LARGE-DIAMETER CASTING PITS AT SOVIET SOLID PROPELIANT ROCKET MOTOR PRODUCTION FACILITIES

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80T00250A000100390001-2
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 8
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 26, 2010
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: October 1, 1979
• Content Type: REPORT

Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/08/26: CIA-RDP8OTOO25OA000100390001-2
imagery analysis report
Top Secret
Large-Diameter Casting Pits at
Soviet Solid Propellant Rocket
Motor Production Facilities (TSR)
Top Secret
IAN-0038/79
OCTOBER 1979
Copy 16 7
25X1
25X1
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/08/26: CIA-RDP8OTOO25OA000100390001-2
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/08/26: CIA-RDP80TOO25OA000100390001-2
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/08/26: CIA-RDP80TOO25OA000100390001-2
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/08/26: CIA-RDP80TOO25OA000100390001-2
Top Secret R U F P
LARGE-DIAMETER CASTING PITS AT SOVIET SOLID
PROPELLANT ROCKET MOTOR PRODUCTION FACILITIES (TSR)
ABSTRACT
I (TSR) A major modernization program involving the construction of large-diameter,
subsurface casting pits has been identified at three Soviet solid propellant production plants. Two
pits have been constructed at Biysk Solid Motor Production Plant II and one is under construction
at both Kamensk-Shakhtinskiy Solid Motor Production Plant and at Pavlograd Solid Motor
Production Plant. Rocket motors and rocket motor containers of or more in diameter
have previously been seen at these production plants. The construction of large subsurface casting
pits at these three facilities indicates that the Soviets are developing the capacity to produce even
larger diameter rocket motors. These motors could be used for new, large ICBMs and/or boosters
for space launch vehicles.
2. (TSR) This report discusses the large subsurface casting pits identified at the three
propellant production facilities and contains seven photographs and two tables.
INTRODUCTION
3. (U) Large subsurface casting pits have been used in the US for casting and curing large
rocket motors. Motors of approximately 3 meters in diameter have been used as boosters for Titan
space launch vehicles and will be used as boosters for the US space shuttle. Large subsurface casting
pits improve the safety and handling conditions for casting and curing large-diameter motors.
4. (TSR) Solid propellant rocket motors in diameter and larger have been seen at
Biysk Kamensk-Shakhtinskiy , and Pavlograd
Solid Motor Production Plants. These plants have finishing, handling, and transshipment facilities
capable of processing and moving motors of at least Din diameter.
5. (TSR) Large rocket motors seen at Biysk Solid Motor Test Area II were
observed approximately one year after the completion of the large subsurface casting pits at Biysk
plant II and the modifications to the large horizontal test cell at Biysk test area ll.',' The presence of
the large-diameter rocket motors clearly indicates that Biysk plant II is involved in their production
and testing. Large motors have also been seen on railcars at the Kamensk-Shakhtinskiy and
Pavlograd plants.' The construction of large-diameter casting pits at these two facilities is an
indication that they will also play a significant part in the future production of large rocket motors.
BASIC DESCRIPTION
6. ~ Biysk, Kamensk-Shakhtinskiy,
and Pavlograd Solid Motor Production Plants
have played an important role in the Soviet solid
propellant rocket motor industry.
Top Secret
LA R-00.3'/79
25X1
25X1
25X1
25X1
25X1
25X1
P
225X1
25X1
25X1
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/08/26: CIA-RDP80TOO25OA000100390001-2
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/08/26: CIA-RDP80TOO25OA000100390001-2
Top Secret RUFF
7. (TSR) A large casting pit was observed
under construction at Biysk plant 11 as early as
August 1970. Construction was stopped on this
pit shortly after it began and was not resumed
until December 1973. By June 1975, the casting
pit and its associated casting building had been
completed. Construction of the second casting
pit at Biysk was started in September 1975. This
second casting pit and its associated casting
building were complete in September 1976.
Construction on the casting pits at Kamensk-
Shakhtinskiy and Pavlograd began during the
summer of 1978 and continued into 1979. The
completion and operation of the four large cast-
ing pits will give the Soviets the capability to
cast and cure rocket motors that are larger in
diameter than those currently being produced.
Table I shows the construction dates and di-
mensions of the large-diameter casting pits. Ta-
ble 2 shows the dimensions of propellant prod-
uction buildings known to be associated with
these pits. A chronological description of the
construction of the casting pits at the three
facilities follows.
Biysk Solid Motor
Production Plant II
8. (TSR) Two large-diameter subsurface
casting pits have been constructed at Biysk
plant II. Initial construction of the first casting
pit was observed on but no
building footings were seen until
The casting pit (Figure 1) has an inner diameter
meters. A casting building
meters was constructed over the pit between
February and June 1975. The building is rail
served from the assembly line at Biysk plant II
and the rail door opening is A
second casting pit (Figure 2) was observed un-
der construction on This pit
has an inner diameter of
A casting building L_
was constructed over the
second casting pit between April and November
1976. This second building is also rail served,
and the rail door opening is A 25X1
bunkered control building is 25X1
approximately midway between these two
buildings (Figure 3). Interline distances be-
tween the first and second castin buildings and
the bunker are respectively. 25X1
Lightning arresters have been constructed
around both casting buildings.
9. (TSR) Although the casting pits and
buildings were complete by September 1976, the
propellant production line probably did not
become operational until 1978 (Figure 3). The
completion of the two casting pits and buildings
coincided with the completion of modifications
to the large horizontal test position at Biysk test
area 11.2 The modifications were complete by
November 1977. The first evidence of testing of
large-diameter rocket motors was observed in
June 1978 when a probable mockup of a large
segmented motor was observed in the boneyard
of the test area. Additional large-diameter mo-
tors were seen at Biysk test area II during 1979.'
Kamensk-Shakhtinskiy Solid
Motor Production Plant
10. (TSR) Major modifications have been
in progress at Kamensk-Shakhtinskiy since be-
fore April 1977.' By Jul 1978, a casting pit with
an inner diameter of and an outer 25X1
diameter of was observed in the new 25X1
area of construction immediately north of the
existing casting/curing area. The new casting
25X1
pit was at least higher than original 25X1
ground level. The area around the pit was
graded and leveled by and 25X1
footings were observed for a rectangular build-
ing to be constructed over the casting pit (Fig- 25X1
ure 4). By (Figure 5), the 25X1
rectangular building had been constructed. It is 25X1
in two sections-one 30 meters long by 18 me- 25X1
ters wide and high and the other 18 25X1
meters wide by long and 10 meters 2E25X1
high. The casting pit is within the larger, higher
Top Secret
IAR-0038/79 25X1
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/08/26: CIA-RDP80TOO25OA000100390001-2
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/08/26: CIA-RDP80TOO25OA000100390001-2
Top Secret RUFF
Table 1.
Construction Chronology and Dimensions of Large-Diameter Casting Pits
Ibis tahlein itventiretr is classified TOPSECRET R UFF
Date First
Location Observed Ucon
Biysk
Casting pit I
Casting pit 2
Kamensk-Shakhtinskiy
Pavlograd
Date Prob
Operational
Table 2.
Dimensions of Propellant Buildings Associated with Large-Diameter Casting Pits
lhi.v tablein itsentirel t?isclassijied TOPSECRETR UFF
Location Casting Bldg
(m)
Biysk 43 x 21 x
43 x 21 x
Kamensk-Shakhtinskiy 41 x 18 x
section. The rectangular casting building is rail
served, and the rail door opening is
meters. A possible vacuum bell long
with an inner diameter of an outer
diameter of and a flanged end
meters in diameter was observed lying on the
ground in front of the casting building on
11. (TSR) A probable mix building 19 by
14 by is southwest of the casting
building. This probable mix building is rail
served and earth barricaded. A control building
for the mix building is under the earth barricade
and is 36 by 17 by 5 meters. Lightning arresters
protect both the casting building and the proba-
ble mix building.
Mix Bldg Control Bldg Unid Bldg
(m) (m) (m)
19 x 14 x
(prob
18 x 13 x
Inner Outer
Diam Diam
(m) (m)
38 x 19
-
36x 17 -
36x 15 -
40x 14 25x 12
12. (TSR) Motors approximately
ters in diameter have been seen on railcars
within the plant since November 1977. Three
cylinders, each with an outer diameter of
meters and an inner diameter of and
long, have been observed since July
1978 near the entrance to the plant.
13. (TSR) The presence of large cylin-
ders, which were approximately in
diameter, and the construction of a large-diam-
eter casting pit at this facility suggest that the
Soviets will produce large-diameter rocket mo-
tors at Kamensk-Shakhtinskiy in the future.
Top Secret
25X1
25X1
25X1
25X1
25X1
25X1
25X1
25X1
ncv
25X1
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/08/26: CIA-RDP80TOO25OA000100390001-2
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/08/26: CIA-RDP80TOO25OA000100390001-2
Iq
Next 4 Page(s) In Document Denied
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/08/26: CIA-RDP80TOO25OA000100390001-2
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/08/26: CIA-RDP80TOO25OA000100390001-2
Top Secret RUFF
Pavlograd Solid Motor
Production Plant
14. (TSR) A new area of construction was
observed outside the east security wall of the
plant on By August 1978, a
new casting pit had been identified under con-
struction (Figure 6). It has an inner diameter of
an outer diameter of
and was above original ground lev-
el. The area around this large casting pit was
backfilled by A probable mix
building and a probable control building are
west of the casting pit. The probable mix build-
ing is 18 by 13 by Personnel and rail
passageways are under construction near this
building, suggesting that the building will be
earth barricaded. The control building is 36 by
15 by 5 meters and is earth mounded.
15. (TSR) West of these buildings are a
second probable control building and an uni-
dentified building under construction (Figure
7). The second control building is 40 by 14
meters, and the unidentified building is 25 by 12
meters. This new area of construction will be
road and rail served from the existing plant.
16. (TSR) Motors of approximately
meters in diameter have also been seen within
the Pavlograd plant. When the new casting pit is
completed, the production of even larger diame-
ter motors can be expected.
(TSR) All available KEYHOLE imagery acquired through
preparation of' this report.
ACIC. US Air Target Chart: Series 200: Sheets 0161-21, 0234-22,
CLASSIFIED)
1. NPIC. PIR-052/79, Soviet Segmented Rocket
,lrea ll, L'SSR (TSR). Jul 79 (TOP SECRET
ll, L.SSR (1 SR), Dec 77 (TOP SECRET
IT.SR), Apr 79 (TOP SECRET
IT.SRI, May 78 (TOP SECRET
REQUIREMENT
Project I30094NJ
(S) Comments and queries regarding this report arc welcome. They
Soviet Strategic Forces Division, Irnagery Exploitation Group. NPIC,F__
Top Secret
25X1
25X1
25X1
LOA-1
25X1
25X1
2.5X1
25X1
25X1
25X1
25X1
25X1
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/08/26: CIA-RDP80TOO25OA000100390001-2
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/08/26: CIA-RDP80TOO25OA000100390001-2
Top Secret
Top Secret
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/08/26: CIA-RDP80TOO25OA000100390001-2