MILITARY CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITY IN NORTHERN NAMIBIA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78T05162A000500010022-2
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 8
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 20, 2011
• Sequence Number: 22
• Publication Date: September 1, 1977
• Content Type: REPORT

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Top Secret
PHOTOGRAPHIC
I NTERPRETATION
REPORT
NATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHIC
INTERPRETATION CENTER
MILITARY CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITY
IN NORTHERN NAMIBIA (S)
Top Secret
25X1
PIR-021/77 25X1
SEPTEMBER 1977
Copy 13 3
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Warning Notice
Sensitive Intelligence Sources and 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
USIBONLY- USIB Departments Only
ORCON- Dissemination and Extraction of Information
Controlled by Originator
REL. . .- This Information has been Authorized for
Release to .. .
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Ton Secret RUFF
MILITARY CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITY IN NORTHERN NAMIBIA (S)
1. (TSR) This report summarizes military construction at airfields in the northern portion of
Namibia (South-West Africa) along the Angola border, including the Caprivi Strip and the Zambia
border region. Construction includes the upgrading of support and logistics facilities for air and
ground forces at five airfields. Each airfield was constructed during the 1960s; improvements were
observed at each location from October 1975 to July 1977. Figure 1 shows the locations of these air-
fields and has an inset table giving runway data.
2. (TSR) The most extensive expansion of facilities has taken place at Grootfontein Airfield,
approximately 130 nautical miles (nm) south of the Angola border. Figures 2 and 3 show the Groot-
fontein Airfield and the adjacent Grootfontein Army Camp as they appeared in 25X1
August 1971 and as they appeared in April 1977. An approximately 4,040-meter runway was being
built parallel to the existing 2,700-meter east-northeast/west-southwest blacktop runway in April
1977. While still operational, this existing runway was being lengthened. A large maintenance
hangar, maintenance and shop buildings, and additional parking aprons were added to the airfield,
which expanded its support capability. These support facilities resemble those seen at major air
force installations within South Africa such as Waterkloof Airfield and Pietersburg 25X1
Airfield A simultaneous upgrading of facilities has taken place at the adjacent 25X1
Groot fontein Army Camp. A multiwing headquarters/administration complex and 32 barracks (all
of which are connected by covered passageways), a large vehicle maintenance and storage area, a
rail-served POL storage area, and recreational facilities all appear to be complete. The POL storage
area is on a spur of the Namibian rail network which is connected to the South African rail system.
3. (TSR) Much less extensive improvements have taken place at the other four airfields. At.
Ruacana Airfield, just south of the Angola border and 7 nm east of Ruacana Falls, a hangar has
been constructed adjacent to the parking apron. Fifty tents were observed at the adjacent military
camp 25X1
4. (TSR) New support facilities and increased air activity were observed at Ondangua Air-
field Two revetted aircraft alert aprons and four other 25X1
revetted areas were seen in April along the parallel taxiway. A large bivouac area was adjacent to
the airfield and included at least 250 tents, two revetted probable ammunition storage areas, four
other revetted storage areas, and approximately 150 vehicles, most of which were cargo trucks. All
of these facilities have been added since February 1976. Prior to the sighting of three Puma and
three Alouette helicopters at the airfield only transport and small straight-winged air- 25X1
craft had been observed.
5. (TSRJ
three large administration/support buildings and 32 small
buildings were under construction in one of the revetted areas along the taxiway. Also, grading was
underway for an additional revetment. One additional Puma helicopter and five small straight-
wing liaison aircraft were observed in July. An air warning radar facility consisting of three uniden-
tified radars on mounds was seen in April and July.
6. (TSR) At Runtu Airfield permanent support facilities that have been constructed include
an administration/barracks complex that is interconnected by covered passageways and six
storage/maintenance buildings (Figure 4). Approximately 200 personnel tents and 19 larger tents
were seen at this facility
7. (TSR) Construction of similar permanent buildings has been seen at, Mpacha Airfield in
the eastern Caprivi Strip, approximately 10 nm south of the Zambia border (Figure 5). At least 30
administration, barracks, and support buildings have been added. The foundations for these
buildings were first observed in October 1975 shows that a maintenance 25X1
program was being carried out at the flight facilities at the airfield, including the parallel taxiway,
parking aprons, and crossover links.
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Top Secret
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Top Secret RUFF
South-West Africa (Namibia)
ANGOLA
0shakati~ ^ f A P R ,~.^~ S T R I P
Runway Data
2,200-m serviceable
blacktop runway
2,430-m serviceable
blacktop runway
2,700-m serviceable
blacktop runway
(being lengthened)
4,040-m unserviceable
runway (under
construction)
FIGURE 1. LOCATIONS OF AIRFIELDS IN NAMIBIA (SOUTH-WEST AFRICA) WHERE MILITARY-RELATED
CONSTRUCTION HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED
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Next 3 Page(s) In Document Denied
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Top Secret RUFF
MAPS OR CHARTS
Operational Navigation Chart, Sheets P3 and -4, scale 1:1,000,000 (UNCLASSIFIED)
REQUIREMENT
Project 1434HONC
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Top Secret
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List of Conversion Factors by Classification
MILLIMETERS
0.0394
INCHES
KILOGRAMS
22046
POUNDS(AVOIR.)
CENTIMETERS
0.3937
INCHES
POUNDS)AVOIR.)
0.4536
KILOGRAMS
INCHES
25.4000
MILLIMETERS
SHORT TONS
0.9072
METRIC TONS
INCHES
2.5400
CENTIMETERS
METRIC TONS
1.1023
SHORT TONS
FEET
0.3048
METERS
METRIC TONS
0.9842
LONG TONS
FEET
0.0003
KILOMETERS
LONG TONS
1.0160
METRIC TONS
YARDS
0.9144
METERS
METERS
3.2808
FEET
METERS
0.0005
MILES(NAUTICAL)
METERS
1.0936
YARDS
KILOMETERS
3280.8400
FEET
KILOMETERS
0.6214
MILESISTATUTE)
KILOMETERS
0.5400
MILES(NAUTICAL)
LITERS
0.2642
GALLONS
MILESISTATUTE)
1.6093
KILOMETERS
LITERS
0.0063
BARRELS(POL)
MILESINAUTICAL)
6076.1154
FEET
LITERS
0.0010
CUBIC METERS
MILES(NAUTICAL)
1.8520
KILOMETERS
GALLONS
3.7854
LITERS
MILES(NAUTICAL)
1852.0000
METERS
GALLONS
0.1337
CUBIC FEET
GALLONS
0.0238
BARRELS(POL)
GALLONS
0.0038
CUBIC METERS
BUSHELS
0.0352
CUBIC METERS
CUBIC FEET
7.4805
GALLONS
CUBIC FEET
0.1781
BARRELSIPOL)
SQUARE CENTIMETERS
0.1550
SQUARE INCHES
CUBIC FEET
0.0283
CUBIC METERS
SQUARE INCHES
6.4516
SQUARE CENTIMETERS
CUBIC YARDS
0.7646
CUBIC METERS
SQUARE FEET
0.0929
SQUARE METERS
BARRELS(POL)
158.9873
LITERS
SQUARE YARDS
0.8361
SQUARE METERS
BARRELS(POL)
42.0000
GALLONS
SQUARE METERS
10.7639
SQUARE FEET
BARRELS(POL)
5.6146
CUBIC FEET
SQUARE METERS
1.1960
SQUARE YARDS
BARRELS(PDL)
0.1590
CUBIC METERS
SQUARE METERS
1.0000
CENTARES
CUBIC METERS
1000.0000
LITERS
SQUARE METERS
0.0002
ACRES
CUBIC METERS
264.1721
GALLONS
SQUARE METERS
0.0001
HECTARES
CUBIC METERS
35.3147
CUBIC FEET
ACRES
4046.8564
SQUARE METERS
CUBIC METERS
28.3776
BUSHELS
ACRES
0.4047
HECTARES
CUBIC METERS
6.2898
BARRELS(POL)
HECTARES
10000.0000
SQUARE METERS
CUBIC METERS
1.3080
CUBIC YARDS
HECTARES
2.4711
ACRES
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