LAUNCH COMPLEX D AND VLADIMIROVKA AIRFIELD ACTIVITY KAPUSTIN YAR/VLADIMIROVKA MISSILE TEST CENTER, USSR

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78T05439A000200340032-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 13
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: April 6, 2000
• Sequence Number: 32
• Publication Date: June 1, 1963
• Content Type: REPORT

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 COPY 70.
12 Pages
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NPIC/R-97/63
June .1963
RETATION REPORT
LAUNCH CdI~~LEX D ANA
VLADIMIROVKA AIRFIELDACTIVITY
KAPUSTIN YAR/VLADIMiROVKA
MISSILE TES ~CEFVT'ER, USSR
c:y' 1
NAVY. r 1
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 TOP SECRET CHESS RUFF
NPIC/R-97/63
25X1 D
I 25X1 D
25X1 D
5X1 D
The Probable Aerodynamic Missile Facili-
ties at the Kapustin Yar/Vladimirovka Missile
Test Center (48-34N 45-54E), including Launch
Complex D and the Vladimirovka Airfield Activ-
ity (Figure 1), are covered by good-quality
KEYHOLE photography of
The principal changes noted since coverage
on TALENT photography of
are a new launch pad at Launch
Site 1D and a new completed large runway east
of the main runway at the Vladimirovka Airfield.
Other changes include completion of Launch Site
3D and the second large fabrication building at
the Missile Fabrication Complex.
A search of KEYHOLE photography o1
did not reveal any
additional changes to Launch Complex D but
did show probable asphalt taxiways under con-
struction adjacent to the new large runway.
The small scale of the KEYHOLE photog-
raphy restricts image definition and, accord-
ingly, the mensural data in this r.eport are
approximations.
The Launch Area at Launch Complex D
(Figure 2) appears to have been active operation-
ally since but construction activ-
ity has been restricted chiefly to Launch Sites
1D and 3D. Progress has been negligible
compared to that at Launch Complex C.
Construction of Launch Site 1D-3, the new
launch facility at Launch Site 1D (Figure 3), is
the only major change observed at Launch
Complex D. The new launch pad is about 310
feet, center to center, southwest of the rail-
served launch structure (Site ID-1). The pad,
measuring 210 by 100 feet, is served by a loop
access road approximately 20 feet wide, with
turning radii of about 100 feet, and a small
catch basin 50 by 30 feet. The loop access
road joins the main SERVICE road, and the small
catch basin is connected by ditching with the
large basin serving Launch Site 1D. Aprobable
tower approximately 50 feet high is nearly
centered on the pad. Or-ientation of the pad is
about 40 degrees,
No apparent change has been made to Launch
Site 1D-1. The pad at Launch Site 1D-2, the
probable rail launcher, is 180 by 85 feet and the
launcher is approximately 60 feet long. A large
unidentified object of undetermined size was
observed on the concrete apron adjacent to the
support buildings northwest of the control-
bunker.
LAUNCH SITE 2D
Limited new ground scarring was observed
at Launch Site 2D (Figure 4) but tanks observed
previously have been removed and, in general,
the site appears to have been abandoned.
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 TOP SECRET CHESS RUFF
appears active and operational. Heavy blast
scarring around the pad indicates continual
usage. The completed drive-through assembly /
checkout building measures 145 bv_ 130 by 30
feet high. A service apron 145 by 115 feet
extends from the east end of the building to the
main service road. An unidentified object _or'
vehicle 40 to 50 feet long was observed along the
north side of the apron near the building. Access.
to the launch pad from the west end of the build-
ing is provided by a loop road.
Other facilities completed include a gabled-
roof, building 180 by 50 by 25 feet high and a
small building 60 by 30 feet in the Support
Section, and a possible building or bunker 70
feet long in the Control Section. A new probable
cable line runs between the Control Section and
the Support Section. The surface of much of
the Support Section has been graded, and a new
L-shaped road extends west and north from the
main service road to the new small building.
Progress at Launch Site 4D (Figure 6) has
been limited to completion of a few buildings.
Construction and operational activity, in general,
appear to have been abandoned. The only access
road to. the site is unsurfaced.
RANGE CONTROL CENTER
25X1 D
Changes since at the Range
Control Center serving Launch Complex D
25X1 D (Figure 7) include two new probable buildings,
each 60 by 20 feet, adjacent to the concrete hard-
stand; a new possible hardstand of undetermined
surface, 140 by 70 feet, located 400 feet north of
All items under construction at Launch Site the existing hardstand; and a new earth mound,
3D (Figure 5) were probably 65 feet in diameter, about 1,300 feet east-north-
completed by and the site . east of the Central Control Facility (Site D-1).
25X1 D
TOP SECRET - CHESS RUFF
 ASSEMBLY AND CHECKOUT AREA hardstands, situated north and west ofthedrive-
through assembly/checkout building, measure
The Assembly and Checkout Area (Figure 8), 430 by 100 feet, 310 by 80 feet, and 170 by 95 feet.
which probably serves only Launch Site 1D, has The drive-through building is approximately 210
three new hardstands since The by 120 feet.
 TOP SECRET CHESS RUFF
VLADIMIROVKA AIRFIELD ACTIVITY
Facilities at the Vladimirovka Airfield Ac- new runway, with their respective support areas;
tivity (Figure 9) include the main runway and the a possible drone operations area; radar facil-
?
'I" 'i"1e Loading Complex
s
possible aircraft, the following- were observed
on the hotographv in the vicinity of
the main runway: one probable BEAR, 1S prob-
able BADGER, 12 probable BEAGLE, 8 probable
CAB/CRATE, 2 probable COOT, and 3 probable
ylIG.
The new runway (Figure 10), with ageneral
northwest-southeast orientation, is 13,350 feet
long and 220 feet wide. Located about 2.5 nautical
miles (nm) east-northeast of the main runway, it
probably became operational in
Support facilities, about 3,000
feet south of the runway, include a secured area
of approximately 32 acres containing at least 6
buildings and an unsecured area of approximately
21 acres containing about 20 small buildings.
Aircraft observed near the new runway on the
TOP SECRET CHESS RUFF
,
sties; the Airborne is
and the `Missile Fabrication Complex.
The main runway, with a northwest-south-
east orientation, is 8,400 feet long and 275 feet
wide. It is served by a loop- taxiway with four
connecting links, and has three main aprons and
two ready ramps. A taxiway extending north-
eastward from the southwest end of the runway
connects with taxiwavs to the new runway and
the possible drone operations area. Two POL
storage areas serve the main runway, and at
least 20 new buildings have been added to the
support area since The runway
is equipped witl4 lights and. GCA and ILS facil-
ities. Two natural-surfaced runways southeast
of the main runway appear to have been aban-
TANK
REMOVED doned. In addition to 8 unidentified and 19
 TOP SECRET CHESS RUFF
/ J ,
CONCRETE
supporting mounds. All of the facilities, except
two of the radar mounds, were present in
Only three of the mounds, which
are aligned with a perpendicular orientation of
- to the east, are occupied. The mini-
mum horizontal length of each of the three radar
screens is approximately 25 to 30 feet. Six or
more probable vans were observed between the
two northernmost mounds. Vehicle tracks extend
from the area to.an aircraft parking facility
north of the new runway. Nineteen unidentified,
probable straight-wing, aircraft were observed
on the in the vicinity of
the hardstands, and five possible BEAGLE were
aligned adjacent to the taxiway leading to the
main runway.
photography included 15 BULL, 2
possible and one probable CAB, 5 probable NTIG,
and one unidentified swept-wing type with a 120-
foot fuselage and-foot wingspan.
The possible drone-operations area (Fig-
ure 9), about one nm northeast of the main run-
way, contains 4 hardstands and a firing butt, 2
small buildings, 6 small unidentified structures
aligned northwest of the hardstands, and 5 radar-
FIGURE 8. ASSEMBLY AND CHECKOUT AREA.
TOP SECRET CHESS RUFF
 L A U N C H
?~C OMP LEX D
t KAPUSTIN
\~Y AR+
TOP SECRET CHESS RUFF
AIRBORNE
MISSILE
LOADING
COMPLEX
(SEE FIGURE 11)
SUPPORT
ARE A
25X1 D.
.--'FABRICATION
COMPLEX
o POSSIBLE DRONE
OPERATIONS AREA
O 0
U N O C C U P I E O
RADAR SITES
TAXIWAY TO
NEW RUNWAY
ABANDONED
RUNWAYS
A radar installation (Figure 9), identified with the open side oriented to the northeast. A
on the is located secured area about 2,000 feet north of the radar
about 2,000 feet northeast of the main runway. installation measures approximately 630 by 500
It consists of three individually secured build- feet and contains numerous vehicles, vans,
ings connected by cables, forming a right triangle trailers, and equipment. The area appears to
SECURED
AREA
RADAR
SITES
)MAIN RUNWAY
P5
TOP SECRET CHESS RUFF
 TOP SECRET CHESS RUFF
25X1D AIRCRAFT
PA RKIt.G AREA
have been further developed since it was ob-
the photography.
Three buildings, two 170 by 60 feet and one
170 by 75 feet. and a new road on the periphery
of the air-to-surface missile loading pit are the
only apparent changes within the Airborne
Missile Loading Complex (Figure 11) since
Two small buildings and a
large hardstand have been added outside the
complex wall. Two BADGER, 2 small unidenti-
fied, and 6 small possible aircraft were observed
within the complex on the
One BEAR and one BADG aircraft were par :e
on an apron outside the complex.
25X1 D
Completion of the second large fabrication
building is the most significant change effected
at the Missile Fabrication Complex (Figure 12)
since The main bav of the new
building, measuring 420 by 280 feet, is the same
as that of the original fabrication building. In-
cluding adjacent shop facilities on its east side,
the new building has an overall width of 350 feet.
The concrete apron under construction in front
of the new building in has been
completed and measures 650 by 420 feet. The
apron fronting the original building is approxi-
mately 325 feet square. Both buildings are rail
served. Ground scarring southeast of the new
fabrication building is indicative of new con-
struction.
TOP, SECRET CHESS RUFF
25X
 MISSILE LOADING PIT
ASSEMBLY AND CHECKOUT BUILDING
CHECKOUT BUILDING
ARMING AREA
POSSIBLE WARHEAD STORAGE
TRANSFER POINT
AIRCRAFT PARKING APRON
HARD STAND
HANGAR
PROBABLE MISSILE LOADING BUILDING
PROBABLE TRANSFER POINT
 SAC. US Air Target Chart. Series 200, Sheet 0235-22AL. 3d ed. May G0. scale 1:200.000 (SECRET)
4 PIC. R-S 61. Kapustin Yar 'v-ladimirovka Missile Test Center, USSR. Changes Oct 61
(TOP SECRET RUFF)
CLA. PIC.'JR-15 '60, Probable Aerodynamic Missile Facilities, Kapustin 1'ar \'ladimirovka Missile Test Center.
USSR. Sep 60 (TOP SECRET CHESS)