DEVELOPMENTS AT NENOKSA AND BALAKLAVA MISSILE TEST CENTERS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP84T00171R000300500001-4
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 14
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: January 18, 2012
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: November 1, 1983
• Content Type: REPORT

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NOFORN
(See inside cover)
basic imagery interpretation report
Developments at Nenoksa and
Balaklava Missile Test Centers (S)
MISSILE RANGES: NAVAL LAUNCHED FACILITIES
BE: VARIOUS
USSR
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RCA-17/0002/8225X1
NOVEMBER 1983
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NOFORN
Developments a
Nenoksa Naval Missile 64-38-35N
Test Center 039-11-45E
Name Coordinates
Installation Geographic Category BE No COMIREX NIETB
Balaklava Missile 44-30-01N
Test Center 033-32-23E
1. The Soviets were testing two strategic-naval ballistic systems and one cruise-missile
system,at the Nenoksa Naval Missile Test Center between mid-August 1982 and mid-September
1983. During that same period, no indications of either new or renewed testing occurred at the
Balaklava Missile Test Center. This report, which describes activity associated with these two test
centers and updates NPIC report Z-14627/82, includes a location map and eight annotated photo-
graphs. (S/WN)
2. Significant activities observed at Nenoksa Naval Missile Test Center (NMTC) included:
a. Initial land-based flight testing of the SS-NX-23 missile (previously designated the
SS-N-18 follow-on and the NE-5),
b. Initial land-based flight testing of a probable modification to the SS-NX-20 missile,
c. Initial delivery of operational SS-NX-20 missiles to the missile storage facility,
d. Initial land-based flight testing of the SS-N-12 follow-on missile, and
e. Termination of land-based testing of the SS-NX-21 missile. (S/WN)
3. Significant activities observed at Balaklava Missile Test Center (MTC) included:
a. Termination of popup testing of the SS-NX-23 missile, and
b. Termination of popup testing of the BL-10 missile. (S/WN)
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/ Ea SI
M~N
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r.
NENOKSA
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MOSCOW
Nenoksa NMTC
BASIC DESCRIPTION
SS-NX-23 Flight Testing
4. Nenoksa NMTC, on the southern
shore of the White Sea (Figure 1), is the major
naval ballistic and extended-range cruise mis-
sile flight test facility in the USSR. The most
recent test activity has involved the SS-NX-23
submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM),
the probable modified SS-NX-20 SLBM, and
the SS-N-12 follow-on antiship cruise missile.
Land-based testing of the SS-NX-21 long-
range, land-attack cruise missile, which was
initiated at this facility in May 1981, has ended.
(S/WN)
5. Land-based flight testing of the SS-NX-
23 SLBM has been initiated at launch facility C.
The first two launches of the SS-NX-23 occur-
red on New
components and ground support equipment
used in this testing began arriving at the main
support area at Nenoksa in March; however,
the first launch was somewhat unexpected
because the support facilities and the control
bunker at the launch site were still under
construction/renovation. Minor construction
continued on these facilities and on the
propellant facility through mid-September.
(S/WN/NOFORN)
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being checked out for launch, was protruding
from the new assembly/checkout building.
6. Before the launch, several
related events took place. On a canvas-
covered missile dolly, possibly with a missile
9. The new assembly/checkout building
(Figure 5) was probably operational and exter-
nally complete by June; however, the rails
leading from the building had not been con-
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nected to the main rail line. By the 25X1
first TT-EL-01 antenna was installed on the roof 25X1
of the building; the second antenna had not
been installed. By April, most of the construc- 25X1
tion materials stored outside the building were
moved, presumably into the building, an indi- 25X1
cation that the interior was nearly complete.
The presence of a missile dolly/transporter
protruding from the building on ug- 25X1
cranes at launch facility C were involved in
prelaunch activity (Figure 2). By both
cranes had been removed from the immediate
launch area, an indication that the launch was
imminent (Figure 3). (S/WN)
7. No imagery was available on the days
immediately preceeding the second launch on
and no postlaunch activity was ob-
served on the next available imagery of
(S/WN)
8. At least two probable SS-NX-23-re-
lated missile components and three associated
missile dolly/transporters were in the SS-NX-20
SLBM checkout area in March (Figure 4). A
possible post boost vehicle (PBV) or PBV con-
tainer with an overall height of and
a diameter of was on the hardened
apron at the west end of the SS-NX-20 SLBM
checkout building. The second SS-NX-23 com-
ponent, positioned on a flatbed trailer next to
the first component, had an overall hei ht of
and a diameter of This
long, with two arms extending to
the rear. The outside wi t of the dollies was
checkout area in March, were
transporters, delivered to the SS-NX-20 SLBM
component was probably one of the three
stages of the SS-NX-23 missile or a container
for one of the stages. The three dollies/
By May, the dollies/transporters
were moved to the SS-NX-23 assembly/check-
out building. The probable SS-NX-23-related
components and three dollies/transporters
were delivered to the SS-NX-20 assembly/
checkout building, probably because the rail
line did not completely extend to the SS-NX-
23 assembly/checkout building. (S/WN)
gests the building was operational
(S WN)
10. The liquid propellant facility (Figure
6) is operational. Panels were placed over the 25X1
partially completed sheds covering the pump- 25X1
ing stations, probably to conceal tem oraril 25X1
any fueling activity associated with the 25X1
launch. Construction on the sheds began in
early January and by the sheds ap- 25X1
peared to be nearly complete. On
portions of the sheds were being torn down.
Evidently, the temporary roof was being re-
moved and replaced with a more permanent 25X1
one. (S/WN) 25X1
11. Launch facility C, which has been
undergoing modification to support the flight
testing of the SS-NX-23 since early 1983, is now
operational, although not totally complete. 25X1
Reinforcement of the control bunker at the
launch site began in late February; the begin-
ning of a gridlike structure atop the bunker
was evident by (Figure 2). This grid- 25X1
like structure, probably for additional sound- 25X1
proofing, suggests that the first stage of the SS- 25X1
NX-23 is noisier than the first stage of the SS-
N-18, previously tested at this facility. (S/WN) 25X1
Probable Modified SS-NX-20 Flight Testing
12. Land-based flight testing of a proba-
ble modification to the SS-NX-20 SLBM has
been initiated at launch facility D. Testing at
launch facility D resumed in late June after a
hiatus of one year. Until then, this SS-NX-20
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launch facility had remained in a caretaker
status. Movement of 19-meter missile railcars
in and out of the SLBM assembly/checkout
area during this hiatus is probably related to
the assembly/checkout of operational SS-NX-
20 missiles. The resumption of land-based test-
ing after an apparently successful SS-NX-20 at-
sea test program suggests that the missile be-
ing tested is a modification to the SS-NX-20.
(S/WN)
13. A launch of a probable modified SS-
NX-20 missile took place from launch facility D
on Launch preparations were ob-
served at the launch site on when a
probable systems checkout was underway. The
erector/loader was positioned over the launch
tube and a crane was positioned next to it.
Postlaunch activity at launch facility D (Figure
7) on involved the return of two of
three sections of the erector/loader cover to
the launch area. These sections were removed
before the launch. Activity at launch
facility D has continued, an indication that
future launches are planned. (S/WN/NO-
FORN)
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SS-NX-20 Missile Storage
14. Operational SS-NX-20 missiles are
probably being stored at the missile storage
facility at Nenoksa. Two of the three previ-
ously reported large SS-NX-20 bunkers (79 by
13 b and the one small bunker (31
by 13 by appear to be operational.
By early February, these three bunkers were
enclosed in a double security fence. A third
large bunker was complete by One
19-meter missile railcar was in the completed
portion of the storage facility (Figure 8) inter-
mittently throughout the reporting period, an
indication that SS-NX-20 missiles were proba-
bly being stored in the completed bunkers.
(S/W N)
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SS-N-12 Follow-On Flight Testing
Miscellaneous Activity
15. Preparations for testing the SS-N-12 19. In early January, a new rail-served,
follow-on antiship cruise missile, which began high-bay building was under construction next
at Nenoksa at launcher A3 in June 1981, are to the main rail line east of the cruise missile
complete, and land-based flight testing of the assembly/checkout area. By mid to late July,
17. Possible prelaunch activity for the L
Cheshskaya Bay test range.
16. Activity leadin to the first SS-N-12
follow-on launch on included the
movement of two 12-meter missile crates to
launch facility A in early January. These crates,
which were stored outside for several months,
probably contained dummy missiles and were
used for loading practice and or crew training.
A nitrogen purge vehicle, used to purge fuel
lines and tanks of excess fuel, was at the cruise
missile assembly/checkout area in March. In
addition, launcher A3, normally positioned in
a northerI direction, was turned to the north-
west by~During previous cruise missile
tests, launcher A3 has either been turned to
the northwest toward the Kandalakshskaya Bay
test range or to the northeast toward the
test was in progress in early August,
when a crane was positioned at the launcher
at launch site A3. Additional prelaunch activity
was observed when a nitrogen purge vehicle
was again observed in the cruise missile assem-
bly/checkout area in early August. Continued
activity in the cruise missile assembly/check-
out area suggests that additional launches are
planned for the future. (TSZ)
SS-NX-21 Flight Testing
18. Land-based flight testing of the SS-
NX-21 long-range, land-attack cruise missile
has ended. No launch-related activity has been
observed since mid-1982. In December 1982,
the uniquely modified ZIL cargo truck associ-
ated with the program was removed from
Nenoksa. At-sea testing of the missile system,
using the uniquely modified Victor-III nucle-
ar-powered attack submarine, was underway
in the White Sea. (S/WN)
this building appeared to be externally com-
plete. In addition, a second large building was
under construction on the opposite side of the
rail line. Construction was continuing on this
building. (S/WN)
Balaklava Missile Test Center
20. Balaklava Missile Test Center is on
the coast of the Black Sea, 6 nautical miles
southeast of Sevastopol (Figure 1). Static
popup testing of all SLBMs and submerged-
launched cruise missiles is conducted at this
center. The facility has most recently been
involved in the SS-NX-23 test program and the
BL-10 (previously unidentified weapons sys-
tem) cruise missile test program. (S/WN)
SS-NX-23 Popup Testing
21. Popup testing of the SS-NX-23 began
in late 1981. This testing, which used popup
test platform 9 (previously designated modi-
fied popup test platform 8), ended by August
1982. Platform 9 (Figure 9) has been inactive
since that time and has remained in the popup
barge storage area at Balaklava Submarine
Base and Ship Repair Yard
(S/W N)
BL-10 Popup Testing
22. The BL-10 cruise missile testing
ended by late August 1982 when fuel/oxidizer
vehicles, believed to be used with this testing,
were removed from the test center. Popup test
platform 10 (previously referred to as the naval
weapons test vessel), the popup test platform
for the BL-10, has been tied up to the quay at
Balaklava Submarine Base near platform 9 (Fig-
ure 9). (S/WN)
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Miscellaneous Activity
23. The Golf-V ballistic missile subma-
rine, originally used in underway popup test-
ing for the SS-NX-20, is normally berthed at
Balaklava Submarine Base. It was out to sea
during three different periods, the last being
from the subma-
rine was moved from its normal berthing posi-
tion at the quay to a pier at the eastern portion
of the base, where it has since remained (Fig-
ure 9). (S/WN)
24. A Juliett cruise missile attack subma-
rine was moved to Balaklava Submarine Base
from the North Fleet by
This is the second Juliett to be observed in the
Juliett was in and out of port several times, and
when in port, was always moored to the quay
where the Golf-V normally had been berthed
(Figure 9). (S/WN)
25. The Typhoon model, the scale model
of the nuclear-powered ballistic missile sub-
marine, was first observed at Balaklava Subma-
rine Base in April 1981. By it was
moved to Leningrad Shipyard Sudomekh 196
to be modified, to be placed
on display, or to be put in storage. (S/WN)
26. A two-bay, single-story storage build-
ing, under construction in the missile handling
area since August 1982, was complete by[
In the housing area, one
multistory administration/apartment building
was complete by mid-June in the western area
of the facility; in the southern central edge of
the facility, work was continuing on an addi-
tional building. (S/WN)
IMAGERY
All applicable satellite imagery acquired through
report. (S/WN)
was used in the preparation of this
MAPS OR CHARTS
DMA. US Air Target Chart, Series 200, Sheets 0092-22 and 0250-25, scale 1:200,000 (UNCLASSIFIED)
DOCUMENTS
1. DIA. DIN 221-4A, USSR: SLBM TEST (U), 9 Aug 83 (SECRET/WNINTEL/NOFORN)
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3. DEFSMAC. K/DQ/403-83, 9 Apr 83 d
4. DEFSMAC. K/DQ/1021-83, 15 Aug 83
RELATED DOCUMENTS
NPIC. Z-14627/82, RCA-17/0002/82, Developments at Nenoksa and Balaklava Missile Test Centers (S),
Dec 82
REQUIREMENTS
COMIREX R01
Project 543063R
Distribution 86-010
Comments and queries regarding this report are welc
Soviet Strategic Forces, Imagery Exploitation Group, NPIC,
ome. They may be directed tq
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