ARALSK RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT/INSTRUMENTATION FACILITY DEPLOYED COMM/ELEC/RADAR FACILITIES USSR JANUARY 1969

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78T04563A000100010026-4
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 10
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: February 28, 2005
• Sequence Number: 26
• Publication Date: January 1, 1969
• Content Type: REPORT

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Basic Imagery Interpretation Report
NATIONAL
PHOTOGRAPHIC
INTERPRETATION
CENTER:
RCA-03/0005/69
ARALSK RESEARCH AND
DEVELOPMENT/INSTRUMENTATION FACILITY
I I
DEPLOYED COMM/EIEC/RIOIR FACILITIES
USSR
JANUARY 1969
Declassification by FA,DoD
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.....?.....PAGES
GROUP I EXCLUDED FROM
AUTOMATIC DOWNGRADING
AND DECLASSIFICATION
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Aralsk Research and Development/ Instrumentation Facility
ACIC. Operational Navigation Chart, Sheet F-5, Apr 65, Scale 1:1,000,000 (UNCLASSIFIED)
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ABSTRACT
This report presents detailed information on all components of Aralsk Research and
Development/ Instrumentation Facility, USSR. The specific functions of this facility have
not yet been determined. The facility consists of three related areas: a research and
development test area, an instrumentation/communications area, and a support area. The
most significant feature of this facility, located in the research and development test
area, consists of two guyed towers spaced part and a large hard- 25X1
surfaced rectangular pad.
INTRODUCTION
The Aralsk Research and Development/Instrumentation Facility is located 13 nautical
miles (nm) west of Aralsk, USSR, on the northern shoreline of the Sea of Aralsk. It is
connected to Aralsk by roads. It is composed of three areas: the R&D test area, the in-
strumentation/communications area, and the support area. The instrumentation/commu-
nications area is located on a high bluff (approximately 500 feet elevation) overlooking
the R&D test area and the support area (approximately 200 feet elevation) which is ap-
proximately 7,000 feet southwest of the R&D test area. This physical arrangement pro-
vides an unobstructed line-of-sight for the instrumentation/communications area.
BASIC DESCRIPTION
Operational Functions
R&D Test Area
The R&D test area (Figure 2) is located on the northern shoreline of the Sea of
Aralsk. The specific function of the area has not been determined. It contains two 25X1
guyed lattice towers spaced I apart. A road-served I hard- 25X1
surfaced rectangular pad is midway between the towers. The pad has two narrow hard-
surfaced linear extensions measuring These form an approximately east- 25X1
west axis in line with the towers. A series of poles with an average
spacing of and an undetermined height are aligned along the axis of the pad and
extensions. Four L-shaped objects (Figure 3), spaced 820 feet apart, form a square around
the pad.
Instrumentation/ Communications Area
The instrumentation/communications area is located approximately 7,000 feet northeast
of the R&D test area and is situated on a bluff (elevation approximately 500 feet) over-
looking the R&D and support areas (Figure 4). The instrumentation/ communications
area consists of four instrumentation buildings (Bldgs 1-4, Figure 6) of equal size and
alignment, a steam plant, (Bldg 5), a support building (Bldg 5), and associated elec-
tronics equipment. A perpendicular line azimuth (broadside to the instrumentation build-
ings) of 225 degrees points in the direction of the R&D test area.
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Various electronics components can be identified within the instrumentation/commu-
nications area. One pair (two antennas) of twin-dish troposcatter antennas was observed.
The antennas are oriented on a propagation azimuth of 225 degrees and are located at
46-47-20N 061-21-OOE A van-mounted antenna of undetermined size, con-
figuration, and function is in front of the instrumentations buildings. It appears to be
oriented in the same general direction as the troposcatter antennas. A probable control
van is adjacent to the van-mounted antenna. Probable telemetry antennas of an un-
determined configuration are mounted on three of the four instrumentation buildings.
Footings for three high-frequency horizontal dipole antennas (Antenna 7 & 8) and a
single 2-2-2 fishbone receiving antenna (Antenna 9) located to the rear of the instrumen-
tation buildings, were identified on photography of I The latest coverage, 25X1
A pipeline trench parallels the main access road from Aralsk and appears to terminate
near the steam plant.
Two vans, seven generators, and two unidentified pieces of equipment are located to
the rear of the instrumentation buildings.
ARALSK RESEARCH
" Nq \ACILITY
N NI/
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 WINCH
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TOWER GUY
ANCHOR POSITIONS
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Support Area
A support area (Figure 5) is located approximately 3,000 feet east of the R & D test
area and consists of a 100- by 85-foot high-bay clerestory building (Bldg 1), a four-bay
probable garage (Bldg 5), a two-story probable technical support building (Bldg 2), a prob-
able checkout building (Bldg 4), three barracks buildings (Bldgs 8-10), and several small
support buildings. It is of interest to note that the high-bay clerestory building is directly
connected to the rectangular pad in the R&D test area by a hard-surfaced road.
Onsite electric power is provided by a probable generator power plant (Bldg 6),
which probably utilizes diesel fuel. No overhead powerlines can be observed leading to
or within the overall facility. A single-stack steam plant with an adjacent coal-storage
bin is located to the rear of the probable technical support building.
An unusual singly secured structure, which is identified as a possible incinerator, is
located between the barracks buildings and the support buildings. The structure has a
square base with truncated sides and has a height of The structure is surrounded 25X1
by a solid fence and appears to have one entrance; no gate or barrier
was observed. A small batch plant is located to the rear of the barracks buildings. An
earthen mound, probably used to deflect run-off water, is on three sides of the support
area.
Status and Activity
The area was first observed under construction in Q Initial construction
activity consisted of three building foundations within the support area. Construction of
the R&D test and support areas has proceeded at a steady pace from
to late
onstruction at the instrumentation/ communications area began in mid-1967. The
ov r facility appears essentially complete on photography of
with the
ex-
ception of erection of the support masts for the IIF antennas and the
pipeline trench
leading to the facility.
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Security
The facility is enclosed on three sides by a single fence. The southernmost side is
unsecured but its boundary is defined by the shoreline of the Sea of Aralsk. A security
guard building is adjacent to the entrance on the main access road which enters the 25X1
facility near the instrumentation/ communications area. Two additional entrances are
located on the northern and eastern side of the fence.
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MAPS OR CI IARTS
ACIC. Operational Navigation Chart, Sheet F-5, Apr 65, Scale 1:1,000,000 (1'NCLASSIIIEl))
REOUIRI?1\IENT
COMIRLX 77-69
NPIC Project 210175
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