AWACS-ASSOCIATED CANDID AIRCRAFT, USSR

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP84T00171R000200220001-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 10
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: January 25, 2012
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: September 1, 1981
• Content Type: REPORT

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WNINTEL
VOM~
.-Z-20140/81
' OAR-0182/81
-SEPTEMBER 1981
COPY 2 0
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 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/01/25: CIA-RDP84TO0171 R000200220001-6
AWACS-ASSOCIATED CANDID
AIRCRAFT, USSR (S)
INTRODUCTION
1. (S/D) CANDID aircraft that are modified specifically for use as airborne warning and
control systems (AWACS) aircraft have been observed in the USSR at Tashkent Airframe Plant B
Chkalov 84 where they are produced; at Taganrog Airframe Plant Dimitrov 86 (BE
where they are flight tested. The AWACS-related modifications include a strut-supported roto-
dome, a probable satellite communications antenna housing, several fuselage blisters, and a large
nose probe.
2. (S/D) This report contains a location map (Figure 1), 11 annotated photographs, and a
summary chart (Chart 1).
DESCRIPTION
CANDID AWACS 1
3. (S/D) The first CANDID to be converted to the AWACS configuration
Airfield serves as the flyaway field for Tashkent Airframe Plant B Chkalov 84, where the CANDID
is currently being produced. CANDID B was subsequently identified on a
parking apron at Taganrog Airfield This aircraft probably spent
the next 15 months undergoing conversion to an AWACS platform inside the large engineering
hangar in the southern area of Taganrog Airframe Plant Dimitrov 86. On numerous coverages
between D-30 engine shipping containers and AWACS roto-
dome and antenna shipping containers were observed outside the engineering hangar. The fully
converted CANDID AWACS 1 (Figure 3) was observed on the main parking apron at Taganrog for
the first time on This aircraft was usually present on the main parking apron
CANDID AWACS, with its outer wing panels removed, was observed on the apron in front of the
large engineering hangar, presumably for additional fitting-out (Figure 4). The outer wing panels
from the aircraft were on the main parking apron on those two dates. This CANDID AWACS was
later observed in flight over Akhtubinsk FTC on On CANDID
AWACS 1 was observed parked at the area airfield of Akhtubinsk FTC where it has remained. It
was probably transferred to Akhtubinsk from Taganrog for advanced flight/systems testing.
CANDID AWACS 2
4. (S/D) The second CANDID converted to an AWACS platform was CANDID B
the engineering hangar by and remained there undergoing modification until
where they are modified; and at Akhtubinsk Flight Test Center (FTC;
(Figure 2). This aircraft was first observed at Tashkent Airfield
e dorsal-mounted rotodome strut bases were on the aircraft on that date. Tashkent
(Figure
5). This aircraft was first identified with rotodome strut bases at Tashkent on
CANDID B was subsequently observed at Taganrog onL
e engines of this aircraft were removed during August 1978 and the outer wing
panels were removed by (Fi ure 3). This CANDID had probably been moved into
WN/NTEL
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late 1980 or early 1981. This aircraft was robabl the completed CANDID AWACS observed at
Taganrog from through (Figure 6). On CANDID
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AWACS 2 was first observed at Akhtubinsk FTC (Figure 7), indicating that it had also been
transferred there for advanced flight/systems testing.
CANDID AWACS 3
5. (S/D) A CANDID A, with rotodome strut bases was identified at
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Tashkent Airframe Plant on (Figure 8). This aircraft was subsequently observed at
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Tashkent Airfield on On imagery of a set of CANDID outer wing
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panels was observed on the main paring apron of Taganrog (Figure 9). The starboard wing panel
contained The wing panels have remained on the parkin a ron, canvas
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covered, on all subsequent coverages. It can be assumed that CANDID A ~
is
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currently undergoing conversion into an AWACS aircraft at Taganrog.
Possibly Related Activity
6. (S/D) A modified CANDID B, was identified at Taganrog on
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= The modifications to the aircraft consist of a large dorsal fairing aft of the wing box and
forward of the vertical stabilizer; two small protrusions flanking the large dorsal fairing; two large
pods/blisters (one mounted low on each side of the fuselage aft of the flight deck); and a blunt,
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FIGURE 1. LOCATION MAP OF TAGANROG, AKHTUBINSK, AND TASHKENT, USSR
"Yshjihahad
IRAN TASHK*NT
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 bulbous nose extension (Figure 10). The large fuselage-mounted pods/blisters may be extensions
of the landing gear housing; however, this has not been confirmed. This aircraft was first ob-
served at Taganrog as an unmodified CANDID B with The
outer wing panels of this aircraft were observed removed on This aircraft was
not observed again until however, the outer wing panels of this CANDID remained
on the main parking apron throughout this entire period indicating that the modifications to the
aircraft were done at Taganrog. This modified CANDID, has been observed at
Taganrog on all subsequent coverages.
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(S/D) A modified CANDID A (Figure 11), similar in appearance to the modified CANDID
B I was identified at Tashkent on~This aircraft was on the airfield
checkout/maintenance apron where it has since been observed repeatedly. The modified CAN-
DID A has a large dorsal fairing flanked by two small protrusions and an extended bulbous nose.
However, unlike the modified CANDID B this aircraft did not have the large low-
mounted pods/blisters. Only the first four digits of this modified CANDID's
have been confirmed.
8. (S/D) The role of these two modified CANDID is not clear; however, their modifications
appear to be electronics related. They have been included in this report because there may be a
relationship between these aircraft and the CANDID AWACS program.
IMAGERY ANALYST'S COMMENTS
been repainted with Soviet military markings.
9. (S/D) As part of the conversion process, both CANDID AWACS completed thus far have
AEROFLOT wing markings. On the second CANDID AWACS (formerly CANDID B
CANDID AWACS (formerly CANDID 6 large rectangular patches that are
lighter in tone than the rest of the wing are located in the areas formerly occupied by the
However, differences in the paint patterns on the two aircraft have been identified. On the first
-in the AWACS program eliminated the need for this conversion procedure. Why CANDID
A aircraft were not originally used in this program is not known.
parking apron at Taganrog since (Figure 12). The use of CANDID A
rectangular patches that are darker in tone than the rest of the wing have been observed
where the AEROFLOT wing markings had been (Figure 7). On both aircraft, a five-pointed star has
been painted on each of the rectangular patches.
10. (S/D) Another feature of the conversion process observed on the first two CANDID
AWACS was the replacement of the original B-type tail with an A-type tail. Before they were
converted to AWACS, the CANDID B aircraft had tail cones which incorporated a quadruple
23mm tail gun, a tail gunner's position, and a BOX TAIL fire control radar. These tail cones were
replaced during AWACS modification with ones that had none of the tail-gun-associated features.
The tail cones on the AWACS are similar to the tail cone observed on CANDID A aircraft. A
CANDID B tail cone, probably from one of the first CANDID AWACS, has been on the main
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SECRET
(S/D) All available satellite imagery acquired between
cutoff date, was used in the preparation of this report.
SAC. US Air Target Chart, Series 200, Sheets 0249-3 and -8, scale 1:200,000 (UNCLASSIFIED)
(S) Comments and queries regarding this report are welcome. They may be directe
Warsaw Pact Forces Division, Imagery Exploitation Group, NPIC,
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Chart 1. Summary of Observed CANDID AWACS Aircraft and Possibly Related CANDID Modification Activity, March 1977 - August 1981
This chart in its entirety is classified SECRET/WNINTEL
1977 1978 1979 1980 1981
M A M J J A S 0 N D J F M A M J J A S 0 N D J F M A M J J A S 0 N D J F M A M J J A S 0 N D J F M A M J J A
CANDID A
CANDID q
CANDID A
Tashkent
Taganrog
Akhtubinsk
* First observed with complete AWACS modifications.
O~first imagery identification of an AWACS in
flight over Akhtubinsk.
OUTER WING PANELS ONLY
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