LOURDES CENTRAL SIGINT COMPLEX

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80T01782R000100710001-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 7
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 11, 2010
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: August 1, 1980
• Content Type: REPORT

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basic Imagery Interpretation report
Lourdes Central Sigint Complex (S)
DEPLOYED COMMO/ELEC/RADAR FACILITIES
CUBA
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Top Secret R U F F
Lourdes Central Sigint Complex
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I. (S/D) Lourdes Central Sigint Complex is the only known Soviet signal intelligence (sigint) installation
in Cuba. Since June 1978, nearly 5,000 square meters of roof cover have been added to this complex.
2. (S/D) This report updates an NPIC basic report, and includes a location map, 25X1
four annotated photographs depicting changes to the complex since 1978, and mensural data.
-the date of the latest imagery used in the last NPIC report
structures with a total roof cover area of 4,972 square meters were constructed,
BASIC DESCRIPTION
4. (S/D) The Lourdes complex consists of seven major functional areas-headquarters/administration,
telemetry station, two space-associated electronics, vehicle/equipment maintenance, mobile communication sat-
ellite, and communications intelligence/electronics intelligence (comint/elint)-and one construction camp (Fig-
ure 2).
LOURDES CENTRAL
SIGINT COMPLEX
OCATION OF LOURDES CENTRAL SIGINT COMPLEX, CUBA
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Lourdes Central Sigint Complex is 8 nautical miles (nm) southwest of Havana, Cuba (Figure
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Headquarters/ Administration Area
5. (S/D) Four small probable support buildings (items I through 4, Figure 2) were constructed on
the west side of the headquarters/administration area. Initial construction of the buildings was begun in
June 1978, and the four buildings were complete by September 1978. In January 1980, the roof and walls
of the building on the east end (item 1) were removed, however, in April 1980, rebuilding had begun.
Telemetry Station Area
6. (S/D) No apparent changes were observed in this area during the reporting period.
Space-Associated Electronics Areas
7. (S/D) An ~ pedestal-mounted dish antenna was observed at the northern space-associ- 25X1
atcd electronics area (Figure 3), 300 meters southwest of the headquarters/administration area. Excava-
tion for the pedestal began in May 1979, the pedestal was under construction by August, and the dish was
observed assembled on the ground in late August. The dish was mounted on the pedestal in late October,
and an antenna feed was first seen in February 1980. The fence enclosing the area was modified in
December 1979 to include the new antenna. Footings for an additional probable control building immedi-
ately east of the corner of the existing control building were begun in April 1980.
8. (S/D) Four housing units (items I through 4, Figure 4) were constructed on the east side of the
southern space-associated electronics area, 1,200 meters south-southeast of the headquarters/administra-
tion area. These units, which appear to be duplexes, were begun in June 1978 and were completed by
November. In July 1979, a broad V-shaped trench and a grid pattern of unknown function were con-
structed in the field in the western section of this area.
Vehicle/ Equipment Maintenance Area
9. A motorized rifle battalion, one of the elements of the Soviet brigade in Cuba, is 25X1
garrisoned in the vehicle/equipment maintenance area (Figure 3). This battalion is probably responsible for
physical security for the Lourdes complex. The equipment includes a BTR-60PB armored personnel carrier
battalion, a ZSU 23/4 gun battery, a 122mm D-30 howitzer gun battery, and a TMM (truck-mounted scissors
bridge) company.'
10. (S/D) The double fenceline in the southwest section of the area was modified to include a
slightly larger area in April 1978. This change occurred at the same time the six-position antiaircraft
artillery (AAA) site, immediately southeast of the vehicle/equipment maintenance area, was modified to a
four-position site. By July 1979, a small building of unknown function was under construction between the
modified fenceline and an existing maintenance shed. Two small maintenance sheds in the northwest
corner of the area had been replaced with one slightly larger shed by December.
Mobile Communications Satellite Area
11. (S/D) Four multistory probable barracks (items I through 4, Figure 5) were begun in January, March,
and April 1978 and February 1979, respectively, and were nearly externally complete by April 1980. Two PARK
DRIVE units were relocated in the mobile communications satellite area in June 1978. A vehicle/equipment
maintenance/parking building (item 5) which houses the PARK DRIVE electronics trucks was completed by
November. Footings for a building southeast of the PARK DRIVE area were begun in April 1979: however,
supports were not constructed until April 1980. Clearing for a probable vehicle/equipment maintenance/park-
ing building (item 6) was begun in July 1979 in the southwest corner of the area: this building was externally
complete by January 1980. An R-400 mast was erected near the administration building in January 1980, and
three probable R-409 (CATS PAW) antennas were identified in the same area on
Comint/Elint Area
12. (S/D) Two vehicle/equipment maintenance/parking buildings (items 5 and 6, Figure 2) were
begun in June 1979 and were completed in July. One mast of a large rhombic antenna in the antenna field
has not been observed since March 1979. A new mast of unknown function was erected by the end of
January 1980, and a pod, probably removed from the northern spaced-associated electronics area, was
next to the mast in early February. The FIX-24 antenna, formerly near the north end of the antenna field,
has not been present since March 1979, although four masts in an irregular-shaped pattern are near the
control building. Improvement of the drainage system in the antenna field began in January 1980.
Construction Camp
13. (S/D) Although only minor changes have occurred at the construction camp, construction,
possibly related to drainage improvement, began in April 1980. This construction was parallel to the main
road between the camp and the headquarters/administration area (Figure 2). Clearing for a probable
barracks (item 7) in the field northeast of the camp began in November 1978, and construction began by
March 1979. However, the barracks was still only in the midstage of construction.
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(S/D) All applicable satellite imagery acquired from
tion of this report.
MAPS OR CHARTS
TPC, Series E724, Sheet 1631-III, scale 1:50,000 (UNCLASSIFIED)
DOCUMENTS
1. NPIC. RCA-03/0003/78, Lourdes Central Sigint Complex (S), Nov 78 (TOP SECRET
2. NPIC. IAR-0079/80, Soviet Brigade Training Cycle, Cuba (S), May 80 (TOP SECRET
was used in the prepara- 25X1
COMIREX C03
Project 200002DC
(S) Comments and queries regarding this report are welcome. They may be directed to
World Forces Division, Imagery Exploitation Group, NPIC,
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