UNIDENTIFIED CONSTRUCTION AT THE KALAHARI DESERT SUSPECT UNDERGROUND TEST SITE, SOUTH AFRICA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP81T00618R000100150001-2
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: December 1, 2009
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: May 1, 1981
• Content Type: REPORT

Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2009/12/01 : CIA-RDP81T00618R000100150001-2
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Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2009/12/01 : CIA-RDP81T00618R000100150001-2
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2009/12/01 : CIA-RDP81T00618R000100150001-2
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UNIDENTIFIED CONSTRUCTION AT THE KALAHARI DESERT
SUSPECT UNDERGROUND TEST SITE, SOUTH AFRICA (S)
1. (TSR) A large octagonal concrete pad, 20 meters in diameter, has been constructed 5 kilometers east-
northeast of the test tower site at the Kalahari Desert Suspect Underground Test Site Figure 25X1
1) in South Africa. Construction of this pad was begun between 25X1
imagery of there was still no identifiable activity at the pad. 25X1
5. (S/D) No other unusual activity has been observed at the rest of the test site. The old test tower
site is vacant and is becoming overgrown with small brush.
2. (S/D) The pad is next to an old borrow pit. On I I several large pieces of earth- 25X1
moving equipment and numerous trucks were at the site. Two separate areas were being graded. One was a
large oval area which had been sprayed with oil to stabilize the sand while the area was being graded. A
probable oil spreader was next to the graded area and a hose connected it to a tank which was beside the
road leading into the site. The second graded area was rectangular and adjacent to the oval area. Several
support and administration tents, water tanks, and other support equipment were also present at the site.
3. (TSR) By a circular, dark-toned pad had been built in the rectangular graded area, and 25X1
a batch plant and piles of dark-toned aggregate were in the oval area (Figure 2). The circular pad was= 25X1
meters in diameter and appeared to be made of an asphalt-type material. Surrounding the as halt pad was
a double-octagonal form. The inner and outer diameters of the form were respectively. 25X1
The octagon was made of long linear members joined together with shorter cross members. Evidently, the
asphalt was put down as a base for the concrete pad with the octagon serving as the form.
4. (TSR) By the octagonal concrete pad had been poured (Figure 3). The diameter of the 25X1
pad was approximately 20 meters and its thickness was probably It is not known if the 25X1
asphalt was extended over the entire area of concrete pad. Also, at that time, the site had been completely
vacated except for a single bulldozer which was leveling the ground around the pad. On the most recent
MAPS OR CHARTS
ACIC. Operational Navigation Chart, Sheet Q-4, scale 1:1,000,000 (UNCLASSIFIED)
South African Government. South Africa 1:50,000; Sheets 2721AD, 272113C, 2721 CB, and 2721 DA; scale 1:50,000
(UNCLASSIFIED)
^ (S) Comments and queries regarding this report are welcome. They may be directed to Soviet
Top Secret
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