PART II OF NIE 11-6-56 'CAPABILITIES AND TRENDS IN SOVIET SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY'

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79R00961A000100050022-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: December 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: March 27, 2001
• Sequence Number: 22
• Publication Date: July 10, 1956
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For R e e 2001 /08IOPCIS 1R00961AO 100050028-8 6
T.S. Cont. Na.
AFOIN, EQ USAF
10 July 1956
*USAF Declass/Release Instructions On File*
r PART II OF' NIE 11-6-56
"CAPABILI'l`YES AND TDS IN SOVIET SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY"
IV. SOVIET CAPABILITIES IN RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMT RELATED TO MILITARY A19D
INDUS 1RIAL TECHNOLOGY
A. Soviet Nuclear Efter Program
B. So-iet Guided Missiles Program 1
1. Known Soviet achievements and their high level and diversity of activity
in the guided missile field indicates that Soviet science and technology are
capable of mastering the difficult research and development problems inherent
in a guided miss_le development program. We believe, on the basis of all
aa-ailable e-idence, that the USSR in engaged in an extensive guided missile
program, and that the USSR has the basic scientific and technical capabilities
to support a comprehensive research and development program. We further
1:elie,~ve that the USSR now has missile systeirs in all categories _.a/ in at
least limited operational status; however, we have very little intelligence
on the specific characteristics and performance data of the missile types
the USSR is presently developing or may now have in operational use.
2. Guided Missile Testing Facilities: The USSR is known to be engaged
in an extensive ballistic missile flight testing program at the Kepustin Yar
guided missile test range. We have practically no current information on
the Kapustin Yar range facilities, instrumentation, and scientific and technical
-!-/For more detailed information on Soviet guided missile capabilities, see
NIE 11-12-5;, dated 20 December 19)5, and NIE 11-5-56 to be published
in September 1956.
2 /Surface-to-surface, surface-to-air, air-to-air, air-to-surface.
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itude and extensiveness
manpower. Nevertheless, on the basis of the type,
of the known ballistic missile flight testing activities being conducted, we
believe the Kapusstin Yar range to be well equipped, modern, and operated by
well-qualified missile scientists, engineers, and technicians in supporting
activities. Very little is known concerning other Soviet guided missile test
facilities.
3. Missile Guidance and Control: The t1 t has demonstrated an excellent
capability in the electronics field as evidenced by their rapid advances in
radar and communications fields. Soviet ability to apply this demonstrated
capability to the development of missile guidance and control systems, together
with some limited intelligence on Soviet missile guidance and control systems,
indicated that the USSR possesses the necessary scientific and technical
knowledge and skills to develop advanced guidance and control systems for all
categories of guided missiles. Evidence in at least two missile categories
supports this belief. There has appeared around Moscow a complex system of
installations concluded to be surface-to-air guided missile sites. The
specifics of the guidance system employed here is currently unknown, but
it is assumed that an original Soviet design is involved and that the USSR
may have achieved a solution to the difficult problem of simultaneously
controlling several missiles in the air. In the surface-to-surface field,
the magnitude of their ballistic missile test program also indicates
inferentially that guidance and control equipment being tested is
probably meeting its basic requirements.
4. Guided Missile Propulsion Systems: Known Soviet achievement in both
the solid and liquid propulsion fields indicated that they are well advanced
in rocket propulsion techniques. The fact that the Soviets have fired numerous
ballistic missiles at the Kapustin Yar guided missile test facility to ranges
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 of 600 4ndh 1I TOP SETRET~ rt their
A' ?o 6 e ~ .I*O# ! AcKD 9 b Q O&g08_gaims to hardware. The development program for a 100 metic ton thrust rocket
engine, undertaken at Khimki and estimated to have been ready for static
testing as early as 1952, is an outstanding example of Soviet advanced
aims in rocket propulsion systems. We believe that the development of
suitable propulsion systems for all categories of guided missiles is one
of the USSR'a strongest capabilities in the over-all missile system.
5. Guided Missile Aerodynamics and Structures: The USSR has an excellent
capability in both aerodynamics and structural designs for supersonic and
hypersonic vehicles. The USSR has acquired considerable experience from its
extensive testing of ballistic missiles at the Kapustin Yar test range, which
experience has undoubtedly enhanced their capabilities for solving the heating,
aerodynamic and structural problems encountered upon re-entry of mid- and
long-range (IRBM and ICBM) missiles. We believe that the USSR possesses, or
is rapidly acquiring, the necessary data for successfully solving the aerodynamic
and structural problems of IR34's and ICBM's.
6. Earth satellite vehicles: Sometime prior to November 1954, a Permanent
Inter-Agency Commission for Interplanetary Communications was established in
the Soviet Academy of Sciences. Members of this Commission include some of the
top Soviet scientists in the fields of physics, astronomy and gas dynamics.
Formation of this Commission is the first known official indication of a
coordinated survey of the theoretical problems involved in establishing a
space satellite or in space travel, although many individual Soviet scientists
have shown considerable interest in these fields. We estimate that the USSR
possesses the basic scientific capabilities, technical skills, and other
, log sENET
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resources required to develop, build, and launch an unmanned earth satellite
vehicle. With the exception of the non-ex'-stent re-entry problem and the
requirement for a small, long-life power supply accomplishment of a
successful earth satellite vehicle entails solving essentially the same
scientific and technical problems encountered in a long-range ballistic
missile program.
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