TRENDS AND DEVELOPMENTS FOREIGN TECHNOLOGY WEAPONS AND SYSTEMS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP07S00452R000300850009-2
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: January 24, 2012
• Sequence Number: 9
• Publication Date: April 10, 1978
• Content Type: MISC

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/06/07: CIA-RDP07SO0452R000300850009-2
DST-2660P-10 7-78-SAO
2 5 APR. 1978.
1jAID LOGGrD 14. APR 1978
DEFENSE INTELLIGENCE
AGENCY
-~_Z6_72
TRENDS AND DEVELOPMENTS
FOREIGN TECHNOT OGY
WEAPONS AND SYSTEMS
121
Classified by TK-1
Exempt From General Declassification
Schedule of Executive Order 11652
Exemption Category 2
Declassify On Impossible to Determine
A
Warning Noti
ce
Sensitive Intelligence Sources and Methods Involved
National Security Information
Unauthorized Disclosure Subject to Criminal Sanctions
~I.
NOFORN 25X1
NOCONTRACT
HANDLE VIA
TALENT-KEYHOLE-COMINT
CONTROL SYSTEMS JOINTLY
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/06/07: CIA-RDP07SO0452R000300850009-2
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/06/07: CIA-RDP07SO0452R000300850009-2
TOP SECRET RUFF ZARF UMBRA
r.--------------------------- ----
GROUND SYSTEMS
Soviet Heavy Caliber MRL, M-1977 (C)
(S) of the Soviets' new
MRL and its resupply vehicle at the Letzlinger Heide
training area, reveals several additional technical and
operational features not evidenced
The number of launch tubes, previous y assessed to _be
either 12 or 14, has now been confirmed to be 16. The
caliber, yet to be accurately determined, is still asses-
sed to be about 240 mm. Figure l'shows a battery of six
launchers drawn up along the firing line, three are in
launch position with launch tubes elevated and three have
just pulled into the line.
(S) Preliminary analysis and mensuration of the launch
tube cluster discloses that when traveling, the tube
cluster is positioned with its breech end slightly ele-
vated and resting on the vehicle engine compartment and
the muzzle end depressed and facing to the rear of the
vehicle. Analysis further reveals that when compared
with its travel position, the tube cluster in the firing
position is slewed 180 degrees and moved somewhat to the
I rear with the breech end overhanging the end of the vehicle
in order to achieve the quadrant el.vat on required to
fire to maximum range. In traveling wi.tn the tube cluster
in the reverse position, the overall vehicle length is
reduced and its maneuverability improved by shifting the
launcher's weight forward and improving the center of
gravity of the 8-wheel chassis. _
I (S) The MRLs photographed lining up in battery firing ~
position, appear able to negotiate very tight turns in very I
muddy terrain, indicating that the vehicle carriers ~
probably are identical to the ZIL-135 models used with the
FROG-7 systems. The ZIL-135 has a 1-2-1 axle arrangement
with both front and rear wheels having steerable axles,
torsion bar suspension and a remotely controlled eight tire 1
inflating system. The center tandem wheels are fixed rigidly
to the vehicle frame and have no suspension system. Under
adverse conditions involving deep mud or snow, takeup drums
fitted to the hubs of the front wheels can be used to
extricate bogged down vehicles. As with the FROG-7 launcher, ~
the rigid frame of the ZIL-135, when fitted with similar I
stabilizing jacks, provides a very stable firing platform ~
I for the new MRL.
L - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
DETACH PRIOR TO RELEASE TO NON CODEWORD INDOCTRINATED RECIPIENT
a HANDLE VIA
TOP SECRET RUFF ZARF UMBRA TALENTCONTROL SYSTEMS -C JOINTLY
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/06/07: CIA-RDP07SO0452R000300850009-2
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/06/07: CIA-RDP07S00452R000300850009-2
- ~.. I+KELEASE TO NON CODEWORD INDOCTRINATED RECIPIENTS
(U) During certain training, boresighting gand
prefire exercises, the Soviets have seen fittolprovide
individual concrete hard stands for their vehicles..
(Figure 2). The hard stands not only facilitate these types
of crew training but make it convenient to perform them
under inclement weather conditions. The crew size assess-
ment for the new MRL remains at four members.
(S)
SOURCE:
(Figure 3) The rocketseper resupply vehicle.
led fra are probably fitted with HE (control-
gmentation) or chemical warheads, armed with either
proximity or mechanical time fuzing systems. Two resupply
vehicles are associated with each MRL. Analysis the new
its resupply vehicle and the ancillary equipmntandw
support vehicles is continuing and significant developments
will be reported in future issue of Trends and Developments.
(SECRET/RELEASABLE TO UK and CANADA)
Lockets
stacks with a handling/loading device rmounted ebetweenothem.
Each stack appears to contain two rows of three rockets
each for a total of 12
analysis indicates that th
DETACH PRIOR TO RELEASE TO NON CODEWORD INDOCTRINATED RECIPIENT J
9
HANDLE VIA
TALENT- KEYHOLE-COMI NT
TOP SECRET RUFF ZARF UMBRA CONTROL
YSTEMS JOINTLY
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/06/07: CIA-RDP07SO0452R000300850009-2
I
25X1
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