SPHERICAL CURTAIN ARRAY FACILITIES, USSR

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78T04759A002100010043-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 7
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 26, 2001
• Sequence Number: 43
• Publication Date: November 1, 1965
• Content Type: REPORT

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Approve os al 2001/09/01 :CIA-R[
PHOTOGRAPHIC INTERPRETA REPO1
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SPHERICAL CURTAIN ARRAY
FACILITIES, USSR
NOVEMBER 1965
COPY
4 PAGES
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DECLASS REVIEW by NIMA/DOD
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SPHERICAL CURTAIN ARRAY FACILITIES, USSR
INTRODUCTION
This report has been prepared in response
to USAF requirement DIA-39-65 (AFNIE) of
15 October 1965 requesting a chronology of
activity at Soviet spherical curtain array facilities
at Taldom, Nikolayev, Podolsk, Rustavi, and
Odessa; and identification of similar electronic
facilities in the Soviet Union including linear
curtain arrays possibly at Irkutsk, Alma-Ata,
and Sverdlovsk.
The antenna facilities near Taldom and
Nikolayev, USSR, were described in NPIC/R-
901/64 (TCS-8455/64). J Subsequent pho-
tography has not revealed any significant changes
in these facilities. The chronology of the
antenna facilities near Odessa, Podolsk, and
Rustavi is described below. NPIC publication
TCS-80679/65 discusses the shape and mcnsural
data of Podolsk and Odessa.
The Alma-Ata HF Linear Curtain Antenna
Array Facilities were complete when first seen
on
The HF curtain arrays of the Alma-Ata facilities
have been fully described in PIC/JR-29/59
J, which was based on TALENT photography
of the facilities. Since this report, 2 pairs of day-
night rhombic antennas (4 antennas) have been
constructed in the south-southwest portion of the
facilities, near the newest transmitting building.
The fact that this transmitting building (central
control building) was under construction in _
gives evidence that the
Alma-Ata antenna facilities were being con-
structed between
The Sverdlovsk HF Curtain Array Facility
was complete when first seen on
There have been
no significant changes in the facility since that
time. This facility is described in
which was based on TALENT pho-
tograp y of the facility.
A complete search of the photography of the
Irkutsk area of the USSR was made for HF
spherical curtain array facilities. None have been
identified.
ODESSA SPHERICAL CURTAIN
ARRAY FACILITY, USSR
The Odessa Spherical Curtain Array Facility,
USSR (46-26-30N 030-30-OOE), was not present
on
revealed a control building was
un er construction and a cable scar extended
from the construction area to a support area.
25X1 C
25X1 C
The facilit was next observed on 25X1 D
at which time the control building 25X1 D
appeared to be in a late stage of construction.
the control
building was externally complete. On M
the only additional con-
struction was a new cable scar from the control
building to the support area. The next coverage
of the facility was
at which time the pentagonal security fence
was evident. Subsequent photography of the facil-
ity has revealed no further construction on the
facility. No antenna positions or tracks for the
feed towers have been observed on any of the
photography of the facility.
PODOLSK SPHERICAL CURTAIN ARRAY
ANTENNA FACILITY, USSR
The Podolsk Spherical Curtain Array Facil-
ity, USSR (55-22-20N 037-27-50E), was first
25X1 D
25X1 D
25X1 D
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observed on
in the very ear y stage of construction. There
had been some ground scarring in the area ob-
but haze and poor
revealed that
the facility was in a late stage of construction
with the antennas in position, the control building
complete, and the tracks for the antenna feed
towers under construction. On
it appeared that the facility was
externally complete and probably operational.
In summary, the facility was first observed
o in a very
early stage of construction and was considered
complete on or
a total of approximately 18 months were required
for the construction of this facility. A detailed
analysis of this facility is available in CIA/
TCS-84008!65 and NPIC/TCS-80679/65. 4, 51
image quality precluded further inter retation
of the scars. On
M the facility was observed on very-poor-
image-quality photography to be still in an earl
stage of construction. On
the facility was in a midstage of
construction. The antenna positions were well
delineated, the security fences complete, the
central control building was under construction,
and the antenna guying scars were evident. -
CONSTRUCTION CHRONOLOGY SUMMARY
25X1 D
25X1 D
25X1'D
25M :D
R5X1D
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25X1 D
25X1 D
25X1 D
RUSTAVI SPHERICAL CURTAIN
ARRAY FACILITY, USSR
The Rustavi Spherical Curtain Array Facil-
ity, USSR (41-26-35N 045-09-30E), was not
present nor under construction on -
The area was observed on
photography of
Although this photography was both oblique and
of poor image quality, the pentagonal security
fence was visible as were the tracks for the feed
pcared externally complete, the antenna positions
were visible, but no antennas were visible, and
there was no evidence of construction in progress
at that time. Although
-photographed the facility, it was not seen
clearly until
At that time, the antennas, the feed towers, and
the control building were apparently externally
complete and apparently operational.
It is assumed that the site was constructed
between It is be-
lieved to be a valid assumption since the Podolsk
facility required approximately 18 months to
complete.
25'-X1 D towers. On
the site appeared externally complete. Although
this small-scale photography precludes a detailed
analysis of the facility, the control building ap-
25X1 D
25X1 D
25X1 D
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SAC. US Air Target Chart, Series 200, Sheet 0250-8HL, 3d ed, Sep 62, scale 1:200,000 (SECRET)
DIA. US Air Target Chart, Series 200, Sheet 0167-5HL, 2d cd, Apr 63, scale 1:200,000 (SECRET)
SAC. US Air Target Chart, Series 200, Sheet 0325-17HL, 2d ed, Apr 64, scale 1:200,000 (SECRET; No Foreign
1. NPIC. R-901/64, Unusually Configured Antennas at Facilities Near Tald?:n and Nikolayev, USSR, Oct 64 (TOP
SECRET RUFF)
2. CIA. PIC/JR-29/59, Five Soviet High-Frequency Broadcasting Stations, Dec 59 (TOP SECRET CHESS)
3
.
4.
CIA.
RUFF
TCS-84008/65, Unidentified-Type Antenna Arrays, Podolsk and Odessa, USSR, Apr 65 (TOP SECRET
)
5.
NPIC.
TCS-80679/65, Spherical Curtain Antenna Array Facilities,
Podol k and Odessa, USSR, Jun 65 (TOP
SECRET RUFF)
REQUIREMENT
DIA. 39-65 (AFNIE)
NPIC PROJECT
11269/66
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