UNIQUE VEHICLES ASSOCIATED WITH SOVIET ICBM AND IRBM PAYLOAD HANDLING

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP85T00840R000301380001-3
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 11
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: November 16, 2010
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: August 1, 1985
• Content Type: REPORT

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imagery analysis report
Unique Vehicles Associated With
Soviet ICBM and IRBM
Payload Handling (S)
Top Secret
Top Secret
AUGUST 1985
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UNIQUE VEHICLES ASSOCIATED
WITH SOVIET ICBM AND IRBM
PAYLOAD HANDLING (S)
1. In late 1982, a unique set of vehicles of unknown function began to be observed with Soviet SS-
17, -18, -19, and -20 missile systems. These two vehicles, which have been subsequently identified as a
payload-associated multiple canister dolly (PAMCD) and apayload-associated van-bodied trailer (PAVBT),
have now been confirmed at at least eight ICBM complexes, four SS-20 complexes, and at Glazov Missile
Support Rear Depot (Figure 1). These vehicles are usually seen together and may give the Soviets the
capability to carry multiple payloads to the field and maintain them while deployed. (S/WN)
2. This report contains one map, one table, and eight annotated photographs. (U)
DYATLOVO
~ KIVERTSY
?DERAZHNYA
GLAZQV
?
? TATISHCHEVO
KARTALY
Dr 1VSKIY
tMENI
GASTE~LC7
NDVpSfB1RSK ~ KANSK
?BARNAUL UZHUR
~ ALEYSK
? MoQil_E Missil_I_ coniPLEx
? MISSILE SUPPORT REAR
DEPORT
Facility
Aleysk ICBM RTP
Barnaul Mobile IRBM Support Complex
Derazhnya ICBM RTP
Dombarovskiy ICBM RTP
Dombarovskiy Dispersal Training Area 004
Drovyanaya SSM RTP
Dyatlovo Payload Handling Facility
Glazov Missile Support Rear Depot
Imeni Castello ICBM RTP
Kansk Mobile IRBM Support Complex
Facility
Kartaly ICBM RTP
Kivertsy Payload Handling 1 acility
KosTroma ICBM RTP
Novosibirsk IRBM RTP
Pervomaysk ICBM RTP
Tatishchevo ICBM RTP
Uzhur ICBM RTP
Verkhnyaya Salda IRBM RTP
Yurya IRBM RTP
Zhangiztobe ICBM RTP
FIGURE 1. LOCATIONS OF FACILITIES WITH PAYLOAD-ASSOCIATED VEHICLES IN THE USSR
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DISCUSSION
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Description of Vehicles
3. The multiple canister doll (Fi ure 2) is a
trailer,~ong and wide, that
can carry up to eight concave cradles. The cradles
are0 long and Owide and are
probably surrounded by a metal framework (Figure
3). Each cradle can carry a single warhead canister
for a MIRVed fourth-generation missile. (S/WN)
4. The van-bodied trailer (Figures 2 and 3) is
and consists of
two parts-a van body and a flat work platform.
The van body is
and is covered with arch-roofed panels that may
slide (Figure 4). The work platform i~
by
FIGURE 2. PAYLOAD-ASSOCIATED VEHICLES AT KOSTROMA ICBM RTP (top) AND A CONCEPTUAL DRAWING OF
THEM (bottom)
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and has no observable surface features; van body (Figure 6) and is probably used for lifting
it is sometimes covered with an arch-roofed panel warhead canisters from the dolly onto the work
(Figure 5). A small crane is probably housed in the platform. Panels may then be placed over the work
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platform or slid forward from the van body to
provide a protected environment. This van-bodied
trailer has been observed with a tow bar at either
end. (S/WN)
5. The multiple canister dolly allows the So-
viets to transport up to eight individual warheads
at a time. The van-bodied trailer, with its crane and
moving panels, provides a mobile, sheltered plat-
form for working on missile payloads. Although
these vehicles have not been observed together in
afield-training exercise, the van-bodied trailer was
observed during an ICBM dispersal training exer-
cise at Dombarovskiy on (Figure 7).
(S/W N)
6. Probable uses of the two vehicles have
been deduced from monitoring the areas in which
they have been observed when in garrison as well
as from their functional appearance. Although a
review of imagery reveals that these vehicles have
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they have been observed in only a limited number
of areas within the SSM support complexes. When
they are not in use, the two vehicles are normally
in the ground support equipment maintenance/
storage areas of the rail-to-road transfer points
(RTPs). When they are in use at ICBM complexes,
they have been seen most often at SS-18 rail off-
loading areas with payload-associated Mod-4 ret-
rofit components (Figure 3). At SS-20 (IRBM) facili-
ties, the vehicles have been in either the rail off-
loading areas or the nuclear payload handling fa-
cilities (NPHFs). At Kansk and Barnaul Mobile
IRBM Support Complexes, the vehicles are usually
in the NPHF. At Verkhnyaya Salda, the vehicles
have been observed in the rail offloading area of
the RTP and in the NPHF. At Novosibirsk, they are
usually near the rail offloading area of the RTP.
These observed patterns of use indicate the vehi-
cles are used for payload-handling operations.
(S/WN)
7. At the Kansk NPHF, Verkhnyaya Salda
RTP, and the Novosibirsk RTP, the canister dolly
and van-bodied trailer have been observed with
probable single reentry vehicle (RV) dollies and
probable postboost vehicle (PBV) dollies (Figure 8).
Identification of the probable RV dollies and prob-
able PBV dollies with these two vehicles is a further
indication of their payload-associated function.
(S/WN)
8. The two payload-associated vehicles were
first identified in the NPHF at the Kansk SSM sup-
port complex in December 1984. A review of re-
cent imagery has since confirmed the presence of
both these vehicles at 12 SSM complexes and one
missile support rear depot. Possible or probable
multiple canister dollies and van-bodied trailers
have also been observed at several other SSM
complexes (Table 1). (S/WN)
Table 1.
Missile Complexes Where Payload-Associated Vehicles
Have Been Observed
ICBM Complex
System
PAMCD
PAVBT
First Seen
Aleysk
SS-18
1 prob
1 conf
Nov 83
hn a
SS-19
-
1 rob
)ul 84
Drovyanaya
SS-11/-20
-
1 poss
of
ug
un 84
Kostroma
S -17 -11
con
con
an
Pervomaysk
TatichrhPVn
SS-19
SS-19
1 conf
1 conf
1 conf
1 conf
Apr 84
May 84
Zhangiztobe
IRBM Complex
Rarnai~l
Novosibirsk
\/nrlrhnvava Ca~rta* **
Apr 83
Apr 84
Missile Support Rear Depot
Glazov
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5-7 conf May 83
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9. The two vehicles have been seen at Kansk
and Barnaul more frequently than at any of the
other SSM complexes. This is probably because
these two facilities were built from scratch and as
yet have limited vehicle storage capacity. The vehi-
cles are seen less frequently at the more estab-
lished complexes, where more vehicle storage
space is available. An example of this is at Drov-
yanaya, where storage structures for the SS-7, SS-
11, and SS-20 missile systems have been built, and
only one possible van-bodied trailer has been ob-
served. The multiple canister dolly and the van-
bodied trailer may be at this and other SSM com-
plexes but have not been observed or confirmed
because they have been in storage or camou-
flaged. In addition, frequency of coverage, cloud
cover, and terrain masking in some areas, particu-
larly at SS-20 complexes in the western USSR, fur-
ther complicate observation or confirmation of
these payload-associated vehicles. (S/WN)
Imagery Analyst's Comments
10. These two specialized vehicles provide a
capability for payload-associated activities in areas
removed from fixed facilities at SSM complexes
and provide an inherent capacity to support any
reconstitution of missile forces planned by the So-
viets. These capabilities are particularly important
for mobile IRBMs and will become increasingly
important as mobile ICBMs are deployed. (S/WN)
All applicable satellite imagery acquired from January 1980 to
port. (S/WN)
was used in the preparation of this re- 2rj)C1
Comments and queries regarding this report are welcome. They may be directed to
Soviet Missile and Space Division, Imagery Exploitation Group, NPIC;
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