POSSIBLE MISSILE IMPACT AREA IN WESTERN CHINA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78B05703A000100030008-4
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: March 12, 2004
• Sequence Number: 8
• Publication Date: December 14, 1970
• Content Type: MF

Approved or Relea 2004/03/26
05703A0000030008-4
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Copy -5
MML A)12A i M FUR: Deputy Director for Intelligence
SUBJECT : Possible Missile Impact Area in Western China
1. I have investigated why the possible missile impact craters and someice
possible instrumentation sites -- found recently by the Imagery Analysis
in photography of=:~- were not found and reported on earlier by the National
Photographic Interpretation Center or other photointerpretation components.
2. I have concluded that it is unlikely that craters such as these -- a key
element in the identification of an impact area -- would be perceived in initial
scanning of even high resolution photography. The craters are obscure and the
possible instrumentation sites ambiguous in their photographic appearance. Such
photographic evidences yield to detailed search and lengthy photointerpretation
study, unlike the more readily recognizable signatures of launch sites which we
are detecting early in their construction and during initial scans and following
searches of visible terrain.
3. During initial scanning and following searching (first and second phase
photointerpretation) NPIC photointerproters work against a wide variety of kinds
of known targets as well as seeking; signs of new activity such as signs of missile
deployment and testing. The present arrangement of NPIC photointerpretation assign-
ments continues to be the most effective way in which to detect most kinds of new
activities during an initial scan with the number of PIs authorized.
4. Incidentally, NPIC worked with the National Security Agency and CCtIIREX.
in gaining coverage of the area in which the craters were found. As the result
of information provided by NSA in January 1970, NPIC requested high resolution
coverage of a new area different front that which previously had been covered and
seaxched for signs of a missile impact area (see map). NPIC did report in an Oak
supplement of July 1970 on the presence of three of the five sites which IAS has
described as possible instrumentation sites.
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DECLASS REVIEW by NIMA/DOD
Executive Director
National Photophic Interpretation Center
Attachment
map
Distribution:
Copies 1 & 2 - Addressee
3 - NIIJ
Apprgveal j se 2004/03/26-.: CIA-RDP7
5 & 6 - NPIC/ODIR
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Approved For Rel* 2004/03/26: CIA-RDP78B05703A0
KA
(K?0.
gar
iLh)
R.
ULAN BATORp
0N:GoLIA
Kuldja
.(1-Wing)
JAMMU:
AND
KASHMIR
(Seer s in drzovt?)
Lhasa
WESTERN CHINA AREA
OLD SEARCH AREA
NEW SEARCH AREA
? CRATERS
ya-men-shlh
H I N
INDIA .
? NEW DELHI
Approved For Release 2004/03/26 : CIA-RDP78B05703A000100030008-4
K.un.min6.
S.U R M A
THAlL
 -Approved-For lease 2004703/26 CIA
. -RDP78B057
25XI O[;IG
I UNIT
II
DATE. 11 DECEMBER 1970
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CIA/IAS
.CONF:.
INFO :. ALSO
c[ _nssirie~~ r~FSSAGE
OJ;TQQI;Q9 -;~,Cll 1970)
---- - ----~-SX 1
--- - - -
~ I N 1 7 I " " . s
E DEFERIED PRIORITY
C
p _~-_~--- -- _-_----__- INIT IALS
N ROUTINE OPERAI10NAL
c X IMiiMEDIATE
E I -
CITE CIA/IAS-
A POSSIBLE MISSILE IMPACT AREA HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED IN,THE SOUTH-
CENTRAL TAKLA MAKAN DESERT IN WESTERN CHINA.
THREE CRATERS, WHICH MAY HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY IMPACTING RE-ENTRY VEHICLES,
HAVE BEEN NEWLY IDENTIFIED IN AN AREA APPROXIMATELY 20 NAUTICAL MILES
SOUTHEAST OF NIYA (MIN-FENG).
ONE CRATER, LOCATED AT 36-45-40N 83-03-40E, IS ABOUT 75 FEET IN
DIAMETER AND WAS FIRST SEEN ON PHOTOGRAPHY OF
A SECOND CRATER, 0.6 NAUTICAL MILES WEST
OF THE FIRST, IS ABOUT 45 FEET IN DIAMETER AND IS LOCATED AT 36-46-10N
PRESENT ON
83-03-20E. IT WAS FIRST SEEN ONI IAND WAS NOT PRESENT
THE THIRD CRATER MEASURED APPROXIMATELY 40 FEET'
IN DIAMETER AND IS LOCATED AT 36-47-40N 82-49-OOE, 111 NAUTICAL MILES
WEST OF THE FIRST TWO. IT WAS FIRST SEEN-ON-
NOT BE NEGATED UNTIL
COORDINATING OFFLCERS
DEP DIR/IAS
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C/IAS/MSD 5X1
AUTHENTICATING OFFICER
REPR UCTION BY OTHER THAN THE ISSUING OFFICE IS PROHIBITED. Copy No.
A rove or Release 2004/03/26 : S18 -R 8 001 Q Q Q8N4 It h
M a s t e r
c:.. pp ren1c.r Trancrnlccinn Cony Qg7T ~~Q ~~"?~"
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IN ADDITION, FIVE POSSIBLE INSTRUMENTATION SITES AND A BASE SUPPORT
FACILITY HAVE ALSO BEEN CONSTRUCTED IN THE SAME GENERAL AREA SINCE
HEIR LOCATIONS ARE AS FOLLOWS:
POSS. INST. SITE 1 - 36-44-20N 82-53-20E
d-POSS. INST. SITE 2 - 36-53-1ON 82-51-40E
POSS. INST. SITE '3 - 36-56-30N 82-52-20E
POSS. INST. SITE 4 - 36-57-OON 82-55-20E
POSS. INST. SITE 5 - 36-56-30N 83-01-30E
NIYA BASE SUPPORT FACILITY -- 37-04N 82-43E
THE LOCATION'OF THESE FACILITIES IN RELATION TO THE IMPACT AREA AND
THE TIME OF THEIR CONSTRUCTION SUGGESTS A POSSIBLE MISSILE IMPACT AND
MONITORING FUNCTION FOR THIS AREA.
THIS POSSIBLE IMPACT AREA IS ABOUT 850 NAUTICAL MILES FROM THE
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SHUANG-CHENG-TZU'RANGEHEAD, 1350 NAUTICAL MILES FROM WU-CHAI AND 2050 NAUTICAL
MILES FROM CHING-YU.
PHOTOGRAPHY:
CRATER NO. 1 -~
POSS. INST. SITE 1 -
POSS. INST. SITE 2 -
'POSS. INST. SITE 3 -
POSS. INST. SITE 4 -
CRATER NO. 2
CRATER NO. 3
I .l ''1 - END OF MESSAGE
' ' Approved For Release 2004/03/Ip gw 78605 03A000100030008-4
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