SOVIET NAVAL AVIATION FLIGHT TRAINING INVOLVING MERCHANT SHIPS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP84T00491R000100570001-4
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 7
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: January 25, 2012
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: February 1, 1984
• Content Type: MISC

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/01/25: CIA-RDP84T00491 R000100570001-4
Secret
imagery analysis report
Soviet Naval Aviation Flight
Training Involving Merchant
Ships (S)
Secret
Z-14013/84
IAR-0002/84
FEBRUARY 1984
Copy 4 4
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Warning Notice
Intelligence Sources or Methods Involved
(WNINTEL)
NATIONAL SECURITY INFORMATION
Unauthorized Disclosure Subject to Criminal Sanctions
NOFORN - Not Releasable to Foreign Nationals
NOCONTRACT Not Releasable to Contractors or
Contractor/Consultants
PROPIN - Caution-Proprietary Information Involved
ORCON - Dissemination and Extraction of Information
Controlled by Originator
REL ... This Information has been Authorized for
Release to ...
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SECRET
NOFORN
SOVIET NAVAL AVIATION FLIGHT TRAINING
INVOLVING MERCHANT SHIPS (S)
INTRODUCTION
1. Activity at three Soviet Naval Aviation (SNA) installations, one naval base, and one port facility
(Figure 1) indicates that the Soviets were evaluating helicopter and vertical take-off and landing (VTOL)
aircraft operations from merchant ships from August through November 1983. The SNA currently oper-
ates helicopters from naval-associated transports, but this activity may be the first evidence of an effort to
develop a similar capability for FORGERs. Merchant ships are not currently associated with SNA opera-
tions, and the successful development of a merchant ship air capability would greatly augment the ability
to deploy air forces in support of naval operations. This report contains one map and five annotated
photographs. (S/WN)
NIKOLAYEV PORT
FACILITY SOUTH
OCHAKOV AIRFIELD
30 32
SEVASTOPOL NAVAL BASE
AND SHIPYARD KILENBAL
NPIC T?8023
25 S0 75 100
NAUTICAL MILES
WNINTEL
Z-14013/84
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SECRET
NOFORN
DESCRIPTION
2. Outlines simulating the forward deck of a probable merchant ship were painted around two
VTOL pads at Saki Airfield , the SNA FORGER training facility,
The bows of the outlines, parallel to the runway, pointed in opposite directions, probably
to simulate various wind conditions over the pads during VTOL operations. In addition, an 18- by 24-
meter rectangle, centered on the landing circles, was painted on the pads. (S/WN)
3. A similar 18-by 24-meter VTOL pad, raised slightly off the deck, was constructed amidships on a
Skulptor Konenkov-Class Roll-On/Roll-Off (RO/RO) Ship at Sevastopol Naval Base and Shipyard Kilenbal
Also, a 10-meter helicopter landing spot,
similar to those seen on Soviet naval vessels, was painted forward of the pad. Additional markings,
applied to the VTOL pad and deck consisted of a landing circle centered on the VTOL
pad, pad edge markers, a centerline connecting the VTOL pad and the helicopter landing spot, and six
additional lines radiating at 45-degree angles from the center of the VTOL pad. Similar radii are on VTOL
pads at Saki. The two forward radii, as well as the two perpendicular to the centerline, extended to the
deck edge. (S/WN)
4. This vessel departed Sevastopol On the latter date, it was dead in-
the-water, approximately 18 kilometers (km) north of Sevastopol and 8 km southwest of Kacha Airfield
a Black Sea Fleet Air Force helicopter base (Figure 4). Either a dark-toned net or probable
blast mark was observed on the VTOL pad. If the latter, it is likely that FORGER flight operations probably
had been conducted. Similar blast marks have been associated with FORGER VTOL operations. The ship
returned to Sevastopol and a probable canvas cover was subsequently
placed over the port half of the VTOL pad. The canvas covering could have been an attempt to conceal a
blast mark and hence the fact that FORGER flight operations had occurred. A net was also rigged on the
deck over the helicopter landing spot. Nets are used to prevent helicopter landing gear from sliding
while parked on the deck. (S/WN)
5. An outline of a Skulptor Konenkov-Class RO/RO ship was observed at Ochakov Airfield
the SNA helicopter training center, This outline was virtually
identical in size to the modified Skulptor Konenkov at Sevastopol and simulated both the VTOL pad and
the helicopter landing spot. Ground scarring indicated that only the helicopter landing spot had been
used. (S/WN)
6. The shipboard portion of this program may have ended when a Skulptor
Konenkov-Class RO/RO ship was observed at the central quay of Nikolayev Port Facility South
the major Soviet arms export facility. A possible centerline showed through the painted deck of
this ship, an indication that the vessel may have been the previously mentioned modified Skulptor
Konenkov (Figure 6). The Skulptor Konenkov has not been observed with modifications since the ship
was at Sevastopol Naval Base and Shipyard Kilenbal (S/WN)
IMAGERY ANALYST'S COMMENTS
7. These activities represent an attempt by the Soviets to examine the feasibility of conducting both
VTOL and helicopter operations from merchant ships. Two to four FORGERs could be carried on the
deck of a Skulptor Konenkov RO/RO without hampering operations from the VTOL pad. Modified
RO/ROs could be used as ferrys to transport aircraft to crisis areas as was done by the British during the
Falkland Islands conflict. FORGERs launched from modified merchant ships could also be used to support
amphibious operations. In the past, RO/ROs have been used in other functions to support amphibious
exercises but have not been directly involved in SNA operations. (S/WN)
WNINTEL
IAR-0002/84 SECRET Z-14013/84
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