REAR DEPOT SUPPORT TO SOVIET HEAVY ICBMS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP91T01115R000400680002-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 12
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 8, 2012
• Sequence Number: 2
• Publication Date: December 1, 1987
• Content Type: MISC

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Secret
Not Releasable to-Foreign Nationals
Central Intelligence Agency
Directorate of Intelligence
(5) DDI/CPAS/IMC/ICB
December 1987
Rear Depot Support to Soviet Heavy ICBMs (S NF)
Summary
Since the 1960s, the Soviets have used national-level
missile support rear depots to provide storage, supply,
and maintenance support to their Strategic Rocket
Forces. Specialized storage and maintenance facilities
for Soviet heavy ICBMs are located at two such depots--
Bobrovskiy and Glazov. The primary function of
Bobrovskiy has been missile storage, but it also
probably provides personnel and logistic support for
missile maintenance and modification programs at
deployed complexes. Bobrovskiy probably also performed
minor maintenance on the current deployed heavy ICBM,
the SS-18, before 1984. Since 1981, however, Glazov
has become the primary facility for the repair and
refurbishment of defective SS-18 ICBMs. Both depots
will probably continue to support the SS-18 ICBM system
until it is completely replaced by the SS-18 follow-on
system by 1995.
Information as of 27 October 1987 was used in this report. (U)
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We expect Bobrovskiy and Glazov to play a major support
role for the SS-18 follow-on. Support to that program
will probably be very similar to what was provided for
the SS-18 system and will include the following:
o Short-term storage for some missiles that are in
transit from the production plant to the deployed
complexes, beginning as early as 7988.
o Long-term storage for missiles.
o Maintenance and refurbishment of missiles, when
required.
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Introduction
The Soviets currently have one heavy ICBM system, the SS-18,
which is deployed in 308 hardened silos. Three variants of the
SS-18 were deployed between 1974 and 1979. A fourth variant, the
Mod 4, was deployed between 1979 and 1985 and most of the
original three variants were replaced by the Mod 4 between 1981
and 1985. System modifications associated with deployment of the
Mod 4 involved the launch silo, missile airframe, and warheads.
In June 1986, the Soviets began modifying SS-18 silos again, this
time for the SS-18 follow-on ICBM--the TT-09--which is currently
undergoing flight testing at Tyuratam Missile and Space Test
Center. Current assessments are that the follow-on will have
improved engines and guidance systems that will enable it to
deliver a larger payload more accurately. Deployment of the SS-
18 follow-on will probably begin in 1988, and, unless restricted
by an arms control agreement, should be completed by 1995. In
preparation for this deployment, SS-18s are being withdrawn from
the deployed force and launch 'silos are being modified to
accommodate the SS-18 follow-on.
The Soviet Strategic Rocket Forces (SRF) operates seven national-
or strategic-level missile support rear depots (MSRDs) in the
western USSR (figure 1). The MSRDs have the primary
responsibility for storage and maintenance of strategic ballistic
missile airframes, airframe components, and missile-associated
ground support equipment (GSE) for the SRF. These depots have a
total of over 200 s buildings capable of housing ballistic
missile airframes.
MSRDs also provide additional logistic support for periodic
maintenance and technical inspection programs that are performed
at the launch silos. Extensive technical inspections of launch
groups are conducted at least annually, and major periodic
maintenance is conducted once every three years. If, during an
inspection, any missile is identified as defective, it is shipped
to the MSRDs for major maintenance, refurbishment, or, in some
cases, disposal. Routinely scheduled major maintenance and
refurbishment of missiles and GSE--an extensive and time-
consuming task--are also normally carried out at the MSRDs.
Two MSRDs currently provide support for the SS-18 ICBM system--
Bobrovski.y and Glazov. This paper will focus on the types of
support provided for the SS-18 by these MSRDs, assess the types
of support these MSRDs will provide for the SS-18 follow-on, and
project when this support will begin.
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Figure 1
Missile Support Rear Depots, USSR
European
Soviet Union
300 Kilometers
300 Miles
Baltic
-' Sea
Novaya
? Mezinovka
Glazov ?
? Surovatikhe
? Tambov
Caspian
Sea
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Sport for SS-18 ICBM System
Bobrovskiy Missile Support Rear Depot
In the early 1960s, the Bobrovskiy MSRD (figure 2) was associated
with storage of the SS-7 ICBM. The depot later stored SS-11 and
SS-13 ICBMs and was equipped to conduct maintenance programs on
both. A specialized airframe storage area, completed in 1967,
was later modified to support the SS-18 ICBM. During SS-18
deployments, Bobrovskiy was the site where some missiles were
temporarily stored before delivery to a deployed complex.
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Currently, Bobrovskiy's primary function is to store up to 30
spare SS-18 airframes, and airframe components. The SS-18
storage area has five missile storage buildings, each capable of
storing six missiles (figure 3). A sixth building is used for
minor maintenance and preparation of missiles for transshipment.
Airframe components and missile dollies are often seen outside
the missile storage buildings, suggesting that some buildings are
not being used for missile airframe storage. Additional missiles
are stored at each of the six deployed SS-18 complexes, where up
to four missiles could be available for use as maintenance
spares. If--during one of the frequent missile technical
inspections or through the performance of periodic maintenance--a
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missile is found to be defective, it is removed from the silo and
replaced by one of the maintenance spares stored at the deployed
complex. Minor maintenance on the missile is then conducted at
the deployed complex. If the defective missile cannot be
repaired at the complex, it is shipped to Bobrovskiy for
temporary storage or to the Glazov MSRD for major maintenance,
refurbishment, or destruction. A replacement missile is then
shipped from Bobrovskiy to the deployed complex.
SS-18 ICBM transshipment activity at Bobrovskiy has been highest
during initial system deployments, or during major modification
or upgrade programs. For example, SS-18 transshipment activity
was observed more frequently during the initial deployment of
SS-18 ICBMs from 1974 to 1981, and again during the Mod 4
retrofit program from 1981 to 1985. Some SS-18 Mod 4s and
component sets, after being manufactured at Dnepropetrovsk, were
probably sent to Bobrovskiy for temporary storage before being
shipped to deployed complexes for installation in modified silos.
After completion of the Mod 4 retrofit program, activity levels
at Bobrovskiy again fell off dramatically. Bobrovskiy's primary
responsibility since the end of 1984 has apparently been the
storage and shipment of spare SS-18s for the deployed complexes.
The recent deactivation of SS-18s in preparation for silo
modifications to accommodate the SS--l.8 follow-on has brought
about an expected increase in SS-18 activity at the Bobrovskiy
MSRD. The number of empty SS-18 trains--unique three-railcar
sets--in Bobrovskiy's railyard fell dramatically as they were
sent to thr deployed complexes to pick up deactivated SS-18s
(figure 4). Some of these trains have returned to the MSRD with
SS-18s, which are in temporary storage. We expect transshipment
activity at Bobrovskiy to continue to increase as more SS-18s are
deactivated and SS-18 follow-on deployments begin.
Glazov Missile Support Rear Depot
In the early 1960s, the Glazov MSRD (figure 5) was associated
with the storage of SS-6 and SS-7 ICBM airframes. The depot has
also supported the SS-6 and SS-11 dismantlement and destruction
programs, the reconfiguration of the SS-11 Mod 1 to the SS-11 Mod
2/3, and the SS-11 Mod 2/3 refurbishment program. After the
refurbishment program, Glazov was involved with maintenance on
the SS-17 and SS-19 ICBMs.
'-Unique railcars are required for SS-18 ICBM shipment because of
the large size of the missile. 25X1
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Figure 4
SS-18 Trains at Missile Support Rear Depots
Trains
24
SS-18 Deactivation
- _ Begins
Since 1981, Glazov MSRD probably has performed maintenance and
refurbishment on selected SS-18 airframes--including maintenance
which previously would have occurred at Bobrovskiy MSRD. Because
Glazov has no SS-18 airframe storage facilities, all SS-18
airframes at this MSRD are stored in the open on SS-18 train
sets, allowing us to monitor the level of SS-18 activity
occurring at this depot.
Glazov's involvement with the refurbishment of the SS-18 ICBM
began in 1981, six years after initial. SS-18 deployments began.2
2The lack of a large quantity of scrap at the Glazov facility
since 1981 indicates that this program was involved primarily
with refurbishment, not dismantlement and destruction.
Secret
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The refurbishment process observed at Glazov was probably
undertaken to extend the service life of the SS-18 system, which
by 1987, had exceeded its intended design life by several years.
A specially equipped airframe maintenance facility at Glazov
includes a large rail-served missile receiving and checkout
building with machine shop, a purge building for burning purged
propellant vapors, and underground water storage tanks for
washdowns of propellant tankage (figure 6). The airframe
maintenance facility disassembles airframes, repairs or replaces
defective components, and reassembles the airframes. The
refurbished airframes can then be shipped to Bobrovskiy for
storage or to the deployed complexes for use as operational
Th Soviets oviets had stated that 10 years is the life span of the
SS-18 system.
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missiles or maintenance spares.
at least 30 SS-18s have been refurbished in this program since it
began, and the rate at which missiles are refurbished has
increased from at least two per year in 1.982 to at least seven
per year by 1987. This facility has also performed maintenance
on SS-11, SS-17, and SF-IQ =;rf"mes concurrent with the SS-18
refurbishment program.
The number of SS-18 trains--and, presumably, SS-18 missiles--
normally observed at Glazov has increased rapidly from an average
of five to about 15 in the past year, and we expect these
deactivated SS-18s to be destroyed soon (figure 4). Although
Glazov is capable of and has destroyed a limited number of
SS-18s, it has been historically associated primarily with the
maintenance ind refurbishment of airframes, not dismantlement and
destruction. The Balashov Surface-to-Surface Missile Repair
Plant (SSMRP)--which was responsible for the dismantlement and
destruction of the SS-18's predecessor, the SS-9--is currently
idle, and recent activity at Balashov suggests the Soviets may be
preparing this plant for a new disposal program, possibly
involving deactivated SS-18s.
Future Support for SS-18 Follow-on ICBM
On the basis of its participation in the initial SS-18 ICBM
deployment, Bobrovskiy should play a key role in the initial
deployment of the SS-18 follow-on missile. Deployment is
expected to begin in 1988 and, on the basis of the length of past
Soviet missile deployment or modification programs, will probably
take five to six years to complete. During this period of
transition, Bobrovskiy will probably support both the SS-18 and
the SS-18 follow-on missile programs. Some SS-18 follow-ons
probably will be shipped directly from their production plant to
Bobrovskiy, where they will be temporarily stored before being
shipped to a deployed complex. During the SS-18 follow-on
deployment program, we expect to see a high level of missile
transshipment activity at Bobrovskiy, as we did during initial
SS-18 deployment. This activity should begin in 1988 or 1989,
and follow the loading of the first completed SS-18 follow-on
launch group--Group B--at Dombarovskiy ICBM Complex. It will
continue for five or six years, until after completion of SS-18
follow-on deployment. Additional SS-18 follow-on missiles will
probably be stored at Bobrovskiy to be subsequently used for
During the refurbishment process, defective components are
identified and replaced or repaired at the MSRD. To date, this
process has resulted in the elimination of at least three SS-18
airframes.
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Figure 7
Soviet Heavy ICBM Life Cycle: SS-18 and SS-18 Follow-on
Initial SS-18 Deployments
Supported by Bobrovskiy
SS-9 Dismantlement Program
at Balashov SSMRP
Mod 4 Program Supported
by Bobrovskiy
\\i\\\\\\\~ SS-18 Deactivation Supported
by Bobrovskiy and Glazov
Projected Initial Follow-on
\\\\\\\\\\\\\\`
Deployment d by Bobrovskiy
Projected SS-18 Follow-on ,\\\\\\\\\\\\\
Refurbishment Supported by Glazov
Projected Deactivation of SS-18 Follow-ons \\\\\\\\\\\\\~
Supported by Bobrovskiy and Glazov
training launches at the test range and for maintenance spares.1
Bobrovskiy should cease supporting the SS-18 and dedicate all its
heavy ICBM support capability to the SS-18 follow-on by
completion of the SS-18 follow-on's deployment.
We expect Glazov's role in the SS-18 follow-on program to be one
primarily of refurbishment and repair of any defective missiles.
On the basis of our initial observations of the SS-18 ICBM
system, we expect the SS-18 follow-on missile to have a lifespan
of 10 to 15 years. Therefore, the requirement to refurbish SS-18
follow-on airframes at Glazov could begin as early as six years
after initial deployment, or in 1994. Such a program would
extend the service life of the SS-1.8 follow-on into the 21st
century (figure 7).
In time of war these missiles could be shipped to deployed
complexes for use as refires.
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