILITIES, USSR

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78T05162A000100010092-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 10
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 2, 2011
• Sequence Number: 92
• Publication Date: June 1, 1970
• Content Type: REPORT

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NATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHIC
INTERPRETATION CENTER
PHOTOGRAPHIC
INTERPRETATION
REPORT
EIGNT~ARM RADIAL PROBABLE
DIRECTION FINDING FACILITIES,
USSR
GROUP 1: EXC LUDED FROM
AUTOMATIC DOWNGRADING
AND DECLASSIFICATION
JUNE 1970
COPY NO 11
12 PAGES
PIR-037/70
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Eight-Arm Radial Probable Direction Finding Facilities
UTM COORDINATES
NA
MAP REFERENCE
See Below
GEOGRAPHIC COORDINATES
See Below
COMIREX NO? NIETB NO~
None ee Below
This report describes and locates seven known probable direction finding
(DF) facilities which are unlike those in any previously identified Soviet DF
system. These eight-arm radial probable DF facilities have diameters of ap-
proximately 1,000 meters (3,281 feet). The radial antenna arrays appear to be
a type of wide-aperture interfermetric array which could have direction finding
capabilities. The electrical functions of these radial antenna arrays cannot
be determined. The known facilities appear to form a network in the western
USSR.
This report contains a basic description, annotated photography, and
mensuration for the seven facilities listed below:
Petrozavodsk Probable Direction Finding Facility
ACIC. USATC, Series 200, Sheet 0102-11, scale 1:200,000
61-52-OON 034-12-OOE,
Leningrad Probable Direction Finding Facility Krasnoye Selo 2
(Krasnoye Selo DF Radio Communications and Receiver Station 2)
59-43-30N 030-02-OOE,
ACIC. USATC, Series 200, Sheet 0153-4, scale 1:200,000
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ACIC. USATC, Series 200, Sheet 0153-2, scale 1:200,000
59-26-OON 024-58-OOE,
Tallinn Probable Direction Finding Facility
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ACIC. USATC, Series 200, Sheet 0167-5, scale 1:200,000
55-18-OON 037-35-OOE,
Podolsk Probable Direction Finding Facility
ACIC. USATC, Series 200, Sheet 0250-20, scale 1:200,000
44-59-45N 033-37-32E, BE None,
Nikolayevka Probable Direction Finding Facility
ACIC. USATC, Series 200, Sheet 0233-21, scale 1:200,000
48-19-//N 026-03-//E, BE None,
Chernovtsy Probable Direction Finding Facility
49-13-OON 028-45-31E
AC'T('_ TTSATC_ Series 200, Sheet 0233-18, scale 1:200,000
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The seven known eight-arm radial probable direction finding facilities
appear to form a network in the western USSR (Figure 1). They are located in
isolated cultural environments either in densely wooded areas or in open, flat
terrain. These facilities may be part of a Soviet network for the study of
electromagnetic wave propagation or ionospheric research.
Only the Petrozavodsk, Tallinn, and Leningrad facilities have been observed
on high-resolution photography. Each of these facilities consists of a single
fence-secured control area containing a control building and several support
buildings. Eight radial aboveground feedline extensions emanating from the
control area in a pinwheel pattern are separated by 45-degree intervals of
azimuth. The radial feedlines are approximately 500 meters (1,640 feet) long
and terminate at two closely spaced pole masts. The Podolsk, Nikolayevka,
Chernovtsy, and Vinnitsa facilities appear photographically similar to the
other three facilities, but they have only been observed on small-scale pho-
tography. The actual antenna configurations, method of feed, and possible
suspension of antennas between masts cannot be determined.
~ EIGHT-ARM RADIAL ANTEiVfVA
ARRAY PROBABLE DF
FACILITY
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NAUTICAL MILES
100 200
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The radial antenna arrays appear to be a type of wide-aperture interfero-
metric antenna and are probably passive (non-radiating). If the sensing point
is at the end of the radials, the mast spacing and height would suggest that
these arrays operate in the upper portion of the high frequency (HF) spectrum.
The radial antenna arrays at Leningrad and Nikolayevka are interspersed
with HF receiving fishbone antennas and other HF antennas. The radial antenna
array at Podolsk is associated with one, or possibly two, probable HF receiving
communications antenna fields.
A comparison of similar features at individual radial antenna array facilities
is given below:
HF Proximity
Same Antenna Similar Right-Angle HF/DF
Approx Fields Terminal HF Dipole THICK 8 True North
DF Facility Diam (Receiving) Antennas Antennas Facilities Orientation
Petrozavodsk X -- X X X
Leningrad X X X -- X
Tallinn X -- X X --
Podolsk X X UNDET -- --
Nikolayevka -- X UNDET -- --
Chernovsty X -- UNDET -- --
Vinnitsa X -- UNDET
The road-served facility (Figure 2) is located 7,0 nautical miles (nm) north-
northwest of Petrozavodsk, USSR. It is situated in a wooded area at an eleva-
tion of 150 feet above sea level. The radial feedlines are 500 meters (1,640
feet) in length, Two HF horizontal dipole antennas (items 9 and 10, Figure 2)
are inside the security fence surrounding the control area. The correspondents
for these antennas are undetermined.
The Petrozavodsk THICK EIGHT H F/DF Facility) is located 2.0
nm north of the radial array; however, no electrical or physical connections can
be identified between the two facilities.
This road-served facility (Figure 3) is located 15 nm south-southeast of
Leningrad and 1.5 nm west-southwest of Krasnoye Selo, USSR. The radial antenna
array is collocated with an extensive HF communications antenna field. The
overall facility is situated on open, level terrain at an elevation of 150 feet
above sea level. The radial feedlines are 493 meters (1,618 feet) in length.
Each alternate pair of masts appears to have been rotated in respect to the
feedline radial azimuth. Because of the, extreme obliquity of the available
photography, the broadside azimuths given for the two masts are approximate.
The facility contains a large HF communications antenna field of at least
16 type 2-2-2 receiving fishbone antennas and four quadrant antennas. Corre-
spondents for the fishbone antennas cannot be determined because the antennas i
cover almost 360 degrees of azimuth. Four probable very high frequency (VHF)
antenna arrays are located on the north side of the antenna field, generally
oriented on a north-south line. The reciprocal correspondents for these arrays
cannot be determined. The control area contains one T-shaped control building
and seven support buildings. A separate support area containing 25 support
buildings is located on the south side of the antenna field.
(Continued p. IO)
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An HF communications facility is located north of the probable DF facility;
however, no electrical or physical connections between the two can be identified.
The Krasnoye Selo THICK EIGHT HF/DF Facility is located approxi-
mately 1,5 nm southwest of the radial=array; however, no connection to the prob-
able DF facility can be identified.
The road-served facility (Figure 4) is located 7.0 nm east of Tallinn,
USSR. The facility is situated in a sparsely wooded area at an elevation of
100 feet above sea level. The radial feedlines
Two HF horizontal dipole antennas (items 11 and 12, Figure 4) are
within the security fence surrounding the control area. The correspondents for
these antennas are undetermined.
The road-served facility (Figure 5) is located 8.0 nm south-southeast of
Podolsk and approximately 27 nm south of Moscow, USSR. It is situated in a
densely wooded area at an elevation of 600 feet above sea level. The control
area contains a control building measuring 34 by 24 meters (112 by 79 feet) and
the radial feedlines are 518 meters (1,698 feet) in length. The support area
contains at least 40 buildings of various sizes and functions.
A large HF communications antenna field, consisting of antenna clearings
in the woods for HF receiving fishbone and several single and double rhombic
antennas, is on the eastern side of the radial array. The limited interpreta-
bility of available small-scale photography precludes an accurate antenna count.
Another HF communications antenna field, possibly associated with the DF facil-
ity, is located 0.5 nm south of the radial antenna array. It contains a large
number of HF single and double rhombic antennas and several receiving fishbone
antennas. Podolsk Type I Ionospheric Scatter Communications Facility
consisting of two antennas is located north of the radial array. These
antennas are oriented in a northerly direction. The correspondents are probably
pheric antennas at Murmansk Ionospheric Scatter Station 2
The road-served facility (Figure 6) is located 1.5 nm north-northeast of
Nikolayevka and 20 nm west-northwest of Simferopol, USSR. The facility, secured
by a single fence, is situated on a bluff overlooking the Black Sea at an ele-
vation of 100 feet above sea level. The control area contains a control build-
ing and several support buildings,
A small security building is located at the road entrance to the facility. The
radial feedline extensions are 597 meters (1,959 feet) in length. At least four
probable HF fishbone receiving antennas and several horizontal dipole antennas
are interspersed around the radial array. The limited interpretability of avail-
able photography precludes determination of the correspondents for these anten-
nas.
The road-served facility (Figure 7) is located 5.0 nm east of Chernovtsy,
USSR. It is situated on level terrain 750 feet above sea level. The control
area contains at least one control building and one support building. The
radial feedline extensions The limited
interpretability of available photography precludes the determination of security
fencing.
The road-served facility (Figure 8), located 10.6 nm east of Vinnitsa,
USSR, is situated on level terrain 900 feet above sea level. The radial feed-
line extensions The limited interpreta-
bility of available photography precludes identification of a control building
or a security fence.
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