SOVIET PRIMORYE-CLASS INTELLIGENCE COLLECTION SHIPS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP85T00840R000100200001-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 10
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: November 17, 2010
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: December 1, 1984
• Content Type: REPORT

Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/11/17: CIA-RDP85T00840R000100200001-5
NATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHIC INTERPRETATION CENTER
imagery analysis report
Soviet Primorye-Class Intelligence
Collection Ships (S)
Secret
Secret
Z-14096/84
IAR-0045/84
DECEMBER 1984
Copy 4 11)
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/11/17: CIA-RDP85T00840R000100200001-5
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/11/17: CIA-RDP85T0084OR000100200001-5
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/11/17: CIA-RDP85T0084OR000100200001-5
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/11/17: CIA-RDP85T00840R000100200001-5
SOVIET PRIMORYE-CLASS INTELLIGENCE COLLECTION SHIPS (S)
1. The electronics equipment aboard the six Soviet Primorye-class intelligence collection ships
(AGIs) has been continually upgraded since 1975, and structural changes have been made to four of these
AGIs since 1980. These improvements and changes have been made as the Soviets improve the state of
the art of their shipboard electronics systems and as the missions of the Primorye AGIs are modified to
meet changing collection requirements. (S/WN)
2. This report is in response to a National Security Agency request for detailed, imagery-derived
analyses of the improvements and changes made to the six Primorye-class AGIs. An understanding of
these improvements and changes will aid in assessing the AGIs' capabilities, which appear to be directly
related to the specific collection requirements of each home fleet area of operations. Therefore, for
presentation purposes, this report is arranged by fleet areas, and the modifications and changes are
described in chronological order by unit. Satellite imagery acquired through as well
as selected ground photography, was used in the preparation of this report. This report contains eight
annotated photographs, a chart depicting the 1980 to 1984 modification/repair periods for each AGI, and
a map depicting the usual operating areas of the AGIs. (S/WN)
3. The Primorye-class AGI was introduced
into the Soviet Navy in 1970. This AGI is based on
a hull design developed from the Mayakovskiy-
class fish factory trawler and is the first Soviet AGI
to be constructed and fitted out solely as an intelli-
gence collector. All have an onboard intelligence
processing and dissemination capability. The six
Primorye-class AGIs were built at Nikolayev Ship-
yard Nosenko 444
in the Black
Sea. They are:
Pendant No
Name
Assigned Fleet
SSV-464
Zabaykale
Pacific
SSV-465
Primorye
Pacific
SSV-501
Z_aporozhe
Northern
SSV-502
Zakarpatye
Northern
SSV-590
Krym
Black Sea
SSV-591
Kavkas
Black Sea (S/WN)
4. The electronics equipment aboard all Pri-
niorye-class units has been continually upgraded,
and the four units deployed in the Pacific and
Northern Fleets have either undergone or are un-
dergoing major structural changes. (S/WN)
Pacific Fleet
5. The SSV-464 Zabaykale and SSV-465 Pri-
morye are home ported at Vladivostok Naval Base
and Shipyard 202 Both units have
also been modified and repaired at this facility.
SSV-464 Zabaykale
6. The SSV-464 (Figure 2) was assigned to
the Pacific Fleet in 1971, after operating briefly in
the Black Sea. By 1980, eight optical trackers/cam-
eras (Figure 3) had been installed. These optical
trackers/cameras are used to monitor missiles as
they are launched and reentry vehicles prior to
impact. Initial modification of the Zabaykale oc-
curred during March and April 1980, when the
goalpost was removed. SSV-464 was the first of its
class to undergo a major structural change. Be-
tween December 1981 and April 1982, the aft sig-
nals-intelligence deckhouse was removed, and a
rectangular opening was made in
the roof of the forward sigint deckhouse (Figure 4).
No electronics equipment or radar was discernible
through the opening in the deckhouse, which is
believed to house a large parabolic dish antenna.
The aft sigint deckhouse was replaced with a trail-
er-mounted modified WILD CARD radar-a te-
lemetry collector, and the center of the forward
/AR-0045/84 SECRET
WNINTEL
Z-14096/84
25X1
25X1
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/11/17: CIA-RDP85T00840R000100200001-5
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/11/17: CIA-RDP85T00840R000100200001-5
sigint deckhouse was raised (Figure 5). The addi-
tion of the WILD CARD gives SSV-464 the capabili-
ty to monitor two widely separated targets simulta-
neously. (S/WN)
SSV-465 Primorye
7. The SSV-465, the lead ship of the class,
was initially deployed in the Black Sea in early 1970
and later in the year was transferred to Vladivos-
tok. By 1980, six optical trackers/cameras had
been installed on this unit. This unit was at the
repair quay in March and April 1980 and from late
June through late September 1981. The aft goal-
post was removed between June and September
1981. Major structural changes on SSV-465 began
in mid-August 1984. By early September, the aft
sigint deckhouse had been removed, and the cen-
ter of the forward sigint deckhouse had been
raised, indicating that when the modifications are
complete, this unit will be similar to SSV-464 and
be able to perform the same mission. The modified
WILD CARD had not been installed on SSV-465
when this ship was last observed, on
(S/WN)
Northern Fleet
8. The SSV-501 Zaporozhe and SSV-502 Za-
karpatye are home ported at Polyarnyy Naval Base
South Both units have been mod-
ified and repaired at Chalmpushka/Roslyakova
Ship Repair Yard The structural
changes to these units and those in the Pacific
Fleet bear some similarities. The electronics equip-
ment modifications differ, however, because the
units in the Pacific Fleet have different collection
requirements. The Primoryes in the Northern Fleet
operate along the east coast of North America,
from Canada to Puerto Rico.
SSV-501 Zaporozhe
9. The SSV-501 had been transferred to Po-
Iyarnyy Naval Base South by mid-1972, after a
Mediterranean deployment. In 1975, a PERT
SPRING satellite communications antenna was
added to the front of the forward sigint deck-
house, improving the Zaporozhe's dissemination
capability. Between February and early May 1981,
the LARGE CROSS direction finder was replaced
with a TWIN WHEEL DF, and a large camera was
installed. Major structural changes began on SSV-
501 in early April 1984. In September, the aft sigint
deckhouse cover was removed intact and placed
on the shore (Figure 6), indicating that after modifi-
cations are complete, the deckhouse will be rein-
stalled. In October, the forward sigint deckhouse
was also removed. (S/WN)
SSV-502 Zakarpatye
10. The SSV-502 had been assigned to Po-
Iyarnyy Naval Base South by the end of 1972. In
1976, a TWIN WHEEL DF replaced the older
LARGE CROSS DF on the mainmast. Additional
electronics were added to the forward mast on the
aft sigint deckhouse during 1981. This mast was
reinforced to support the added weight of the new
electronics. An additional electronics mast was
also placed on the aft sigint deckhouse. Structural
changes began in June 1983, when a 25X1
diameter opening was made in the roof of the 25X1
forward sigint deckhouse, and the center of the 25X1
deckhouse was raised (Figure 7). As with the two
Pacific Fleet units, no electronics equipment was
discernible within the deckhouse. (S/WN)
Black Sea Fleet
11. The SSV-590 Krym and SSV-591 Kavkas 25X1
are home ported at Sevastopol Naval Base (BE
Modifications and repairs to both 25X1
units were completed at Sevastopol Naval Base
and Shipyard Kilenbal and Sevas- 25X1
topol Ship Repair Yard Bukhta Severnaya 0 25X1
No major structural changes have been 2ma structural changes have been 25X1
made to either of these units. The Black Sea Pri-
moryes augment the two Northern Fleet Primor-
yes, which patrol the US east coast, and also col- 25X1
lect sigint in the Mediterranean Sea and in the25X1
vicinity of Ascension Island when missile tests are
conducted in the Atlantic Missile Test Range (Fig-
ure 1).1 (S/WN)
SSV-590 Krym
12. The SSV-590 was assigned to Sevastopol
Naval Base in May 1970. In 1975, two PERT
SPRING antennas were added to the main mast. In
1977, five optical trackers/cameras were added. By
1980, the forwardmost mast had been removed
WNINTEI
Z-14096/84
BAR-0045/84 SECRET
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/11/17: CIA-RDP85T00840R000100200001-5
 IAR-0045/84
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/11/17: CIA-RDP85T00840R000100200001-5
SECRET
KIRINATI
U.S.
HAWAII
.VPIC T-9986
s
i
- BREMERTON
UNITED STATES
~VANDENBERG VORFOLK
%SAN DIEGO CHARLSTON \.77 BERMUDA
CAPE
CANAVERAL
CANADA
Miller Cylindrical Projection
Scale 185,000,000
MEXICO
< 1"BELizD
. HOND
GUATEMALA
EL SALVADOR
CUBA
IAYAICA
RAS
NICARAGUA
PANAMA
COSTA RICA 1
THE BAHAMAS
PUERTO RICO
DOMINICAN
IUJTIIREP. II ~ fST. CHRISTOPHER Axe NEVIS
AxTwu..w uRwDA
ET.IUGU pCMIXKA
S VINCENT RHO l BARBADOS
MF BRFXADIXFS-+ GPFNADA
TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
iVENEZUELA } GUYANA
` SURINAME
COLOMBIAr ( French NGuiana
h,- 1 r
PERU'.....
BOLIVIA 1
" ~11
/-'/~ PARAGUAY
BRAZIL
CHILE) r URUdUAY
ARGENTINA
Greenland
(DEN 1
ICELAND
IRELAND
UNITED
KINGDOM
NETH,.' f'0.0 .R POLAND `.
ERG Cx _ SSV-590 KRYM
?" D" SSV-591 KAVKAS
ICE AUS.! HUN. ;
'') ROMANIA.,.
M
NEISO. VUGO
ITALY BULGARIA
ALB7
i
i
MALTA
TUNISIA
PORTUGAL SPAIN o
Western
SaITATaj
MAURITANIA
CAPE r 1 MALI NIGER CHAD
VERDE SENE\GAL ~."-~~ ~
\ THE GAMBIAN \ !'f VOLTA VOLTA
~-'"~
GOINEA.RISSAU GUINEA ~.,~v:, ~` BESIIN / l f
SIERRA LEONE /tIVORV,GHAI NIGERIA E4
C.A..
! `COAST "% R
LIBERIA I , Td GO /CAME N
sa TAME
1PPBIXCIPE
GABON
EDUATgIMI
GUINEA
',ASCENSION ISLAND
NORWAY.
SWEDEN
DENMARK
SNMIbard
(NORI
FINLAND
TURKEY
GREECE
----CYPRUS J~
_SYRIA!
SRAEyIRAQ `
IN: Pii III PA.R.Y.
/' It. YEYFXI
naoun
ETHIOPIA....
SOMALIA
y._
( lKENYA~
(i~awexD ~
/BURUSOI
ANZANIA
~n
ANGOLA ; 14uwl CoIIFRUS
ZAMBIA -
BABWE;MOZAMBIGUE MADAGASCAR MAURnwD
ZAIRE
Txe URned Sure. Go+etnmenf Ca. Tnf ?ecoan.Yed
TON moarportlxn of Bran.. LATH. and LnnwTa
ITIO me SORNI Unwn OMer boondnY .RPTR.eanwe
n of neu.urdy AmxwlmlRe
SSV-501 ZAPOROZHE
SSV-502 ZAKARPATYE
OLYARNYY
SEVASTOP0L
0-
SWAZILAND
IRAN
SAUDI ARABIA U.A.E.
OMAN
SEYCHELLES
C.A.R. -CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC
F.R.G. -FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY
G.D.R. -GERMAN DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC
P.D.R.Y.-PEOPLE'S DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF YEMEN
U.A.E. -UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
Y.A.R. -YEMEN ARAB REPUBLIC
SOVIET UNION
SRI
LANKA
~ SSJI-465 PRIMO VE
MONGOLIA ~, -
VLADIVOSTOK~
N KOREA
S. KOREA
CHINA
~l ~ETNAM
~THAILAND$
ll
KAMP
v
MUN6,
MALAYSIA
Ni
'$IHGAPORC
'r,HOn9 Konp NK.)
Macau
POUTI
INDONESIA
PHILIPPINES
JAPAN
AUSTRALIA
PAPUA
NEW GUINEA
SOLOMON
ISLANDS
VANUATU
SCUBA
NEW
ZEALAND
KWAJA LE I N
ISLAND
FIJI
WESTERN
SAMOa
TONGA
FIGURE 1. OPERATING AREAS OF THE PRIMORYE-CLASS AGIs
-3-
SECRET
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/11/17: CIA-RDP85T00840R000100200001-5
WN/N TEL
Z-14096/84
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/11117: CIA-RDP85T00840R000100200001-5
SECRET
Chart 1.
Primorye-Class AGI Modification/Repair Periods, 1980-1984
1981
J F MA M J JASON D J F MA M J JASON 0 J FMA M j JASON D J FM AM J JASON D J F MA MJ JASON
1980
This chart is classified SECRET/WNINTEL.
FIGURE 2. SSV-464 ZABAYKALE
I
1982
1983
1984
IAR-0045/84 SECRET
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/11/17: CIA-RDP85T00840R000100200001-5
Z-14096/84
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/11/17: CIA-RDP85T0084OR000100200001-5
SECRET
from the unit, and a small platform was added to
the outboard corners of the bridge face super-
structure. In 1984, a BRICK SHELL electronics in-
tercept antenna was placed on each of the small
platforms (Figure 8). This unit was in a repair/mod-
ification status at Sevastopol from January through
October 1980 (Chart 1), during which time an ex-
tension of a small housing between the aft sigint
deckhouse and the goalpost was completed. The
configurations of SSV-590 and SSV-591 are nearly
identical, indicating that they collect against the
same types of targets. (S/WN)
13. The SSV-5)1 was assigned to Sevastopol
Naval Base in November 1970. In 1976, six optical
trackers/cameras were installed (Figure 9); in 1977,
a PERT SPRING antenna was affixed to the top of
the goalpost. By 1980, the forwardmost mast had
been removed from the unit, and a small platform
had been added to the outboard corners of the
bridge face superstructure. In 1982, the LARGE
CROSS DF was replaced by a TWIN WHEEL DF.
(S/WN)
IAR-004 5/84 SECRET
WNINTEL
Z-14096/84
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/11/17: CIA-RDP85T0084OR000100200001-5
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/11/17: CIA-RDP85T0084OR000100200001-5
Iq
Next 1 Page(s) In Document Denied
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/11/17: CIA-RDP85T0084OR000100200001-5
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/11/17: CIA-RDP85T0084OR000100200001-5
SECRET
All applicable satellite imagery acquired between January 1980 and
photography were used in the preparation of this report. (S/WN)
and selected ground 25X1
1. FSL Inc (a subsidiary of TRW Inc). SC-252-0023/82, TM-1478, Capabilities and Functions of the Soviet
Auxiliary Ships (U), Part 1, 12 Dec 81 (TOP SECRET
`Extracted information classified SECRET.
Comments and queries regarding this report are welcome. They may be direct
Soviet Air, Navy, Nuclear Division, Imagery Exploitation Group, NPIC,
IAR-004 5184
or 25X1
C) Lbx'l
WNINTEI
SECRET Z-14096/84
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/11/17: CIA-RDP85T0084OR000100200001-5
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/11/17: CIA-RDP85T0084OR000100200001-5
Secret
Secret
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/11/17: CIA-RDP85T0084OR000100200001-5