STATUS OF SS-9 ICBM DEPLOYMENT

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78B05703A000100020012-0
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: December 10, 2003
• Sequence Number: 12
• Publication Date: May 5, 1970
• Content Type: MF

25X1 Approved For Release 2004/02/11 : CIA-RDP78BO5703A000100020012-0
Approved For Release 2004/02/11 : CIA-RDP78BO5703A000100020012-0
 Approved F elease 2 , 2/(.11 CIA- 7000100020012-0
5 May 19 70
MEMORANDUM FOR: Deputy Director for Intelligence
SUBJECT . Status of SS-9 ICBM Deployment
1. It is now eight months since the last SS-9
ICBM group known to have been started was begun.
No new launch groups started after August 1969 have
been discovered and no individual SS-9 silos started
after September 1969 have been found.
2. This break in new SS-9 construction now
slightly exceeds the longest similar periods of
inactivity observed since SS-9 deployment began
in January 1964. Previously, the longest pause
between group starts was a seven-month period
between groups begun in May 1968 and January 1969.
The 1 nncj qt ink (3nwn in ci 1.n Gt artq waG fi v
months between August 1968 and January 1969.
3. Recent coverage of the six SS-9 complexes
has been good. During March, 0 search photo-
graphy of sufficient quality to detect any active
silo construction covered completely the areas within
25 nm of four SS-9 complexes -- Aleysk, Dombarovskiy,
Kartaly, and Uzhur. At the other two complexes,
more than 95% of the search area around Zhangiz
Tobe, and about 85% of the Imeni Gastello search
area were similarly covered. It should be noted
that heavy snow was on the ground at all six complexes.
This could have concealed some dormant sites in the
early stages of construction.
4. What may be a new group at Uzhur was dis-
covered in March. Construction appears to have
been started about a year ago, but only one of the
six silos in the group has been identified. Because
all silos within an SS-9 group normally are started
within a few months, the slow progress of this
possible group may indicate that planned deployment
at Uzhur was cut back.
Copy 8
Approved For Release 2004/02/11: CIA-R
7$ A~ O bb100020012-0
r~Ct~
;~
 Approved FIFelease 2004/02/11 : 8B0571#000100020012-0 2
5. No new launchers have been detected on
Large amounts of silo
construction materials were observed at two com-
plexes -- Dombarovskiy and Imeni Gastello -- but
the presence of these materials is consistent with
construction of existing groups. Construction
materials observed at Kartaly, on the other hand,
may be in excess of what is needed for completion
of the single group known to be under construction
there.
6. Historically, the Soviets have started
most SS-9 groups during the first half of the year,
and the absence of new starts between last August
and the first of the year is not necessarily signi-
ficant. (See attachment) Following past practice,
the Soviets should have begun two or three new
groups in the January-March period. It appears
from the coverage that they did not. The past
winter was particularly severe, however, and the
Soviets may have delayed excavation for new projects
until better weather.
^rl t- . sianificant
pause or halt has occurred in the SS-9 program.
Much will depend upon satellite coverage in the
next four or five months.
8. II missions are scheduled during May
and in late August and early September. If the
extent of May coverage approached that of March
and no new groups were discovered, the possibility
would grow that the Soviets last spring had decided
either to end SS-9 deployment or to introduce a
pause of some length, possibly waiting to see what
would come out of the SALT talks.
Strate is Research
Approved For Release 2004/02/11 C - -
Attachment:
,r ,",b . *..?-n
~$' its '~ C a .~. 7
 Approved Fc elea lQO!7-7 :,
C
H1 m:;:i ~, - i ` . "I U
A-RUPISBO lif 000100020012-0
SS-9* Launch Group 'S'tarts
By Quarter
I
ii
T
otal
1964
3
3
7
1965
4
2
11
1966
1967
0
2
1
5
1968
1969
3
4
2
9
17
12
10
47
Approved For Relea 04 C
 Approved Foelease 2004/02/11 : CIA-RDP78B057X000100020012-0
Distribution:
Copies 1, 2, 3
4
5
0;
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
DDI
D/OCI
D/ONE
OD OSR
Approved For Release 2004/02/11 : CIA-RDP78B05703A000100020012-0