ARALSK AIRFIELD, USSR

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78B04560A002200010044-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 7
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: January 3, 2006
• Sequence Number: 44
• Publication Date: May 1, 1964
• Content Type: REPORT

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ARALSK AIRFIELD, USSR
NP IC/R-286/64
May 1964
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NPIC/R-286/64
ARALSK AIRFIELD, USSR
Aralsk Airfield is believed to be the air
support base for Vozrozhdeniya Island on the
basis of recorded flights from the airfield to
the island. The airfield probably has other
Approximately nine
nondescript buildings have been
the facility was first seen
photography of
aircraft, ranging from 6
served at the airfield.
erected since
on C
I2g*6
Aralsk Airfield co-
ordinates 46-49N 61-37E) is located 3 nautical
miles (nm) northwest of the town of Aralsk,
USSR, to which it is connected by a dirt road
(Figure 1). The Aktyubinsk-Tashkent single-
track railroad passes close to the north end of
the field. The airfield (Figure 2) consists
of two intersecting unpaved runways and may
be fenced. The field was observed on poor-
quality photography in ll and 25X1
has been observed several times since then
photography, the best of which 22S)(ID
Airfield Facilities. Facilities at Aralsk
Airfield comprise seven major buildings which
are all medium-sized, one-story, barracks or
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Railroad
Road
Ground scar
Cable scar
warehouse-type structures, a number of smaller
structures, two or more communications towers,
and a probable POL facility (Figures 2 and 3).
Dimensions of the major buildings are given
in Figure 3. Buildings 2 and 3 are probably
maintenance shops; the rest of the buildings
are probably housing, storage, administrative,
and communications units. Nine buildings have
been constructed since 0 - two large, two
medium, and five small structures.
Ground photography of
(Figure 4) shows four to six cylindrical inks
FIGURE 2. ARALSK AIRFIELD AND NEARBY INSTALLATIONS.
10; 6 probable CAB, 4 unidentified
single engine
14; 4 CAB, 3 COACH, 3 COLT, 3
('REEK, 1 HOUND
6; 1 possible CAB, 3 possible CRATE,
3 small unidentified
8; all unidentified straight wing
6; all unidentified because of snow
cover
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horizontally disposed on the surface of the
ground east of building 1 (Figure 3). Sub-
sequent I photography reveals no in-
dications of these tanks so that it is likely
that they have either been buried or moved.
The wide variance in the sizes and shapes of
these tanks suggests that they were designed to
hold various quantities of several kinds of liquids
or gases. Tanks of this type are not the usual
tanks used to store PO1, products at an airfield,
nor are they in a location suitable for this use.
Aircraft Observed at Aralsk t it ie . : i -
craft have been observed at Aralsk Airfield on
both aerial and ground photography at various
times between
25X1
25X1
Dates of photography, number, and types of air-
craft observed are shown in Table 1.
It has been observed that the aircraft
parked nearest to the support buildings in a
line parallel with the railroad line, are always
dark toned or nearly black. The others are
light toned with a high degree of reflectivity.
Table 1. Number and Ty e of Soviet Aircraft Observed
at Aralsk Airfield l etween
Date of
rholography
25X1 D
25X1
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FIGURE 4. GROUND PHOTOGRAPH OF PART OF ARALSK AIRFIELD FACILITIES, FEBRUARY 1960. The photograph, taken
from a railroad car, shows the horizontal, cylindrical tanks at left.
25X1 D
photography, taken after a facility that has been described as a possible
snowfall, indicates no effort to clear either military installation is, situated about one nm
planes or runways, suggesting that the field north-northwest of the airfield. 2/ A similar
may be little used during the winter months. facility is situated about one nm east of Aralsk
Installations Near Aralsk Airfield. A beside the rail line that goes to Aralsulfat.
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It is possible that both installations are military
in nature, but it is more probable that both
are involved in the collection and initial pro-
cessing of Glauber's salt (hydrated sodium sul-
phate), which is the principal industry of the area.
A small, walled installation is situated
approximately 2.5 nm south of the airfield on
a line with the center of the wider runway
(Figure 2). The walled-in compound contains
three large buildings and three or four small
buildings; no change has been observed in this
facility since A well-defined
set of three parallel cable scars extends from
the south end of the runway most of the way
to the walled installation, but apparently ter-
minates at a possible building. A faint set of
subparallel, straight ground scars intersect the
triple cable scars at right angles. The function
of the grid thus formed is difficult to determine.
The three cable scars emanating from the run-
way may be part of a ground control approach
system and the other scars may be the result
of mineral exploration activities which have been
extensive in the region.
might indicate the nature of the stored materials.
The fenced area on the south side of the support
area could be interpreted as a corral in which
test animals could be held pending shipment.
The tanks could be used to store fl..jids other
than fuel. The storage-type buildings present
have no visible distinctive characteristics that
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ACIC. US Air Target Chart, Series 200, Sheet 0246-7-200A, 1st ed, Feb 60, scale 1:200,000 (SECRET)
25X1 C 2. NPIC. R-1023/62, Geographic Study, Aral Sea Area, USSR, Jun 62 (SECRETI
Trip, Moscow-Tashkent by Rail and Air, Mar 60 (SECRET)
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