STATUS OF SS-9 ICBM DEPLOYMENT

Document Type: 
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
Case Number: 
Publication Date: 
May 5, 1970
Content Type: 
MF
File: 
AttachmentSize
PDF icon CIA-RDP78B05703A000100020012-0.pdf130.69 KB
Body: 
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