RESEARCH AID ESTIMATED FLOORSPACE OF MOSCOW AIRFRAME PLANT NO. 30

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79S01046A000500050001-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 20
• Document Creation Date: November 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: January 6, 1999
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: August 22, 1957
• Content Type: REPORT

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~IEC1 T N? 68
RESEARCH AID
ESTIMATED FLOORSPACE
OF MOSCOW AIRFRAME PLANT NO. 30
CIA/RR RA-16
22 August 1957
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
OFFICE OF RESEARCH AND REPORTS
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This material contains information affecting
the National Defense of the United States
within the meaning of the espionage laws,
Title 18, USC, Secs. 793 and 794, the trans-
mission or revelation of which in any manner
to an unauthorized person is prohibited by law.
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S-E-C-R-E -T
RESEARCH AID
ESTIMATED FLOORSPACE OF MOSCOW AIRFRAME PLANT NO. 30
CIA/RR RA-16
(ORR Project 33.1720)
Office of Research and Reports
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FOREWORD
This research aid, one of a series evaluating current floorspace
of Soviet airframe plants of the Ministry of the Aviation Industry
(Ministerstvo Aviatsionnoy Promyshlennosti -- MAP), is based on met-
rical analysis* of World War II German photography. Supplementary
intelligence data also have been used in an attempt to ascertain the
composition and functions of the individual plant buildings. An effort
has been. made to determine the areas of the plant which are multistory,
and the latest information on new construction has been included. This
research aid will be reviewed and reissued periodically to include new
intelligence information as available.
Determination of measurements by the use of aerial photographs.
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CONTENTS
Page
Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
1. Location . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
2. History 2
3. Description . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
1I. Final Assembly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
5. New Construction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Appendixes
Appendix A. Composition of Floorspace of Moscow
Airframe Plant No. 30 . . . . . . . . . . 5
Appendix B. Methodology . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Appendix C. Gaps in Intelligence . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Appendix D. Source References . . . . ... . . . . . . 11
Illustrations
Following Page
Figure 1. USSR: Moscow Airframe Plant No. 30 . . .
Figure 2. USSR: Vertical Photograph of Moscow
Airframe Plant No. 30 . . . . . . . . . . 2
Figure 3. USSR: Oblique Photograph of Moscow
Airframe Plant No. 30 . . . . . . . . . . . 2
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Following Page
Figure 4+. USSR: Sketch of Moscow Airframe Plant
No. 30 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Figure 5. Types of Roofs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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CIA/RR RA-16 S-E-C-R-E-T
(ORR Project 33.1720)
ESTIMATED FLOORSPACE OF MOSCOW AIRFRAME PLANT NO. 30*
Summary
Moscow Airframe Plant No. 30 in the USSR contains about 1.6 mil-
lion square feet (sq ft) of floorspace.** The plant has a final as-
sembly area of approximately 150,000 sq ft, or 9 percent*** of the
total floorspace. The administration area reportedly comprises about
150,000 sq ft. Available reports have identified as warehouse area****
approximately 130,000 sq ft, or 8 percent of the total floorspace. It
is estimated that the plant contains 310,000 sci ft of multistory area,
accounting for 19 percent of the total floorspace.
Moscow Airframe Plant No. 30 encompasses some 3.3 million sq ft.
With a total roof area estimated to be 1.3 million sq ft, the plant
has a building densityf of approximately 39 percent.
* Based on aerial photography. (See Figure 2, following p. 2.)
(For serially numbered source references, see Appendix D.) The esti-
mates and conclusions contained in this research aid represent the best
judgment of ORR as of 1 June 1957.
** All figures dealing with square footage which are used in the
text of this research aid are rounded to two significant digits.
*** All percentages are computed with actual figures.
**** The term warehouse is applied to those buildings or areas within
the plant which have the primary functions of receiving materials from
external sources and of holding these materials in bulk quantities for
subsequent distribution to the processing points in the plant.
The term storage areas is applied to those buildings or areas,
usually parts of buildings which have primary functions other than
storage, in which materials are stored or maintained for the direct
support of production or service activities. These areas normally
are located adjacent to the activities which they support, and they
receive their stores from plant warehouses.
/ The term building density represents the proportion of the total
roof area of an airframe plant to the total plant site, expressed as a
percentage.
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1. Location.
Moscow Airframe Plant No. 30 (55047' N - 37?33' E) is located in
Moscow, USSR, on Leningrad Shosse near the Belorusskiy Railroad Sta-
tion and adjacent to Moscow Central Airfield.
2. History.
Moscow Airframe Plant No. 30 is one of the oldest aircraft in-
stallations in the USSR. The plant reportedly was built in 1916 and
later was designated AirframePlant No. 1. The plant facilities were
expanded between 1925 and 1937.
In 1941, although most of the machinery of Airframe Plant No. 1
was evacuated to Kuybyshev, about 20 percent was left behind for air-
frame repair. The Kuybyshev site has retained the designation Air-
frame Plant No. 1. In 1942 the Moscow installation received machinery
from various airframe plants in the USSR and possibly from the US.
After its reequipment the Moscow site received the designation Moscow
Airframe-Plant No. 30, which it has retained.
3. Description.
The boundaries of Moscow Airframe Plant No. 30 enclose an irregu-
larly shaped site of about 3.3 million sq ft, and the axis of the main
plant area is oriented in a northeast-southwest direction (see Figures
1 and 4*). Moscow Central Airfield is adjacent to the north and north-
-west borders of the plant site and -serves as the plant airfield. Mos-
cow Airframe Plant No. 381 adjoins the plant area on the northeast.
Analysis of World War II German photography (see Figures 2 and 3*)
shows a total roof area of approximately 1.3 million sq ft. This anal-
ysis and other available information have indicated that the multistory
area contains-310,000 sq ft, or 19 percent of the total floorspace.
The only post-World War II construction reported is the probable
existence of a newly constructed building, Building No. 35 (see Fig-
ure 1*), of minor proportions in the southwest section of the plant
area. / This two-story building is estimated. to have added only an
additional 6,000 sq ft of floorspace.**
* Following p. 2.
** See Appendix A.
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USSR: MOSCOW AIRFRAME PLANT NO. 30
,
/ /
/ / , / , ,
/14C%
14B j
? New construction
1.
Administration
11.
Shop
22.
Administration
2.
Shop
12.
Storage
23.
Shop
3.
Storage
13.
Shop
24.
Shop
4.
Shop
14A.
Shop
25.
Unknown
5.
Shop
14B.
Shop
26.
Shop
6.
Shop
14C.
Shop
27.
Administration
7A.
Shop
15.
Shop
28.
Administration
7B.
Shop
16.
Shop
29.
Administration
7C.
Shop
17.
Shop
30.
Storage
8A.
Shop
18.
Shop
31.
Storage
8B.
Shop
19.
Shop
32.
Shop
9.
Shop
20.
Hangar
33.
Shop
10.
Shop
21.
Hangar
34.
Hangar
35.
Shop
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PLANT NO. 30
USSR: VERTICAL PHOTOGRAPH OF MOSCOW AIRFRAME
X1 11 X11 _. M ~ W W--, ~ W W ~ ~ -
26085.2 7-57
WENFARAW
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Figure 2
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SECRET
USSR: OBLIQUE PHOTOGRAPH
OF MOSCOW AIRFRAME PLANT NO. 30
USSR: SKETCH OF MOSCOW AIRFRAME PLANT NO. 30
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Moscow Airframe Plant No. 30 currently is estimated to contain a
total of 1.6 million sq ft of floorspace. Of this amount, 150,000 sq
ft are believed to be administration area and 130,000 sq ft, or 8 per-
cent of the total floorspace, warehouse area.
Expansion of the plant within present boundaries would be seri-
ously hampered by existing structures and by a building density that
currently is estimated to be 39 percent. Significant expansion could
be practicably directed only onto the adjacent airfield. Available
information does not.indicate that such expansion is being considered.
The main buildings of Moscow Airframe Plant No. 30 are of steel
frame and brick construction. The predominant roof type is of monitor
design (see Figure 5*).
The plant is serviced by a branch rail line from the Moscow Cir-
cular Railroad and by good road and tram facilities.
4. Final Assembly.
The final assembly area of Moscow Airframe Plant No. 30 reportedly
is contained in Building 14+ C (see Figure l**). This building is 955
ft long by 155 ft wide, with 150,000 sq ft of floorspace. This floor-
space represents about 9 percent of the total floorspace. The height
of Building 14 C is estimated to be 40 ft, and it has a monitor roof.
It is reported that the final assembly section contains two assembly
lines.
5. New Construction.
Available reports have indicated'no post-World War II construction
of significant proportions at Moscow Airframe Plant No. 30. In 1955
a reliable source reported a newly constructed two-story workshop,
Building No. 35 (see Figure 1**), in the southwest section of the main
plant area. / The part of the building that was observed was esti-
mated to be 75 ft long. Pending receipt of additional information,
the dimensions of Building No. 35 are estimated to be 75 ft long by
4+0 ft wide.
* Following p. 6.
Following p. 2.
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APPENDIX A
COMPOSITION OF FLOORSPACE OF MOSCOW AIRFRAME PLANT NO. 30 /*
Area
(Square Feet)
Building
Type
Height
Dimensions
New
Multi-
Admin-
Total
Number
of Building
Type of Roof
Feet
Stories
Function
(Feet)
Total Roof Construction
std Warehouse
istration
Floorspace
1
Administration
Gable
15
1
Guardhouse J
80 x 70
9,100
9,100
9,100
70 k 50
2
Shop
Monitor
15
1
Shop /
520 x 80
41,600
41,600
3
Storage
Gable
20
2 /
Storage J
470 x 105
49,350
49,350
98,700
98,700
4
Shop
plat
20
1
Shop
345 x 50
21,125
21,125
155 x 25
5
Shop
Gable
34
2 J
Shop
190 x 30
5,700
5,700
11,400
6
Shop
Gable
30
1
Shop
400 x 110
44,000
44,000
7
A Suop
Gable
15
1
Shop
240 x 130
86,400
86,400
B Shop
Gable
15
1
Shop
370 x 120
C Shop
Gable
15
1
Shop
90 x 120
8
A Shop
Gable
17
1
61_op
125 x 50
7,475
7,475
B Shop
Gable
17
1
Shop
35 x 35
9
Shop
Gable
24
1
Shop
210 x 75
15,750
15,750
10
Shop
Gable
54
4 J
shop
330 x 50
16,500
49,500
66,000
11
Shop
Monitor
18
1
Shop
100 x 55
5,500
5,500
12
Storage
Gable
20
1
Storage
100 x 50
5,000
5,000
5,000
13
Shop
Gable and
flat
16
14
A Shop
Sawtooth and
saddle back
25
1
Workshop and subassembly e/
750 x 420
3154
315,000
B Shop
Monitor
25
1
Fuselage and wing assem-
bly /
1,185 x 190
225,150
225,150
C Shop
Monitor
40
1
Final assembly e/
955 x 155
148,025
148,025
15
Shop
Flat
16
1
Shop
45 x 30
1,350
1,350
16
Shop
Monitor
62
2 d
Shop
295 x 80
23,600
23,600
47,200
17
Shop
Flat
30
2 d
Sheet metal shop J
140 x 70
9,800
1,000
10,800
18
Shop
Gable
30
2 a
Heat treatment shop c/
400 x 105
42,000
4,200
46,200
19
Shop
Gable
30
2 d
Shop
415 x 70
29,050
29,050
58,100
20
Hangar
Arched
40
1
Hangar
200 x 35
7,000
7,000
21
Eangar
Arched
20
1
Hangar
5o x 60
3,000
3,000
22
Administration
Gable
58
3 J
Administration
120 x 50
14,050
28,100
42,150
42,150
80 x 70
70 x 35
23
Shop
Monitor
30
1
Shop
295 x 140
44,275
44,275
85 x 35
24
Shop
Gable
15
1
Shop
80 x 50
4,000
4,000
25
Unknown
Gable
17
1
Unknown
N.A.
3,600
3,600
26
Shop
Gable
20
1
Shop
75 x 30
2,250
2,250
* Footnotes for Appendix A follow on p. 6. 5 -
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Area
(Square Feet)
Building
Type
Height
Dimensions
New
Multi-
Admin-
Total
Number
of Building
Type of Roof
Feet
Stories Function
(Feet)
T
t
l R
f C
o
a
oo
onstruction
story
Warehouse
istration
Floorspace
62
3
Administration J
245 x 70
21,200
42,400
63
000
63
600
90x45
,
,
28
2
Administration
Ad
Flat
18
1
Administration g/
N.A.
5,770
5
770
770
5
9
ministration
Hipped
30
2 /
Administration
225 x 50
13,000
,
26,000
,
26
000
50 x 35
,
30
Storage
Gable
15
1
Warehouse
315 x 80
25,200
25
200
25
200
31
Storage
Gable
11
1
Warehouse
110 x 35
3,850
,
850
3
,
3
850
32
Shop
Monitor
62
3 /
Shop
280 x 105
29,400
,
,
88
200
33
34
Shop
H
Gable
24
1
Shop
110 x 30
3,300
,
3
300
angar
Arched
20
1
Hangar
105 x 80
8,ioo
,
8,4oo
Estimated 1950 totals
1,292,470
3o4,700
132,750
146,620
1
597
170
2 1/ J Workshop 75 x 40
3,000 6,000
3,000
,
,
6,00o
Estimated 1957 totals
1,295,470 6,000
307,700
132,750
146,620
1,603,170
Estimated 1957 rounded totals
1,300,000 6,000
310,000
130,000
150,000
1,600,000
H
a.
eights, dimensions, and total roof area are taken from source , except where changed according to the best judgment of the analyst.
b.
d. Estimates of multistory area are obtained from Figure 3 (following p. 2).
e. J
f. At peak.
g?
h.
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3i
CLERESTORY ROOF SAWTOOTH ROOF SADDLEBACK ROOF
TYPES OF ROOFS
MONITOR ROOFS
MODIFIED MONITOR ROOF
TRANSVERSE MONITOR ROOF
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APPENDIX B
METHODOLOGY
i
FOIAb3d
On the basis of available intelligence an effort was made to de-
termine the function of each building in Moscow Airframe Plant No. 30,
to identify multistory plant areas, and to account for new plant con-
struction. All buildings within the plant site, except sheds with
areas less than 1,000 sq ft, are listed in Appendix A.*
German vertical photographs of 19+3 were used to determine the
roof area and the physical layout of the plant. Metrical analysis of
this photography provided an estimate of the total roof area of the
plant. In the computation of this total, no allowance could be made
for multistory buildings. To compensate for this factor, intelligence
information, consisting chiefly of prisoner-of-war interrogations, was
used. Although this category of information is often considered unre-
liable, plausible data from this source were used to determine the
functions of the plant buildings and, in some cases, to account for
multistory areas. Whenever building functions were unknown, the best
judgment of the analyst was used to provide an estimate.
There is no reported evidence of multistory areas within the new con-
struction.
P. 5, above.
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APPENDIX C
GAPS IN INTELLIGENCE
The accuracy of the estimates of the floorspace of Moscow Airframe
Plant No. 30 is greatly impaired because of a paucity of information.
German vertical photographs of 1943 are available, however, and from
these photographs the roof area and the physical layout of the plant
as it was in 1943 can be computed. Lack of current vertical photog-
raphy precludes further study of the plant by this means.
Helpful information was obtained from interrogations of German
prisoner-of-war returnees. Unfortunately, these returnees generally
were restricted to the warehouse areas of the plant, and reports of
their observations of the remainder of the plant area are vague and
incomplete.
Information pertaining to multistory areas within the plant is
virtually nonexistent. Because estimates of floorspace in multistory
areas greatly affects the estimate of total floorspace, acquisition
of this information is of prime importance. Oblique ground photog-
raphy aids in the determination of multistory areas, although the
lack of both oblique and vertical photographs taken since World War II
hinders analysis of post-World War II construction.
Details of the final assembly area and reliable information con-
cerning the composition of other essential buildings likewise are not
available.
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APPENDIX D
SOURCE REFERENCES
Evaluations, following the classification entry and designated
"Eval.," have the following significance:
Doc. - Documentary
A - Completely reliable
B - Usually reliable
C Fairly reliable
D - Not usually reliable
E - Not reliable
F - Cannot be judged
1 - Confirmed by other sources
2 - Probably true
3 - Possibly true
4 - Doubtful
5 - Probably false
6 - Cannot be judged
"Documentary" refers to original documents. of foreign governments
and organizations; copies or translations of such documents by a
staff officer; or information extracted from such documents by a staff
officer, all of which may carry the field evaluation "Documentary."
Evaluations not otherwise designated are those appearing on the
cited document; those designated "RR" are by the author of this re-
port. No "RR" evaluation is given when the author agrees with the
evaluation on the cited document.
FOIAb3d
1. 1
3. Ibid.
4. CIA. GPI 193, Moscow Airframe Plant No. 30, 26 Jun 56,
photography: GX 319, prints 120-121, scale 1: 17,300. S.
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