LETTER TO JOHN N. MCMAHON FROM W. E. ODOM RE WRONG ON QUESTION CONCERNING SOVIET RPV DEVELOPMENT

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Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 
CIA-RDP83M00914R002800010011-3
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RIPPUB
Original Classification: 
S
Document Page Count: 
6
Document Creation Date: 
December 22, 2016
Document Release Date: 
July 11, 2012
Sequence Number: 
11
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Publication Date: 
November 19, 1982
Content Type: 
LETTER
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PDF icon CIA-RDP83M00914R002800010011-3.pdf237.17 KB
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Declassified in Part -Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/07/11 :CIA-RDP83M00914R002800010011-3 EXECUTIVE SECRETARIAT Routing Slip ACTION INFO DATE INITIAL 1 DCI 2 'D _ EXDIR 4 D/ICS 5 DDI 6 DDA 7 DDO 8 DDS&T 9 Chm/NIC 10 GC tl IG 12 Compt 13 D/EEO 14 D/Pers 15 D/OEA 16 C/PAD/OEA 17 SA/IA 18 AO/DCI 19 C/IPD/OIS so g 21 ~~ Exec five Secretary / / / Z d'1/ gar. Declassified in Part -Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/07/11 :CIA-RDP83M00914R002800010011-3 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/07/11 :CIA-RDP83M00914R002800010011-3 HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY OFFICE OF THE ASSISTANT CHIEF OF STAFF FOR INTELLIGENCE WASHINGTON, O.C. 20310 9 NU v ~r~82 During the IEWSPR, I responded to a question concerning Soviet RPV development with the statement that I did not believe they are developing them. I was wrong. I am enclosing a copy of the data we currently hold on their RPV program. 1 Incl W. E. ODOM as Major General, USA ACofS for Intelligence Mr. John N. McMahon Deputy Director Central Intelligence Agency ?.d EP~?~aded ~TCT~A,SlSIFI1~~ ti=~)~sn segxar,~s^~ :trom i c~assi~iea iz~c~. ~;are~~ Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/07/11 :CIA-RDP83M00914R002800010011-3 Declassified in Part -Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/07/11 :CIA-RDP83M00914R002800010011-3 DST-1330S-183.81 8 July 1981 SECRET BUMMA~iY (S) The DR-3 drone system significantly enhances Soviet capability to acquire timely intelligence data of enemy forces in a tactical battlefield environment. The vehicle uses asolid-propellant booster to launch from a highly mobile transporter-erector-launcher (TEL) and is powered for the remainder of the mission by a turbojet sustainer. Reconnaissance equipment aboard the vehicle is assessed to include several photographic cameras or alternatively several TV cameras with the data link. (Additionally, there is the possibility that separate from the primary reconnaissance payload alternatives the DR-3 avionics suite includes a forward looking TV with data link used for pilotage and navigation functions.) Flight duration is estimated to be up to 15 minutes. Vehicle recovery to a soft landing is effected by parachute. Overall, the DR-3 appears to be a highly reliable, highly flexible system that has added a new dimension to the battlefield. ziii SECRET a3 ~? '; Declassified in Part -Sanitized Copy Approved for_Release 2012/07/11 :CIA-RDP83M00914R002800010011-3 Declassified in Part -Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/07/11 :CIA-RDP83M00914R002800010011-3 SECRET SECTION II BACKGROUND AND STATUS (U) 8 July 1981 (S-NOFORN-WNINTEL) The DR-3 was developed in the 1970'x as slow-altitude, subsonic, mission- fle:ible reconnaissance drone for deployment into the tactical battlefield. Operational deployment of the system would be under the Soviet Army at the battalion level. The appearance of the DR-3 at the Pruzhany Army Barracks in the Soviet Union in May 1979 provided the first photographic evidence of operational deployment. (See Figure 2.) Also in 1979, the DR-3 TEL was deployed in East Germany. (See Figure 3.) (S) With such a highly transportable system as the DR-3, it is possible that it can perform several roles. These might include ELINT collection, ECM, function as a target vehicle, or even dispersal of biological or chemical agents. However, there is no evidence supporting these possibilities. Instead, the DR-3 will most likely be used as a reconnaissance vehicle. (S) Aside from deployment to East Germany, chances are good the DR-3 has been furnished to other Sino-Soviet bloc countries. The development and deployment of the DR-3 is a Soviet effort to upgrade their combat reconnaissance capabilities beyond that of manned aircraft systems such as BREWER D, FISHBED H, and FITTER H. With a relatively recent IOC of 1977-1976, the DR-3 is expected to operate as a viable tactical battlefield reconnaissance system throughout the 1980'x. Declassified in Part -Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/07/11 :CIA-RDP83M00914R002800010011-3 Declassified in Part -Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/07/11 :CIA-RDP83M00914R002800010011-3 sECRET SECTION IV SYSTEM CAPABILITIES AND LIMITA7CION8 (U) DST-1330S-183-81 8 July 1981 1. Capabilities (U) (S-NOFORN-WNINTEL) The fuel limited radius of the highly versatile DR-3 (based on a usable load of 110 kg) is calculated to be about 125 km when flying at Mach 0.7 and 1,000 m altitude. Equipped with several obliquely mounted framing cameras with a normal film load of 200 frames, the DR-3 can cover a 1,432 km~ area from the 1,000 m altitude. Typical DR-3 drone reconnaissance scenario details are depicted in Figure 20. (S-NOFORN-WNINTEL) Increasing the fuel load of the DR-3 to a mazimum of 500 kg could permit a low-altitude radius in a:cess of 500 km or ahigh-altitude mission of even greater range. (It should be noted that the fuel tank shaven in Figure 4 has capacity for 495 kg of fuel.) Potential high-altitude missions include broad area reconnaissance, ELINT collection, jamming, and chaff dispensing. Potential low-altitude missions include ELINT collection, chaff dispensing, and decoy operations. Additionally, the DR-3 could be used as a delivery and dispensing platform in a biological/chemical warfare mission. The DR-3 performance envelope is depicted in Figure 21. Figure 22 outlines assumed mission rules for low and high profile missions and Figure 23 presents the resulting fuel load and mission radius trade-offs for both profiles. 2. Limitations (U) (S) Limitations of the DR-3 are few. Although each of the support vehicles is designed to complete its task, if one of these vehicles is out of action, the system effectiveness could be considerably degraded. -~0.80km? iEBA RECCE CHECKOUT i CONT1101 Fig. 20 (S) DR-3 Reconnaissance Mission Scenario 29 CC~'QCT Declassified in Part -Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/07/11 :CIA-RDP83M00914R002800010011-3 Declassified in Part -Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/07/11 :CIA-RDP83M00914R002800010011-3 DIA IVPJC T-2122 FIGURE 1. LOCATIONS OF SOVIET MILITARY INSTALLATIONS WITH DEPLOYED DR-3 SYSTEM Table 1. Soviet Military Installations with Components of DR-3 System (Keyed to Figure 1) This table in its entirety is classi/ied SECRfT~ AlrlieW/ Military Item Installation; Diwici/ ~E Number Country DEPLOYMENT OF THE REMOTELY PILOTED VEHICLE SYSTEM DR-3 AT SOVIET MILITARY INSTALLATIONS (S) 1. (S/D) Deployment of the remotely piloted vehicle (RPV) system at Soviet military installa- tions has continued since January 1979. This report updates the initial NPIC summary reports on the ADV-1 reconnaissance drone system, which has been redesignated the Drone-3 (DR-3). ^2. (S/D) Since the initial identification of the DR-3 system at Kaoustin Yar (-nl~cp Tacr r?r,,.,te., army barrac cs, one air depot, and one missile support facility (Figure 1~and Tablell) ~c~Crl atrnetas, rou25X1 i , Kiyl~ >. s?.Odeita_ 1 _ 1 Lenmp~tl-? ,l. .~.. .,,,., ~ hi ~. ~ ,I. ~` i 1 ..:Y~ ~VolpOq~atl :? K apustin Vn A 1'llKtl> ` ~ = -:,r _ r,. T -~AShkhaystl `~ ~~? ~. ,l Fifst Latest Number of Components on Latest llsabk ImaEery Lhabk Trarhloader/ Tronsloader/ CheckouU Shippirrs Mobile Obserratlan Ima`ery Launcher Resupply Control Crate Mrwo ho- Vehicle Vehicle Vehicle i cess ns lab h~a~Y Csloruwian MD May 77 May Qt 9 9 28 1 ? 25X1 ArmyArmY B~rraek~ ks_ 2 Marei~rl~ MISW1e WMie MD S~ UrWriydl Al1i1Nd Far fast MD lioutMan _. _._... rxmIWNI~nsK i.~ 8 C~j 1 ?~\..~ ~ 13 sarvsnayen ??'-1 11 ~~ ..., ~-. ~- 1 111 O, N G O L l A r^% `1 c n t n A~ ?_ ',~ l ~ -- --- - ~ Omfk G4dWya 25X1 DIA 25X1 DIA Declassified in Part -Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/07/11 _: CIA-RDP83M00914R002800010011-3 ~