GORKIY/SORMOVO RADAR ASSEMBLY AND TEST AREA DEPLOYED COMM/ELEC/RADAR FACILITIES USSR MARCH 1969

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78T04563A000100010032-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 7
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: February 28, 2005
• Sequence Number: 32
• Publication Date: March 1, 1969
• Content Type: REPORT

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magery Interpretation Report
NATIONAL
PHOTOGRAPHIC
INTERPRETATION
CENTER
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GORKIY/SORMOVO RADAR ASSEMBLY
AND TEST AREA
DEPLOYED COMM/ELEC/RADAR FACILITIES
USSR
MARCH 1969
Declassification by NGA/DoD
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GROUP 1. EXCLUDED FROM
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INSYA I I A TION OR ACTIVITY NAME
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Gorkiy/Sormovo Radar Assembly and Test Area
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NA 56-19-30N 043-48-05E
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ABSTRACT
This report provides a detailed imagery-derived analysis of the Gorkiy/Sormovo Radar
Assembly and Test Area. The facility contains an engagement radar assembly line, cali-
bration/test towers, and an area in which FAN SONG and unidentified radars are
assembled or tested. It is the only known Soviet facility in which assembly and test/
calibration of the engagement radar, which is the tracking/guidance radar for the SA-5
defensive missile system, takes place.
INTRODUCTION
The Gorkiy/Sormovo Radar Assembly and Test Area is at an elevation of 300 feet,
adjacent to Gorkiy/Sormovo Airfield, and approximately 3.5 nautical miles west of Gorkiy,
USSR (Figure 1).
The facility was first observed under construction in
25X1. photography of
limited operation. The type of radars present in the facility could not be identified until
25X1 !photography of good interpretability was available. A detailed analysis of
engagement radar is presented in Reference 1.
The assembly and test area is contained within the security fence of the airfield. It
is separated from the airfield by an RF fence to eliminate interference.
Access to the facility is provided by a road leading down the airfield taxiway and
into Gorkiy Airframe Plant Ordzhonikidze 21. It is not possible to establish the precise
relationship between the two facilities, but it is possible that the radar assembly and
test area might share transshipment and storage facilities with the airframe plant. It has
not yet been determined where the engagement radar components are fabricated.
revealed the facility to be nearly complete and possibly in
FIGURE 1. LOCATION MAP.
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BASIC DESCRIPTION
The Gorkiy/Sormovo Radar Assembly and Test Area can be subdivided into three
functional components (Figure 2): the engagement radar assembly line, the area where
FAN SONG radars and unidentified radars are assembled/tested, and the three calibra-
tion/test towers serving the facility. The six buildings within the facility are discussed
below with regard to their respective functional components.
The engagement radar assembly line is located along the western edge of the facility
and consists of five radar assembly bases situated between the rails of a traveling gantry
crane. The width of the crane and the off-center positioning of the assembly
bases allow antenna carriers and electronics vans to park beside the base and under the
crane, for transloading, mounting, and testing radar components.
in the assembly process, the bases serve as the support for the radar, which is
normally positioned atop a van in a deployed situation. The radars are not mounted on
;vans at this facility. Each assembly base consists of a pedestal in diameter and
high with a support structure positioned on its top. The support structure is a
horizontal crossarm approximately 30 feet long, fixed to the pedestal, with a vertical
mount on each extremity to support the radar. The dimensions of the vertical mounts
could not be determined but one is larger and more dense than the other.
Activity on the assembly line has remained at a relatively constant level on all
missions where the identification of radars could be made. On the latest photography of
Three buildings are associated with the assembly line: one is located west, and two
are north of the assembly line. The larger of the two northern buildings (item 4) has
25X1 a dish antenna approximately diameter mounted on its southwestern corner.
The purpose of the building and the antenna is undetermined. The western building
probably serves as the administration/control building for the facility.
It has not been possible to specifically identify the activity involving the FAN SONG
radars, but they have appeared to be in different configurations or stages of assembly
on various missions. The placement of clutter screens between the radars and two of
the calibration/test towers indicates that FAN SONG radars or their components are
tested at this facility. It is not known whether this testing is for routine inspections,
research and development, or a limited assembly process.
The four buildings with mounts are located immediately east of the FAN SONG
radars; three are approximately the same size, 'diameter ring 25X1
mount, and the fourth is 15 by 15 feet and supports an unidentified mount. A variety of
antennas has been observed on all four of these buildings, including trough reflectors
(similar to those on a FAN SONG), dish antennas, and other antennas that could not be
identified by type. Thus, the buildings appear to be used in support of either the re-
search or development of radars, or the testing of radar components.
Two support buildings are associated with this test area; both are located south of
the antenna support structures. A third building located adjacent to the easternmost
FAN SONG radar was removed in 1967.
Three calibration/test towers serve the facility (Figure 2). Based on the placement of
clutter screens, Tower A is considered to serve the three FAN SONG radars, Tower B
serves the FAN SONG radars and the four antenna support buildings, and Tower C
probably serves the engagement radar assembly line.
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The two western towers (B and C) are similar inasmuch as they are massive guyed
25X1 towers with box-like structures q !with an undetermined height) mounted on
the top. The tower that serves the FAN SONG radars is a lighter mast approximately
130 feet high with a dish reflector mounted on it.
Chronology
The facility was first observed under construction in photog-
25X1 raphy of the facility in ME revealed that the engagement radar assembly line appeared
to be complete, but the rail-mounted crane was not yet in place. At that time, the FAN
SONG radar positions were occupied and there were unidentified objects in the positions
where the four antenna support buildings are now located. No changes were observed
25X1 from late I I when the clutter screens were installed and the calibration/test tower for
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the four antenna supports was erected,'
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REFERENCES
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MAPS OR CHARTS
ACIC. US Air Target Chart 200, Sheet M0154-25HL, 4th ed, May 66, Scale 1:200,000 (SECRETri 25X1
1)0CUMENT
1. US ARMY MISSILE COMMAND REDSTONE ARSENAL, ALABAMA.
ment Radar Modeling StudyA, Aug 68 (TOP SECRET
REQUIREMENT
COMIREX BR-C/005/69
NPIC Project 210633
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