VULNERABILITY AREA 108, SHAGAN RIVER TEST AREA, USSR (SANITIZED)

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80T01782R000300120001-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 6
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 22, 2010
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: October 1, 1980
• Content Type: REPORT

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Vulnerability Area 108, Shagan River Test Area, USSR
secret
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Secret
Z-20145/80
IAN-0277/80
OCTOBER 1980
Copy 169
2-
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SECRET
VULNERABILITY AREA 108, SHAGAN RIVER TEST AREA, USSR
I. (SAD) This report provides a summary of the activity at vulnerability area 108 at the
Shagan River Test Area USSR, from Figure 25X1
1). The report updates a previous NPIC report.'
2. (S/D) Since construction has continued at area 108. At the large conduit/arch 25X1
structure (Figure 2), additional rectangular conduit sections were installed in the narrow section of
the trench. The conduit has an interior height of and a width ofApproxi- 25X1
mately 220 meters of conduit have been constructed to date. Rail sections were next to the trench
during most of the reporting period. The rail sections still have not been observed in the conduit,
but they have probably been placed in completed portions. Concrete slabs replaced the wood
panels on top of the completed portion of the conduit. The western end of the conduit was closed
off and the surrounding area was backfilled to grade level. Approximately 60 meters of prefabri-
cated concrete arch sections were assembled over the western portion of the completed conduit.
The arches span and are about 15 meters wide at the base. No activity was observed at 25X1
the wide portion of the trench where the traveling gantry crane is positioned.
3. (S/D) A smaller rectangular conduit was under construction in a trench in the center of
area 108 (Figure 3). The conduit, about 100 meters in length, was almost complete. This conduit
has an interior height and width of F_ I respectively. About 85 meters of concrete 25X1
arch sections were assembled over the conduit. These arches span 260 degrees (omega shaped).
About 15 meters of the arch structure on the east end were covered with rebar mesh. By 25X1
about of concrete appeared to have been poured into the rebar mesh. It is LbA]I
not yet known whether the arches are a part of the structure or for containing high explosives
(HE). If HE is later placed in the arch structure and only the east end of the structure is hardened,
then the structure will probably serve as a shock tube or dynamic airblast simulator (DABS). If the
entire structure is hardened, then HE will probably be placed throughout the structure and it will
serve as an HE simulation technique (HEST) structure.
4. (SAD) A large-bore shaft was drilled about 75 meters from the west end of the conduit
between This shaft will probably be used for HE. A probable instrumenta- 25X1
tion bunker was under construction north of the conduit. Some trenches for instrumentation and
timing and firing lines have been excavated.
5. (SAD) Little activity was observed at the two silo corings in the southern portion of area
108 (Figure 4). The larger of the two corings, designated silo 15, has been identified as a probable
command and control silo. The silo is
Radio Communications Station Hard
Missile/Space Test Center
of the silo at ground level are
similar to one currently under construction at Serpukhov
and to one constructed at Kapustin Yar 25X1
At silo 15, the approximate outer and inner diameters 25X1
respectively. The headworks area is about 25X1
meters deep and the inner diameter of the silo at the headworks ledge is about A silo 25X1
base and at least six silo wall segments, about long, were installed into the silo. The 25X1
inner diameter of the silo after the installation of the wall segments is about A probable 25X1
headworks base, with outer and inner diameters of about respectively, was assembled2bA"I
next to the silo. No other components have been observed. At the smaller silo, additional coring was
observed, but no components were delivered to the silo.
WNINTEL
Z-20145/80
IA R-0277/80
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/09/22 : CIA-RDP80T01782R000300120001-1
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SECRET
6. (S/D) Two large excavations are within area 108 (Figure 1). One excavation is parallel to
the east fenceline and the other is parallel to the west fenceline. Little activity was observed in the
excavations. Small-bore drilling operations were underway adjacent to the excavations during
most of the reporting period. The shafts at both excavations were drilled in a row parallel to the
excavations. By 25 shafts were adjacent to the eastern excavation and 19 shafts were
adjacent to the western excavation. A probable instrumentation bunker was under construction
near the eastern excavation and a small linear trench near the western excavation was probably for
an instrumentation hunker.
7. (S/D) A large-bore drilling operation was underway by east of the two silo
corings. No activity was observed at the probable small-bore shaft west of the large conduit/arch
structure or at location 29 in the northwest corner of area 108.
8. (S/D) An onsite support camp was established southwest of the large conduit/arch struc-
ture (Figure I). The camp consisted of 16 squad tents, a single large tent, a water trailer, and a
soccer field. It is estimated that the camp could have housed about 160 persons. However, by the
end of the reporting period, the large tent and three of the small tents had been removed.
NPIC. Z-20008/80, IAR-0103 80 Area 108-New Vulnerability Test Site-at Shagan River Test Area,
USSR (S), Jun 80 (SECRET
(S) Comments and queries regarding this report are welcome. They may b
Soviet Strategic Forces Division, Imagery Exploitation Group, NPIC, extension
Z-20145/80 SECRET
IA R-0277/80
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