LENINGRAD SILO COMPONENTS RESEARCH-AND-DEVELOPMENT FACILITY

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP83T00574R000102660001-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 11
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: February 4, 2010
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: July 1, 1982
• Content Type: REPORT

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Leningrad Silo Components Research-and-Development Facility
GEOGRAPHIC COORDINATES CATEGORY
60-17-20N 030-10-10E
SAC. USATC, Series 200, Sheet 0103-25, scale 1:200,000
ABSTRACT
1. (S/WN) This report discusses activity and developments at the Leningrad Silo Components
Research-and-Development (R&D) Facility, USSR. Information acquired between September 1974 and the
information cutoff date of was used in this report. The Leningrad R&D facility has been
used for development/acceptance testing of silo doors and associated opening/closing mechanisms for
new ICBM silos. Recent test activity and equipment observed in the original Leningrad test area suggest
that the facility is also being used to test modifications made to older silo types.
2. (S/WN) The information in this report supplements that provided in DIA report A
location map and six annotated photographs are included in this report.
INTRODUCTION
3. (S/WN) The Leningrad Silo Components R&D Facility is in heavily wooded, flat-to-rolling terrain
20 nautical miles north of Leningrad. The heavily secured, road-served facility contains two adjoining
areas: a diamond-shaped original test area of approximately 45 acres and a new expansion area of
approximately 100 acres (Figure 1). The original test area contains the upper sections of three test silos;
several small, unidentified test sites; a possible new storage area; and 38 buildings. The new expansion
area contains a five-bay vehicle garage; a heating plant; two probable temporary barracks for construc-
tion workers; four other buildings which are under construction; and tree clearings for future structures
(Figure 2).
BASIC DESCRIPTION
Original Test Area
4. (S/WN) The area contains the upper sections of three silos-a type IIIE and a type IIIH ICBM silo
(both constructed prior to 1975)1 and an unidentified silo constructed between April 1975 and August
1978 (Figure 1).
Type IIIE Silo Test Site
5. (S/WN) This site-in the north corner of the original test area-was initially seen under construc-
tion in March 1965, approximately 8 months before construction of the prototype IIIE silo at Plesetsk
Missile/Space Test Center SSM 1 The site, which includes a type IIIE silo door and door
pocket, was complete by April 1966. A conduit covered with concrete blocks extended from the site,
through a small earth-mounded building, and to an L-shaped probable control building. The conduit
possibly houses cables which support test operations. The silo was open in August 1970 but was closed on
all subsequent coverages. By July 1972, the site appeared to have deteriorated. Possibly it had been
abandoned.
6. (S/WN) The site appeared to be inactive until May 1979, when the silo door was again open. By
over the open silo. Another cylinder,
in diameter, was on the ground
een erected at a 45-degree angle
nearby. Onl Ithe smaller cylinder was suspended beneath the erected cylinder (Figure
3). Since then, the two objects have remained in this configuration. Very little vehicular traffic has been
observed around the site since the emplacement of the cylinders. Small van trucks have been seen on
two occasions. Since March 1981, snow has been plowed from the road extending to the site, and a
canvas shelter has been placed over the silo aperture.
7. (S/WN) The two cylinders may be related to modifications made to two type IIIE silos, launch test
sites 23 and 24, at the Plesetsk test range. These modifications included the removal of four cylinders C
meters total length) and the launch stand from the silo, the removal of ground support equipment (GSE)
alignment rails, and the construction of small, buried launch control buildings. These modifications
probably were made in preparation for flight-testing a new solid-propellant ICBM.
WNINTEL
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diameter cylinder had b
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8. (S/WN) Possibly the cylinders have been positioned over the type IIIE silo so that they can serve
as an apparatus for load-testing the upper section of the silo. This section probably will be subjected to
more weight and stress during repeated loading operations of a new ICBM than of the-SS-13 missile, for
which the type IIIE silo was originally designed.
Type IIIH Silo Test Site
9. (S/WN) The type IIIH silo test site, constructed between March 1971 and February 1972,1 is
positioned between the tracks of a large gantry crane in the west side of the facility. The first prototype
IIIH silo for the SS-17 flight test program at the Tyuratam Missile/Space Test Center SSM
was completed in June 1972, after the construction of the Leningrad type IIIH site. The type IIIH silo test
site at the Leningrad facility consists of a probable phase I type IIIH silo door (Figure 4) and door pocket.
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10. (S/WN) There are four variations or phases of the type IIIH silo door; each varies slightly in
configuration.2 The phase I silo door-seen at Leningrad, Tyuratam, Yedrovo SSM Complex 0 25X1
and Shagan River Test Area was in use until mid-1975, when the first phase II silo door was 25X1
observed. The phase II silo door is used with converted type IIID silos, which retain the type IIID
headworks. The phase III silo door is on variant type IIIH silos, which do not have headworks. The variant
silo was first observed under construction at Tyuratam in 1977 and at Yedrovo in 1978. The phase IV door
has been seen only on two scratch-built launch silos at the Plesetsk test range.2 Construction of the
Plesetsk silos was started in February 1978. Although only the phase I silo door has been identified at the
Leningrad facility, cycles of tests at the type IIIH site correlate closely with the deployment of the four silo
door phases at test ranges and deployed complexes, suggesting that the door phases were develope-
d/acceptance tested at this facility.
11. (S/WN) The opening and closing of the type IIIH silo door and the movement of the gantry
crane indicate ongoing test activity. Two test cycles which occurred during late 1974 and throughout 1976
are probably related to the development of the phase II and phase III silo door configurations. These tests
may also have been associated with the silo vulnerability tests conducted at Shagan River in October 1974.
The phase II door was observed at. deployed SS-17 complexes in late 1976, and the phase III door was not
observed at Tyuratam in 1977 and at Yedrovo in 1978. The silo door at the type IIIH test site was not
observed open from April 1977 to May 1979, but other types of tests or preparations for future tests of the
phase IV silo door may have been conducted at the site during this time. The area around the type IIIH
silo door pocket was partially excavated in February 1976 and remained so until when the 25X1
area was backfilled and the door was partially covered with earth. The gantry crane was being operated
over the silo during July and September 1977. The area around the door frame had again been excavated
by late June 1978 and has remained so since that time. Tests for the phase IV door-opening mechanism
probably began during late 1979 and continued through 1980. The silo was open at least once during 1979
and at least twice in 1980; the gantry crane was being operated over the silo during 1980. The summary
below provides a chronology of test activity from 1972 to 1982 at the type IIIH silo test site.
Summary of Test Activity at Type IIIH Silo Test Site, 1972 through 1982
February 1972 The silo was completed. Initial door test activity was observed.
July 1972-March 1974 The silo was closed. No apparent test activity was observed.
June 1974-February 1975 The silo was open on and probably on^ 25X1
April 1975-February 1976
February-October 1976
April 1977-April 1979
The test activity was probably related to the phase II 25X1
door, which was deployed in late 1975. This activity may also
have been related to silo vulnerability tests at Shagan River Test
Area on 25X1
The silo was closed. No test activity was observed.
The silo was open on 25X1
Excavation around the door pocket began 25X1
ntinued through the test activity. The test 25X1
activity probably was related to the development of the phase
III silo door, which was deployed in late 1976.
The silo was closed during the period, although a limited test
program probably was continued. On the silo 25X1
door was almost completely covered with earth, and the area
around the door pocket was backfilled. The gantry crane was
active over the silo on The 25X1
area around the door frame was again excavated on 25X1
=This activity may have been related to last-minute changes 25X1
to the phase III door which was under construction at Tyuratam
and Yedrovo during this period. The activity may also have
been preparations for testing the phase IV silo door, which was
tested during 1980 at Leningrad.
The silo door was open on I 25X1
Activity that was observed was 25X1
probably final testing for the phase IV silo door, which was
installed in the prototype silos at Plesetsk launch site 28 during
this period.
September 1980-February 1982 The silo was closed. No test activity was observed.
May 1979-August 1980
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12. (S/WN) This test site is in the west side of the facility and consists of a
shallow silo (Figure 5). A hexagonal environmental cover consisting of a light canvas-covered framework
usually covers the silo. A cylindrical test component consisting of an upper and a lower section is usually
on the apron beside the covered silo. The lower section of the test component isIhigh with an 25X1
outer diameter of and an inner diameter of The upper section, wit eight openin s 25X1
around the top edge, is high with an outer diameter of and an inner diameter of7 25X1
meter.
13. (S/WN) This silo differs from the other two silos at Leningrad in that it does not strongly
resemble any known operational missile silo and does not have a permanently attached door and door-
opening mechanism. However, this silo slightly resembles a small command-and-control silo seen at the
probable Soviet general staff national-level command-and-control facility at Serpukhov, USSR. Possibly it
is a scaled down version of the one at that facility. Variants of this small command-and-control silo have
been seen at an SS-20-associated facility at Kapustin Yar Missile/Space Test Center SSM
and at a silo vulnerability test site in the Shagan River Test Area.3 The unidentified silo at Leningrad and its
associated components are much smaller than the Serpukhov silo and components. The inner diameter
of the Leningrad silo is while the inner diameter of the Serpukhov silo is The outer
diameter of the associated test component at Leningrad is approximately and the inner
diameter is approximately The cylindrical headworks test component in the Serpukhov silo has
an outer diameter of and an inner diameter of
14. (S/WN) Typical test activity at this site involves removing the environmental cover and reposi-
tioning the test component. This activity has included the emplacement of the test component in the silo
and the component's removal. The activity has also included the assembly/disassembly of the compo-
nent on the silo apron. These tests were conducted at the site in mid-1977, mid-1978, and early and late
1979; the site has apparently been inactive since March 1980. The dates of this test activity show some
correlation with the dates of construction of the small command-and-control silos. The silo at Kapustin
Yar was under construction in September 1976, approximately 18 months after the test silo was first seen
under construction. The silos at Serpukhov and Shagan River were started in early 1980, the approximate
time that test activity appeared to have ceased at Leningrad. The summary below provides a chronology
of test activity and construction at the unidentified silo test site.
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Summary of Activity at Unidentified Training/Engineering Test Site, 1975 to 1982
April-August 1975
The silo test site was excavated. The top section of test compo-
nent was under the gantry crane.
Construction and possible test activity occurred at the site. The
February-October 1976
October 1976-April 1977
July 1977
September 1977-April 1978
May-July 1978
October 1978-March 1979
April-May 1979
August-September 1979
March -September 1980
October 1980-February 1982
was being assembled on the apron on
silo was open and a round component was inside the silo onE 25X1
The component had been removed from 25X1
the silo by and placed on the nearby apron under the 25X1
environmental cover. An unidentified flat ringlike component
The site was inactive. The silo aperture and test component
remained covered on the apron. The site appeared neat and
inactive during the period.
Possible test activity occurred at the site. The cover was possibly
removed from the silo, and the test component was probably in
the silo.
The site was inactive. The test component was in one piece on
apron.
Possible test activity occurred at the site. The test component
was uncovered and disassembled into two parts on the apron. A
gantry crane was beside the component in May.
The component was in one piece on the apron. The mobile
crane remained beside the component during the period.
Possible test activity occurred at the site. The test component
was in two parts on the apron. The mobile crane was present.
The site probably was inactive. The test component was in one
piece on the apron.
Possible test activity occurred at the site. The test component
was in two pieces on the apron. Except during August, a lowboy
trailer was near the silo during the period.
The site was inactive. The test component was in one piece and
covered.
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Possible New Storage Area
15. (S/WN) During September 1980, construction activity on the east side of the original test area
suggested that a new silo test area was under construction. However, the lack of construction since that
date suggests that a new storage area has been built. A round object and a ringlike object in this area
(Figure 6) also indicated that a silo test site was under construction. The round object, a possible environ-
mental cover for a silo, was in diameter, and the ringlike object had a_outer diameter
and a inner diameter. These objects appeared to be in storage when observed on recent
coverage.
New Expansion Area
16. (S/WN) The new expansion area consists of eight buildings, four of which are under construc-
tion, and several clearings in the woods for more buildings. A five-bay vehicle garage, a heating plant,
and two probable construction workers' barracks in the northwest corner of the new area were probably
complete by early 1982. These buildings will probably provide general support for the new area when it
becomes operational. One medium-sized shop/assembly building and three small support buildings in
the central part of the new area are in the midstage of construction and probably will not be complete
until late 1982 or early 1983.
17. (S/WN) Clearing for the security fence around the new area started in late 1975. Further con-
struction was delayed until July 1978, when a temporary security fence was erected around the area.
Clearing for the five-bay garage was started during the summer of 1978; by late 1979, the garage was
externally complete. Footings for the heating plant were emplaced in late 1979, but construction was
delayed until the summer of 1980, after which rapid progress occurred. Two workers' barracks near the
heating plant were also completed during 1980. Construction started in the central part of the new area
during the summer of 1980. No coverage was obtained of the area between early and late 1981. By the
end of that year, the heating plant was complete, and one shop/assembly building and three support
buildings were under construction in the central part of the new area (Figure 2). By the end of February
1982, three of the four buildings were erected and under roof cover. Clearings were observed in the trees
near the central area; no new building excavations were observed.
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IMAGERY
(S/WN) All applicable satellite imagery acquired between September 1974 and the information cutoff date of
MAPS OR CHARTS
SAC. US Air Target Chart, Series 200, Sheet 0103-25, scale 1:200,000 (UNCLASSIFIED)
DOCUMENTS
RDA-11/0024/75, Leningrad Weapons/Munitions Test Facility, Aug 75 (TOP SECRET
2.
NPIC.I
IAR-0166/81, Soviet Development of a Medium-Sized Solid Propellant ICBM (5), Sep 81
(TOP SECRET
3.
NPIC.
IAR-0286/80, New Command and Control Silo, Serpukhov, USSR (S), Oct 80 (TOP
SECRET
*Extracted material is classified SECRET
REQUIREMENT
COMIREX J02
Project 542037J
Distribution 86-004
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(S) Comments and queries regarding this report are welcome. They may be directed to Soviet 25X1
Strategic Forces Division, Imagery Exploitation Group, NPIC, 25X1
Z-14568/82
R CA-09/0013/82
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Secret
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