SOVIET SUSPECT SOLID PROPELLANT TEST FACILITIES, USSR

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78T05439A000200400038-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 16
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 6, 2000
• Sequence Number: 38
• Publication Date: October 22, 1963
• Content Type: MF

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 TCS 46lo/63-KH
M/EB x+53/63
22 October 1963
Copy
MEMORANDUM FOR: Chief, Military-Economics Division, ORR
Chief, Ballistic Missiles and Space Division, OSI
25X1 D
THROUGH: Chief, Requirements Branch, Reconnaissance Group, CGS
FROM: Chief, CIA/PID (NPiC)
SUBJECT: Soviet Suspect Solid Propellant Test Facilities, USSR
REFERENCE: (a) Requirement C-DDI-3-8o,555
(b) CIA/PID Project C 1270-63
1. This memorandum is the second part in response to your requirement dated
9 September 1963, which requested descriptions of the plant ar test area; chron-
ology of the plant and test area, where possible; photo reproduction of the best
quality photography of the facility; determination of the function of the probable
bunker/deflector; and determination of the transportation and security capabilities
of the plant and test area. 25X1D
a. The line drawings are unrectified projections of the photo images
25X1D taken fr good quality KEYHOLE photography on for Sterlitama.k,
Mission for Perm, and Mission for Krasnoyarsk. - 25X1D
b. Though the photo analysts believe the mensuration to be accurate, all
measureme ts must be considered approximate due to the inherent limitations of
KEYHOLE photography. Scale and height factors have been provided by TID/NPIC.
2. Significant Observations - Sterlitamak (53-+N 56-OOE)
25X1 D
a. The Sterlitamak Suspect Solid Propellants Test Facility is located
approximately 7 nm north of the city of Sterlitamak in the USSR. The test facility
is adjacent to Explosives Plant 850. This test facility is one of five which are
identical in part and are located at Biysk, Perm, Krasnoyarsk, and Kamensk-Shakhtinskiy
in the USSR.
b. Though the plant and test facility can be negated on the basis of
dating of its initial construction is not photographically
possible. The plant covers an area of approximately 5,500 by 4,000 feet while the
test facility covers approximately 1,800 by 1,300 feet. The plant is road and rail
served and the test facility is road served only. The plant is, at least, partially-
secured by a double fence. The test facility, which is separated from the plant by
a single fence is also double secured. It is possible that the outer fence isc' a
solid nature..
Declassification review by NIMA/DOD
 Approved For Release 2000/08/04: CIA-RDP78T05439A000200400038-8
SUBJECT: Soviet Suspect Solid Propellant Test TCS L+6io/63-KH
Facilities, USSR M/EB 453/63
25X1 D
c. reveals the
25X1D absence of several salient features at the test facility. The plant appeared
essentially complete. By both plant and test area appear complete.
d. The most thorough analysis of the Sterlitamak complex has been made
on the test facility.
(1) An "H" shaped building (which is possibly up to six different
buildings separated by possible blast walls) is multi-leveled and appeared to be
25X1D in the final stages of construction. in Fight return from the roof 25X1D
suggests that the building(s) may still have been under construction. Confirma-
tion of the completion of this building(s) cannot be made until This
does not imply that the building(s) was not complete before this time, but rather
that the photography would not allow its verification.
25X1D (2) The test cell is not revetted or mounded at the Sterlitamak
facility and appeared essentially complete in The cell is road served
.at the end which faces a probable bunker/deflector approximately 260 feet away.
The road is of a wide turn radius nature. 25X1 D
25X1 D (3) The probable bunker/deflector can be observed in
However, a goncrete facing (later its most revealing trait), cannot be observed 25X1D
in and cannot be confirmed until Though the concrete facing
suggests a deflector role, a road serving the rear of the probable bunker/deflector
leads to the possibility of an instrumentation role, also. Measurements of the
probable bunker/deflector should be considered relatively unreliable due to an
extreme distortion of high images.
(4+) A group of staggered or offset buildings similar (if not
identical) in function and appearance to analogous buildings at Perm, Biysk, and
Kamensk-Shakhtinskiy can be found at Sterlitamak. The buildings are found in the
plant immediately adjacent to the single fence dividing the plant from the test
25X1D area. There are now eight of these buildings. These buildings do not appear in 25X1D
Three are present in All eight can be observed by -
These buildings are possibly rail served. 25X1D
25X1 D
e. Chief recognition features within the plant are four circularly
revetted buildings which are connected by overhead piping or covered walkways;
and an apparent flow line (represented by annotations 1-4 on the accompanying
line drawing) of buildings which are connected by covered walkways or conveyors.
Similar features can be identified at all five of the other suspect plants.
These features indicate that at least two different explosives bases can be
 Approved For Release 2000/08/,04: CIA-RDP78TO5439A000200400038-8
SUBJECT: Soviet Suspect Solid Propellant Test TCS 4610/63-KH
Facilities, USSR M/EB 453/63
produced. The proximity of all of the features of the plant to one another limits
the analysis of the plant at this time. Mixing, casting, batching, and resting
functions cannot be specified due to a rather unique plant layout. Approximately
15 minor buildings have been added to the plant since as indicated on
the accompanying line drawing.
25X1 D
a. To identify each building photographically in the test area and the
plant by function would be speculation and therefore presumptuous if unqualified.
For this reason the buildings are described by measurement only.
b. Accompanying this memorandum are line drawings which are numbered
and color coded to indicate the chronology and dimensions of each building. 25X1D
25X1D c. One 20x enlargement of the facility as seen on Mission
is included herein.
4+. Significant Observations - Perm (57-58N 55-52E)
a. The Perm Suspect Solid Propellants Test Facility is located within
the confines of Kirov 98, Chemical and Munitions Combine. The Combine is located
approximately 13 nm west of the center of Perm, USSR. The suspect test facility
is rail served and is secured by a single fence approximately 4+,500 by 1,700 feet.
b. The suspect test facilit cannot be negated on any available photo 25X1D
cover. First KEYHOLE coverage in reveals the Perm Test Facility in an
undetermined state of construction. Several salient recognition features are not
present at the test facility in these features are 25X1D
present. The test facility is rail served (the only one of five similar test
facilities to be so served) and is identical in part to facilities found at Biysk,
Sterlitamak, Krasnoyarsk, and Kaaiensk-Shakhtinskiy in the USSR.
c. The test cell at the Perm facility is rail served at the end which
is closest to the probable bunker/deflector. The probable bunker/deflector is
approximately 250 feet from the end of the test cell.
d. The plant area, which has not been read out for the purposes of this
memo, has the capability of producing several explosives bases.
e. The staggered or offset buildings, which are also found at the Biysk,
Sterlitamak and Kamensk-Shakhtinskiy facilities, were first visible at the plant
in They are separately secured and each appears to be probably rail
served.
25X1 D
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SUBJECT: Soviet Suspect Solid Propellant Test TCS 1+6l0/63-KH
Facilities, USSR M/EB 14-53/63
f. A separately secured area which is approximately 1,800 feet south
of the test facility, is approximately 1,300 by 1,150 feet and has several large,
unexplainable revetments. No determination can be made as to what is being
revetted.
g. Included in this memo are (1) a line drawing of the test area indi-
cating chronology and measurements, and a line drawing of the test cell and its
relationship to the probable bunker/deflector, and (2) a 20x print from Mission
25X1D
5. Significant Observations - Krasnoyarsk (56-02N 93-02E)
a. The Krasnoyarsk Suspect Solid Propellants Test Facility is located
adjacent to old Explosives Plant 580 (not to be confused with the new plant which
serves the test facility) approximately 5 urn east of the center of Krasnoyarsk,
USSR just south of the Yenisey River. It is one of five similar (identical in
part) facilities also found at Biysk, Kamensk-Shakhtinskiy, Perm, and Sterlitamak
in the USSR. 25X1D -
b. This facility cannot be negated on any available photo cover. First
KEYHOLE coverage in finds the test facility in a mid-late stage of con-
struction. Several of its now salient features were missing however. The new
plant, which is directly associated with the test facil ?y, was being added to at
25X1D this time, also. B , construction at the test facility appears to have
been completed. Construction has continued at the plant through No 25X1D
confirmation of the plant's completion can be made at this date.
c. Though the plant is road and rail served, the test facility is road
served only. The plant, which covers an area of approximately 5,000 by 4,000 feet
is secured by at least a single fence. The test facility (covering approximately
2,500 by 1,000 feet) is double secured with one of the fences appearing solid in
nature.
d. The most significant feature within the Krasnoyarsk Complex is the
test facility, which will be discussed in detail.
(1) An "if" shaped building (which is possibly up to six different
buildings adjacent to one another and separated by possible blast walls) is a
multi-leveled, irregular shaped structure which is probably identical in function
to analogous buildings found at Biysk and Sterlitamak. It appeared to be in an
early stage of construction in The building(s) completion can be con-
firmed in
25X1 D
25X1 D
 Approved For Release 2000/08/04: CIA-RDP78TO5439A000200400038-8
SUBJECT: 'Soviet Suspect Solid Propellant Test TCS 4610/63-KH
Facilities, USSR M/EB 453/63
25X1 D
(2) The facility has two test cells which are annotated A and B.
Test Cell A was first discernible in It appeared to be essentially
complete at that time. Overhead piping or covered walkways connect Test Cell A
to a revetted building approximately 300 feet away. The front edge of the test
cell faces a probable bunker/deflector approximately 240 feet away.
25X1D Test Cell BY the older of the two cells, appeared essentially
complete in Cell B is also connected to the same revetted building
the Cell A is. Again the connection is made by overhead piping or covered walkways.
The front end of Cell B is approximately 75 feet from the 45 feet high probable
bunker/deflector which serves it. 25X1D 25X1D 25X1D
(4) The probable bunker/deflector serving Test Cell A is at least
60 feet high. It was first discernible as being under construction in
However, confirmation of its completion cannot be made until when
its concrete facing (the most easily identifiable feature at all five suspect
facilities) is apparent. The probable bunker/deflector serving Test Cell B
was complete (with concrete facing) in Though a deflector role is
suggested in each case by the concrete facing, no final judgement of this function
can be made. There is little or no suggestion that the probable bunker/deflector
is served to the rear by any road or trail.
25X1D
e. Chief recognition features within the Krasnoyarsk plant are six
circularly revetted buildings which are interconnected by overhead piping or
covered walkways; and two flow lines represented by Bu.ildingss 31-42 and 23-25 on
the accompanying line drawing. The two flow lines are connected by covered walk-
ways or conveyors. These same recognition features are found at the plants
adjacent to the other suspect solid test facilities. It can be stated that this
plant is capable of producing at least two explosives bases. An analysis of mixing,
batching, casting, and resting functions has not been accomplished in this case
since the proximity of the features of the plant to one another limit the analysis
to the above. The major features at the Krasnoyarsk plant have remained unchanged
since However, several large buildings of unidentified function
have been constructed at periods which are indicated on an accompanying sketch.
25X1 D
T. A final observation at the Krasnoyarsk facility is some scarring
which is noted to the front of Test Cell A in Though the funnel
shape of this scar suggests the possibility of a blast mark, it is the opinion
of the photo analysts that no conclusive statement can be made on the basis of the
photography available.
6. General Observations - Krasnoyarsk
a. To identify each building photographically, in the test area and the
plant, by function would be speculation and therefore presumptuous if unqualified.
For this reason the buildings are described by measurement only.
 Approved For Release 2000/08%04-: CIA-RDP78T05439A000200400038-8
SUBJECT: Soviet Suspect Solid Propellant Test TCS 461o/63-KH
Facilities, USSR M/EB 453/63
b. Accompanying this memorandum are line drawings which are numbered
and color coded to indicate the chronology and dimensions of each building. 25X1 D
25X1D c. One 20x enlargement of the facility as seen on Mission
25X1A
7. The photo analysts on this project are
and they may be contacted on extension 2079 sho you have any further questions
concerning. this project.
8. This project is not considered to be complete until dissemination of
published report.
Enclosures:
1 - Seven (7) line drawings
_.(CIA/PID/MEB-P-223/63 thru P-229/63)
2 - Two (2) tables of mensuration
3 - Three (3) enlargements
(CTA/PID/MEB-P-23o/63 thru P-232/63)
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M/EB 453/63
(1)
525 by 80
(37)
150 by 50
(74)
190 by 40
(2)
385 by 70
(38)
165 by 40
(75)
155 by 50
(3)
285 by 70
(39)
60 by 40
(76)
380 by 105
(4)
320 by 50
(40)
165 by 70
(77)
Two sections
(5)
175 by 45 (4)
(41)
.280 by 50
115 by 70, 115 by 90
(6)
110 by 110
(42)
"H" shaped
(78)
130 by 80
(7)
110 by 70
Two wings -
(79)
175 by 65
(8)
340 by 80
140 by 20
(80)
390 by 85
(9)
265 by 90
Center section -
(81)
250 by 70
(10)
115 by 50
145 by 25
(82)
95 by 50
(11)
90 by 60 (7)
(43)
105 by 40
(83)
30 by 30
(12)
120 by 60
(44)
160 by 25
(84)
95 by 45
(13)
165 by 90
(45)
170 by 30
(85)
110 by 45
(14)
175 by 75
(46)
45 by 30
Wing - 90 by 60
(15)
110 by 50
(47)
60 by 60
(86)
80 by 75
(16)
105 by 50
(48)
525 by 100
(87)
380 by 60
(17)
395 by 60
(49)
265 by 60
(88)
70 by 60
(18)
125 by 40
(50)
250 by 90
(89)
110 by 100
(19)
205 by 40 (2)
(51)
245 by 110
(90)
125 by 60
(20)
"H" shaped building
(52)
250 by 100
(91)
105 by 40
a.
280 by 85
(53)
255 by 60
(92)
85 by 60
b.
95 by 85
(54)
230 by 50
(93)
170 by 45
a.
150 by 80
(55)
200 by 75
(94)
130 by 50
d.
165 by 80
(56)
145 by 60
(95)
65 by 35
e-
125 by 80
(57)
180 by 50
(96)
70 by 50
(21)
400 by 50
(58)
170 by 110
(97)
200 by 50
(22)
135 by 65
(59)
110 by 40
(98)
60 by 60
(23)
Two sections
(60)
95 by 25
(99)
825 by 160
90 by 80, 90 by 60 (2)
(61)
140 by 50
(100)
580 by 110
(24)
170 by 70 (4)
(62)
375 by 150
(101)
310 by 75
(25)
220 by 50
(63)
300 by 140
(102)
310 by 105
(26)
100 by 70
(64)
265 by 105
(103)
310 by 90
(27)
140 by 70
(65)
225 by 100
(104)
310 by 90
(28)
30 by 30
(66)
185 by 105
(105)
310 by 105
(29)
105 by 30
(67)
180 by 90
(106)
180 by 70
(30)
160 by 90
(68)
180 by 90
(107)
105 by 60
(31)
75 by 60
(69)
190 by 90
(108)
95 by 50
(32)
115 by 85
(70)
175 by 65
(109)
40 by 40
(33)
365 by 85
(71)
60 by 60
(110)
95 by 70
(34)
460 by 110
(72)
115 by 90
(111)
210 by 80
(35)
105 by 80
(73)
165 by 80
(112)
100 by 60
(36)
40 by 40-
Wing - 45 by 45
(113)
100 by 30
 STEM! ITIr/,K
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w/HI 453/63
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~vr~
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Attachment 6 to:
(1)
"H" Stied Building
(3)
200 by 210
a.
300 by 75
(4)
80 by 80
b.
100 by 95
(5)
1.15 by 55
c.
145 by 80
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(6)
5 by 75
d.
160 by 80
(7)
35 by 70
e,,
125 b 70
(8)
95 by 80
(2)
(1) 355 by 75
(2) 330 by 50
(3) 300 by 75
(4) 190 by 80
(5) 205 by 80
(6) 195 by 80
(7) 330 by 65 by 20
(8) 330 by 65 by 20
(9) 165 by 105 by 45
(10) 45 by 35
(21) 225 by 85
(22) 135 by 85
(23) 350 by 110 by 55
(24) 130 by 65
(25) 125 by 70
(26) 125 by 65
With Leg - 115 by 80
(27) 120 by 80
With Leg - 160 by 70
(28) 215 by 65
(11) 775 by 30 by 15 (29) 185 by 65
(12) 690 by 75 by 25 (at highest) (30) 300 by 115
(13) 695 by 45 (31) 340 by 100
Structures at ends -
130 by 60 by 35
(14) 790 by 50 by 40
(15) 825 by 75
(16) 205 by 75
(17) 185 by 75
(18) 100 by 75
(19) 150 by 60
(20) 220 by 85
(32) 220 by 65
(33) 395 by 60
(34) 310 by 60
(35) 48O by 50
(36) 365 by 75
(37) 645 by 80
(38) 525 by 80
(39) 380 by 75
(40) 460 by 65
6
10/63-KH
TCS 4
M/E 453/63
(4i) 300 by 65
(42) 390 by 80
(43) 405 by 85
(44) 215 by 60
(45) 220 by 60
(46) 120 by 50
(47) 315 by 45
(48) 250 by 45
(49). 410 by 50
(50) 200 by 35
(51) 55 by 35
(52) loo by 55
(53) 105 by 40
(54) 90 by 40
(55) 155 by 60
(56) 120 by 50
(57) 230 by 35
(58) 85 by 40
(59) 120 by 50
(2 bldgs)
(60) Storage buildings
170 by 55 (8 bldgs)
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