INTERCHANGEABLE TRANSPORT EQUIPMENT FOR THE SS-X-18 TRANSPORT/LAUNCH CANISTER AND THE PROBABLE LAUNCH CONTROL CAPSULE FOR THE TYPE IIIX SILO USSR

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78T05162A000300010052-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 8
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: October 31, 2012
• Sequence Number: 52
• Publication Date: September 1, 1973
• Content Type: REPORT

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PHOTOGRAPHIC
INTERPRETATION
REPORT
NATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHIC
INTERPRETATION CENTER
INTERCHANGEABLE TRANSPORT EQUIPMENT
FOR THE SS-X-18 TRANSPORT/LAUNCH CANISTER
AND THE PROBABLE LAUNCH CONTROL CAPSULE
FOR THE TYPE IIIX SILO
USSR
25X11
SEPTEMBER 1973
COPY NO. C 2)
7 PAGES
PIR-040/73
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TOP SECRET RUFF
INSTALLATION OR ACTIVITY NAME
Interchangeable Transport Equipment for the SS-X-18 Transport/ Launch Canister
and the Probable Launch Control Capsule for the Type 111X Silo
ACIC. USATC, Series 200, scale 1:200,000 (see below for sheet)
LATEST IMAGERY USED INEGAT ION DATE (If required)
Installation
Name
Salta Missile 475054N
Support Rear 0295349E
Depot
Berdichev 495640N
Missile Sup- 0281752E
port Rear
Depot
Bryansk Road 531449N
Machinery & 0342254E
GM Support
Equipment
Plant 1
Derazhnya 492105N
SSM R/R 0271045E
Transfer Point
Dnepropetrovsk 482603N
Missile Develop- 0345821 E
went Production
Center
Pavlograd Solid 482605N
Motor Test 0355817E
Facility
Pavlograd Rocket 482730N
Motor Assembly 0355700E
and Test Support
Facility
Pervoinaysk SSM 475822N
R/R Transfer 0305206E
Point
Safonovo 550520N
Plastics & Susp 0331 500E
GM Components
Plant
Tyuratani 455637N
Missile Test 0632755E
Center
Voronezh Rocket 513425N
Engine Test 0390939E
Facility
Zhdanov Steel 470834N
& RR Tank Car 0373442E
Plant
-1-
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TOP SECRET RUFF
1. The Soviet Union has developed interchangeable transport equipment for the SS-X-18
transport/launch canister and the probable launch control capsule for the type IIIX silo. The equipment
consists of a specially configured three-car missile-associated train and a large roadable transporter.
2. This report deals briefly with the installations associated with the SS-X-18 and/or the type
IIIX silo, but focuses primarily on the transport system itself.
3. Photographs, drawings, and a map with an attached chronology are included in this report.
4. Transport equipment, which can be used for either the SSA-I8 transport/launch canister
or the probable launch control capsule (LCC) for the type IIIX silo,* has been observed at ten
Soviet missile-associated installations. Locations of these and other related installations are shown
on Figure 1, along with a chronology of relevant activity. Transport equipment seen in association
with the SS-X-18 transport /launch canister includes a unique three-car train for rail transport of the
canister and an associate cylindrical object (Figure 2, mode 1), and a unique transporter
for road transport of the canister (Figure 3, drawing). A drawing of the SS-X-18 transport/launch
canister is provided in Figure 4. It has been determined that this transport equipment is for the
SS-X-18 missile because, in May 1973, the unique canisters were observed at launch
sites R8 and RI1, Tyuratam Missile Test Center. These two iaunch sites are involved with SS-X-18
flight testing. The same transport equipment, the three-car missile-associated train and the transporter,
also has been seen with the probable LCC for the type IIIX silo, and the associated 15-foot- and
cylindrical objects (Figure 2, mode 2).
5. A special flatcar arrangement, designated a three-car missile-associated train, is used to carry
the transport/launch canister for the SS-X-18 missile, as well as the probable LCC for
the type IIIX silo. There is one basic train configuration which can be adapted to two carrying
modes. The two carrying modes are depicted in Figure 2, along with dimensions. Mode 1 is used
to carry the
cylindrical
SS-X-18 transport/launch canister, and an associated
object. Mode 2 is used to carry the
probable LCC for the type IIIX silo, and two associated cylindrical objects. As
depicted in Figure 2, the primary difference between the two carrying modes is the positioning of
the associated cylindrical objects. Mode 1 uses the 45-foot flatcar equipped with cradles to carry
the ssociated cylindrical object horizontally. Mode 2 uses the 45-foot flatcar configured
with the positioning marks to carry the 15-foot-long associated cylindrical object horizontally and
the ssociated cylindrical object vertically. It should also be noted that the
associated cylindrical object in mode 1 has a band dividing it into a a 10-foot-long
section. It is not known if the object can actually be separated at the band; however, if it can
be separated the already apparent similarity between the objects carried in mode 1 and mode 2
would be reinforced.
6. The three-car missile-associated train is produced at Zhdanov Steel and Railroad Tank Car
Plant (Figure 2). The train has also been sighted at Dnepropetrovsk Missile Development Production
Center, Safonovo Plastics and Suspect Guided Missile Components Plant, Pavlograd Rocket Motor
Assembly and Test Support Facility, Tyuratam Missile Test Center, and Berdichev and Balta Missile
Support Facilities (Figure 1).
Transporter
7. Develo ment of the transporter for the SS-X-18 transport/launch canister, and
for the probable LCC for the type IIIX silo, took place at Bryansk Road Machinery
and Guided Missile Support Equipment Plant 1. The Bryansk plant is known to be a design bureau
for missile transport equipment. A provisional drawing of the transporter with basic dimensions is
(Continued p. 7)
*The possibility cannot be completely ruled out that th~ I canister is the transport /launch
canister for the SS-X-17.
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1 Ur 3Ll,IXL I I\UI I
INSTALLATION
PROBABLE FUNCTION
Dnepropetrovsk Missile Development
Prime contractor/airframe &
Production Center
engine R & D/airframe production
Zhdanov Steel & RR Tank Car Plant
3-car missile-associated train
production
Bryansk Road Mach & GM Supt Equip Plt
Transporter design, testing, &
poss production
Safonovo Plastics & Susp GM Components Plt
Transport/launch canister production
Pavlograd Rocket Motor Assmb & Test Supt
Sabot production/sabot testing
Fac/Pavlograd Solid Motor Test Fac
Tyuratam Missile Test Center
Sabot ejection & flight testing
*Voronezh Aircraft Engine Pit 154
Engine series production/engine
*Voronezh Aircraft Engine Test Fac
acceptance testing
Dombarovskiy, Kartaly, Imeni Gastello, Uzhur,
& Zhangiz Tobe SS-9 Launch Cpxs
Deployment of type I=F silo
Derazhnya & Pervomaysk SSM Cpxs/Berdichev
& Balta Missile Supt Facs
Associated with type $X silo
CHRONOLOGY OF ACTIVITY
1967
1971
1972 1973
NEW TEST STAND CONSTRUCTED
- ..- -u. AUG NEW MFG & ASSEMBLY BLDG CONSTRUCTION
MAR FEB 1 # ? ? #6
JAN
?
MAR
? ^
NEW MFG BLDG CONSTRUCTED
JUN ~ JUN
?!
TYURATAM MTC
TYPE IIIF & IIIGSILO CONSTRUCTION
C/H SUPPORT FAC
NOV
G SUPPORT FAC
SITES R8 & RII
VORONEZH 154
(PROS RELATED)
N
APR
EW MFG BLDGS CONSTRUCTED
AN
JAN
EST STAND MODIFIED
VORONEZH RETF
(PROB RELATED)
T
MAY av JAN
FIVE
SS-9 COMPLEXES
DERAZHNYA
SSM CLX
TYPE IIIX & IIIG SILO CONSTRUCTION
LO CONSTRUCTION
S
PERVOMAYSK
SSM CLX
I
TYPE IIIX & IIIG
R PE
NOV ^
:]SS-X-18 TRANSPORT/LAUNCH CANISTER
]PROBABLE LAUNCH CONTROL CAPSULE FOR
TYPE IIIX SILO
FIGURE 1. INSTALLATIONS ASSOCIATED WITH THE SS-X-18 AND/OR THE TYPE IIIX SILO (Symbols indicate
where SS-X- 18 or type IIIX silo-associated equipment has been observed)
TOP SECRET RUFF
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iur 3ELK I i urr I
shown in Figure 3. The transporter was first seen at Bryansk in March 1972 undergoing an exercise
using a load simulator. The transporter with load simulator on it was backed up to 25X1
a girder-supported platform, but the load simulator was positioned on the platform (Figure 3). The
Bryansk plant may be producing the transporter as well as testing it. In addition to the Bryansk
plant, the transporter has been observed at launch sites R8 (Figure 3) and R11, and in G support
area, Tyuratam Missile Test Center, and at Derazhnya and Pervomaysk SSM rail-to-road transfer points
(Figure 1 ).
SS-X-18 Transport /Launch Canister
8. In May 1973 the transport/launch canister, for the SS-X-18, was identified at launch sites
R8 and RI 1 at Tyuratam Missile Test Center. Both launch sites are considered to be involved with
flight testing of the SS-X-18 missile. The canister apparently is identical in size and configuration
to the objects which have been observed at Dnepropetrovsk Missile Development Production 25X1
Center, Safonovo Plastics and Suspect GM Components Plant, Pavlograd Solid Motor Test Facility,
and Launch Complex C/H Support Facility, Tyuratam Missile Test Center. These objects 25X1
previously have been referred to as a rocket motor and/or a launch canister and/or a missile airframe.
A provisional drawing of the SS-X-18 transport/launch canister is provided in Figure 4. The canister,
when seen at Pavlo rad Solid Motor Test Facility, appeared to be made up of eight 25X1
segments, a segment, and a final segment. Flanges or rings are located 25X1
at the points where segments join. Two extra flanges or rings, which are not located at previously
seen segment joints, have no apparent function (Figure 4). It should be noted that the flanges or
rings are not clearly defined on much of the photography of the canister. This is probably caused
by varying sun angles, lighting conditions, and the presence of protective coverings such as tarpaulins
on the canister. Two sets of probable parallel rails (Figure 4) have been observed along 25 L 25X1
feet of one end of the canister. The probable parallel rails often have the appearance of being
rectangular panels, which may be the result of stretching a tarpaulin over them. Figure 4 provides
photographs of the SS-X-18 transport/launch canister with and without the probable parallel rails.
Probable parallel rails on canister segments at Pavlograd Rocket Motor Assembly and Test Support
Facility are also shown in Figure 4.
I. GMAIC Attachment, USIB-D-33.4/64 Soviet Missile Designators, 9 Feb 73 (TOP SECRET RUFF
ACIC. USATC, Series 200, sheets 0234-21, 0249-7, 0167-18, 0167-7, 0234-22, 0264-13, 0234-3, 0233-17,
0250-3, 0233-12, and 0250-2, scale 1:200,000
REQUIREMENT
Project 251978
TOP SFCRFT Rl1F
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