UNDERGROUND EXPLOSION SITE NEAR KABYL-SAY, USSR

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78T04751A000300100008-4
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 14, 2001
• Sequence Number: 8
• Publication Date: January 1, 1961
• Content Type: BRIEF

Approved For Rele s92001/D"1~CIA-RDP7`8~b~475'?AV0t300100008-4
PIC/SB-8/61
UNDERGROUND EXPLOSION SITE NEAR KABYL-SAY, USSR
The site of the one-kiloton underground high-explosives detonation
experiment announced by the USSR as having occurred on 19. December 1957
at 42-12-15N 69 - 03 - 02E has been identified (see Figure 1). 1 / The site is
about 7. 5 nautical miles (nm); SE of Kabyl-Say, 17 nm SE of Arys' 9 and 25
nm SW of Chimkent. According to reports, the site was to consist of a
chamber 40 meters underground to accomodate the 1, 000 tons of high
explosives. The size of the crater that the detonation created was given
as 200 meters in diameter and 50 meters deep. 2/. 3/
The site was covered by TALENT photography on =
by KEYHOLE photography on (see Figure 2).
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42? 24'
46' 89?
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KABYL-SAY
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UNDERGROUND(
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EXPLOSION SITE
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NAUTICAL MILES
CIA/PIC G-9994
Declass Review by
NIMA/DOD
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[ IGI;RF 2. Pf IOTOGRAPNS OF THE UNDERGROUND EXPLOSION SITE. Top photo is from TAL ENT Mission
of bottom from K. l'H(ll F Vi aron of Area outlined in
bottom photo represents the
r^x en o ic 1nn picture.
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25X1 D
The photography prior to
the date of the explosions revea s unusual activity at the exact point indicated
by the Soviet announcement. The small amount of possible excavated
materials in the vicinity of the site suggests that work on the chamber was
only in its early stages.
A large crater is visible on KEYHOLE photography
at the point of activity shown on the hoto ra hv. OF his con firms
that an explosion had occurred at this point since the coverage.
Although the quality of the KEYHOLE photography precludes precise meas-
urements, it is possible to say that the diameter of the crater is close to the
dimension given in the Soviet reports.
SAC . US Air Target Chart, Series 200, Sheet 0328-1 ZAL, 1st ed,
Aug 59, scale 1:200, 000 (S)
1. Doklady Akademii Nauk SSSR, Vol 129, No 6, pp 1283-1286,
21 Dec 59 (U)
2. AIR, USSR. Apr 58 (U)
3. "Earthquake or Launching of a .Sputnik? " Soviet Union, illustrated
monthly, No 96, 1958, pp 34-35 (U)
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PIC/JB-8/61
3 Pages January 1961
JOINT PHOTOGRAPHIC INTELLIGENCE BRIEF
UNDERGROUND EXPLOSION SITE
NEAR
KABYL-SAY, USSR
VITAL RECORDS COPY
Handle Via TALENT - KEYHOLE Control Only
This document contains classified information affecting the national security of the United States within
the meaning of the espionage laws U.S. Code Title 18, Sections 793, 794, and 798. The law prohibits its
transmission or the revelation of its contents in any manner to an unauthorized person, as well as its use
in any manner prejudicial to the safety or interest of the United States or for the benefit of any foreign
government to the detriment of the United States. It is to be seen only by U.S. personnel especially indoc-
trinated and authorized. to receive TALENT-KEYHOLE information. Its security must be maintained in
accordance with KEYHOLE and TALENT regulations.
Published and Disseminated by CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY Photographic Intelligence Center
Approved For Release 2001/09/01: CIA-RDPT8T04751A000300100008-4 P