DOMBAROVSKIY ICBM COMPLEX LAUNCH GROUP A, USSR

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78T05162A000300010048-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 10
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 9, 2011
• Sequence Number: 48
• Publication Date: September 1, 1973
• Content Type: REPORT

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PHOTOGRAPHIC
INTERPRETATION
REPORT
NATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHIC
INTERPRETATION CENTER
DOMBAROVSKIY ICBM COMPLEX
LAUNCH GROUP A, USSR
-mP-SECRH-
SEPTEMBER 1973
COPY NO. ~2
7 PAGES
PIR-036/73
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Dombarovskiy IC13M Complex Launch Group A
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SAC. USATC, Series 200, Sheet M0236-10HL, 4th ed, Jul 65, scale 1:200,000 (SECRET
1. Of the 26 type IIIF launch sites under construction at five SS-9 complexes, the
six sites at the Dombarovskiy ICBM Complex launch group A are the most advanced in
construction. Additionally, it is the only deployed type IIIF launch group to have a type
IIIX site and to have formerly completed type IIIC launch sites undergoing conversion to
the type IIIF launch sites. This report describes the current status of the launch group and
related activity.
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2. Current construction activity in launch group A at the Dombarovskiy ICBM Complex
indicates that when completed the group will consist of 11 sites (one type IIIX and ten
type IIIF). comthis group consisted of one type IIIX site and six type IIIF launch 25X1
sites under construction and four completed type IIIC launch sites. The number of silo doors
and other silo construction materials in the receiving area indicated that at least 25X1
two of the remaining four completed type IIIC launch sites will be converted to the more
hardened type IIIF launch site.
3. Included are a map showing the layout of the launch group and three annotated
photographs showing the more significant construction details.
4. The Dombarovskiy ICBM Complex is approximately 45 nautical miles (nm) east
of the city of orsk in the southern Urals region. The complex currently consists of nine
completed SS-9 launch groups (each group consists of six type IIIC launch sites) and a tenth
group, launch group A.
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5. Launch group A, 5 nm west of the complex rail-to-road transfer point, is the oldest
launch group at this complex and was completed by August 1966 (Figure 1). No changes
were noted in the group until December 1970, when construction began for new sites within
or near this launch group. By March 1971 five launch sites, designated type IIIF, were under
construction. The pace of construction for these five sites was very slow until November
1972, when construction was apparently halted. A resumption of construction activity was
observed In addition, the beginning of a program to convert 25X1
the formerly completed type IIIC launch sites to the more hardened type IIIF site had been
started by April.
TRANSFORMER
STATION
-a
Q74
TO RAIL-TO-ROAD
TRANSFER POINT
SS-9 CONTROL SITE
SS?9 LAUNCH SITE
TYPE 111 F LAUNCH SITE
TYPE III X SITE
CONVERTED SS-9 LAUNCH SITE
MAIN ROAD
CABLE SCAR
NEW CABLE SCAR
ROAD
ter--CHANGE
NAUTICAL MILES
`A I
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6. Launch group A currently consists of 11 sites: one type IIIX, six type IIIF, and
four type IIIC. The type IIIX site, site 75, was originally identified as a type IIIF launch
site under construction in December 1970, but was redesignated in March 1973 when
construction activity, unique to type IIIX construction, was identified. Four of the six type
IIIF launch sites (sites 72-74 and 76) were identified under construction by May 1971. The
other two, sites I A and 2A, were formerly completed type IIIC launch sites but were recently
redesignated as type Ill Fs when conversion activity was identified. Based on observed activity,
at least two and most likely all four of the completed type IIIC launch sites in this group
also will be converted to the type IIIF site.
Type IIIX Site Construction Activity
7. Site 75 could be confirmed as a type IIIX site
when a type IIIX door and door housing ring were on the silo apron a rectangular
subsurface building was under construction perpendicular to the silo apron. This building is
similar in size (125 by 20 feet) and appearance to a building at the type IIIX sites at the
I)erazhnya and Pervomaysk SSM complexes and at the Tyuratam Missile Test Center.
8. Construction at site 75 progressed slowl in the early stages, with the insertion
of at least four silo wall segments into the site wo of these
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segments appeared to be 30 feet high, while the other two were 20 feet high. A fifth segment
was not seen at this site, although five segments were installed in the type IIIX sites at the
I)erazhnya and Pervomaysk SSM complexes. After the insertion of the segments no external
construction at this site was observe At
that time a silo
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door and door housing were on the silo apron. When observed
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the silo door and door housing ring had been moved to a position under the bridge crane
and the rectangular subsurface building was partially roofed (Figure 2).
Type IIIF Launch Site Construction Activity
9. Six type IIIF launch sites are currently under construction within the launch group.
Four of these sites, 72-74, and 76, were identified by May 1971. The other two sites, 1A
and 2A, both completed type IIIC sites, were recently redesignated when conversion activity
was identified.
10. Construction had progressed slowly at the original four launch sites (sites 72-74,
and 76) until April 1973. Five silo wall segments had been installed in the silo at sites 72,
73, and 761 ~ while only four segments were seen at the
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fourth site, 74.~ b five circular stains--probably from segments--were 25X1
observed on the apron, indicating that five segments had been installed in the silo.
11. No construction activity and only little vehicular activity were observed at launch
sites 72, 73, and 74 after July 1972 and after August 1972 at launch site 76 until construction
resumed in April 1973 type IIIF doors, door housings, and 25X1
foundations for two site support buildings were observed at all four sites.
12. Additionally, a possible shock isolation component (or launch stand)I 25X1
10-foot inner diameter was observed at launch site 74 25X1
(Figure 3). This component is the first indicator of possible shock isolation within the type
III F launch sites.
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13. New construction activity was observed at completed SS-9 launch sites IA and 2A
This activity can now be identified as the beginning of a
program to convert some of the type IIIC launch sites to the more hardened type IIIF launch
sites. At these two sites all type IIIC silo components including the silo door, silo liner,
headworks, and personnel access were removed. The paving blocks were removed from the
silo apron, the apron was widened and regraded, and new paving blocks were installed.
14. Type IIIF launch site construction materials were first seen at site 2A
, when the bridge crane was assembled and two silo wall segments were under
construction on the apron (Figure 4). Launch site 1 A was still being dismantled when observed
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Related Activity
15. New construction activity first observed
group control site 3A indicates an increased group support role for this site. Two buildings
have been started near the group support area. One building
and
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was next to one of the two original group support buildings, while the other building
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was approximately 300 feet further south.
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16. Another area of new construction was approximately 400 feet south of launch
site
3A. This area consisted of one semipermanent buildin under construction, 25X1
and foundations for two more buildings. A small support camp was nearby with nine small
buildings and eight tents.
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17. New cable trenches have been identified in the group connecting three of the type
IIIF launch sites and the type IIIX site to SS-9 control site 3A. This indicates that control
site 3A will at least have a portion of the group control responsibilities.
18. A large number of silo components were in the receiving area of the complex support
facilities There were four type IIIF silo doors, components
for at least four type IIIF silo door housings, two type IIIX headworks components, and
a large amount of unidentified materials. This material confirms that at least two of the
remaining four completed SS-9 launch sites will be converted to the type IIIF launch site.
The other two complete SS-9 launch sites also are expected to be converted.
COMIREX A08
Project I43382NG
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