AKHTUBINSK FLIGHT TEST CENTER

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80T01355A000100170001-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 17
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: October 4, 2010
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: May 1, 1980
• Content Type: REPORT

Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/10/04: CIA-RDP80TO1
basic imagery Interpretation report
Akhtubinsk Flight Test Center (S)
MISSILE RANGES: AIR-LAUNCHED FACILITIES
USSR
Top Secret
NUA-155-7-111/79
MAY u uuu
copy 4 9
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/10/04: CIA-RDP80T01355A000100170001-9
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/10/04: CIA-RDP80T01355A000100170001-9
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/10/04: CIA-RDP80T01355A000100170001-9
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/10/04: CIA-RDP80T01355A000100170001-9
Top Secret RUFF
Akhtubinsk Flight Test Center (Also see below)
GEOGRAPHIC COORDINATES
48-17-53N 046-11-22E
Coordinates
Installation Name Geographic
Akhtubinsk/Vladimirovka 48-18-38N
Airfield 046-14-24E
Akhtubinsk/Vladimirovka 48-18-15N
Area Airfield 046-16-30E
Akhtubinsk/Vladimirovka ASM 48-17-38N
Support Complex 046-12-03E
Akhtubinsk/Vladimirovka ASM/AAM 48-18-53N
Support Complex 046-10-35E
Akhtubinsk/Vladimirovka AAM and ASM 48-22-41N
Storage Facility 046-12-18E
Akhtubinsk/Vladimirovka Air Warning 48-17-ION
Radar Facility TALL KING 046-11-OOE
I. (S) Akhtubinsk Flight Test Center is the largest of the Soviet facilities supporting advanced,
integrated airborne weapons systems testing. The center is capable of supporting all known Soviet aircraft
and their associated weapons systems. The facility consists of six functionally distinct areas and a new
radar site, each of which is discussed in this report.
2. (S) This report updates the previous NPIC report, dated March 1979, and in- 25X1
cludes a location map, four tables, and 19 annotated photographs. The information cutoff date and the
date of the latest imagery used for this report is 25X1
3. (S/WNINTEL) Akhtubinsk Flight Test Center (Figure 1) consists of the following six functional-
ly distinct areas (Figure 2): Akhtubinsk/Vladimirovka Airfield, Akhtubinsk/Vladimirovka Area Airfield,
Akhtubinsk/Vladimirovka ASM Support Complex, Akhtubinsk/Vladimirovka ASM/AAM Support Complex,
Akhtubinsk/Vladimirovka ASM Storage Facility, and Akhtubinsk Air Warning (AW) Radar Facility TALL
KING. The flight test center is the largest of the Soviet facilities supporting advanced, integrated airborne
weapons systems testing. The center is capable of supporting all known Soviet aircraft and their associated
weapons systems. Significant changes observed within the functional areas since as well as 25X1
significant aircraft/weapons/electronics systems observations since that date, are discussed in this report. The
numbering system used for this report is, where possible, a continuation of that used in the previous NPIC
reports.'
Construction Activity
Akhtubinsk/Vladimirovka Airfield
4. (TSR) Akhtubinsk/Vladimirovka Airfield consists of 18 separate areas and a flightline area.'
Construction activity was observed in the flightline area and six of the areas and is discussed in this report.
-1-
Top Secret RCA-1010001179
COMIREX NIETB
No (MRN) No
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/10/04: CIA-RDP80T01355A000100170001-9
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/10/04: CIA-RDP80T01355A000100170001-9
Top Secret RUFF
5. (TSR) Flightline Area. Minor changes were observed along the flightline of the airfield. From
April to June 1979, asphalt resurfacing was completed on approximately one-third of the central parking
apron (item 9, Figure 3). In the helicopter dispersal area at the southeast end of the airfield, an opera-
tions/flightline support building (item 5) was completed. Three small, single aircraft hangars were ob-
served under construction during the reporting period. Two of the hangars at the northwest end of the
airfield (items 7 and 8) had been completed, and only the foundation of the third hangar at the southeast
end of the airfield (item 6) had been completed as ofF -1 25X1
6. (TSR) Flightline Operations/ Maintenance Area. Minor construction has taken place within the
flightline operations/maintenance area (Figure 3) during the past several years. A quonset-type support
building (item 3) was completed during the reporting period. A probable operations/administration build-
ing (item 2) was in the midstage of construction by A probable shop building (item 1) was 25X1
in the late stage of construction on the northwest side of a previously reported five-bay hangar (item 4).'
The concrete apron in front of the hangar had been completed and was being used regularly for temporary
parking of transport aircraft. A new operations/flightline support building (item 10) was in the late stage
of construction by 25X1
7. (TSR) POL Storage Area A. Minor changes were seen in POL storage area A (Figure 4). Four
above round, horizontal POL storage tanks were removed during the reporting period; 86 tanks remained.
On 14 dark-toned, probably new, horizontal storage tanks were scattered along the nearby 25X1
area rail siding. These tanks will probably be used at the facility.
8. (TSR) POL Storage Area B. Several minor changes were observed within the central and western
sections of POL storage area B (Figure 5). In the central section, four aboveground, horizontal POL tanks
had been added to one row, and two tanks had been removed. Nine tanks had been removed from the
western section. No significant changes were observed in the eastern section of the storage area.
9. (TSR) Motor Pool/Support Area A. Two minor changes were seen within motor pool/support
area A of the central section (Figure 6). The masonry exhaust stack (item 2) which serves the new
boilerhouse/heating plant was completed. A small earth-covered structure (item 3) had been constructed
and was probably used for water storage. This structure was previously reported as a support building
under construction.'
10. (TSR) Motor Pool Area D. Only one small change was observed within motor pool area D
during the past year. A small support building (item 1, Figure 6), reported as a foundation on
had exterior walls but no roof on
(Continued p. 7)
KAPUSTIN
YAR
.26 NM
AKHTUBINSK/VLADIMIRDVKA
AREA AIRFIELD
ROAD
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