SOVIET PRIMORYE-CLASS INTELLIGENCE COLLECTION SHIPS

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Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 
CIA-RDP85T00840R000100200001-5
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RIPPUB
Original Classification: 
S
Document Page Count: 
10
Document Creation Date: 
December 28, 2016
Document Release Date: 
November 17, 2010
Sequence Number: 
1
Case Number: 
Publication Date: 
December 1, 1984
Content Type: 
REPORT
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PDF icon CIA-RDP85T00840R000100200001-5.pdf459 KB
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Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/11/17: CIA-RDP85T00840R000100200001-5 NATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHIC INTERPRETATION CENTER imagery analysis report Soviet Primorye-Class Intelligence Collection Ships (S) Secret Secret Z-14096/84 IAR-0045/84 DECEMBER 1984 Copy 4 11) Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/11/17: CIA-RDP85T00840R000100200001-5 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/11/17: CIA-RDP85T0084OR000100200001-5 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/11/17: CIA-RDP85T0084OR000100200001-5 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/11/17: CIA-RDP85T00840R000100200001-5 SOVIET PRIMORYE-CLASS INTELLIGENCE COLLECTION SHIPS (S) 1. The electronics equipment aboard the six Soviet Primorye-class intelligence collection ships (AGIs) has been continually upgraded since 1975, and structural changes have been made to four of these AGIs since 1980. These improvements and changes have been made as the Soviets improve the state of the art of their shipboard electronics systems and as the missions of the Primorye AGIs are modified to meet changing collection requirements. (S/WN) 2. This report is in response to a National Security Agency request for detailed, imagery-derived analyses of the improvements and changes made to the six Primorye-class AGIs. An understanding of these improvements and changes will aid in assessing the AGIs' capabilities, which appear to be directly related to the specific collection requirements of each home fleet area of operations. Therefore, for presentation purposes, this report is arranged by fleet areas, and the modifications and changes are described in chronological order by unit. Satellite imagery acquired through as well as selected ground photography, was used in the preparation of this report. This report contains eight annotated photographs, a chart depicting the 1980 to 1984 modification/repair periods for each AGI, and a map depicting the usual operating areas of the AGIs. (S/WN) 3. The Primorye-class AGI was introduced into the Soviet Navy in 1970. This AGI is based on a hull design developed from the Mayakovskiy- class fish factory trawler and is the first Soviet AGI to be constructed and fitted out solely as an intelli- gence collector. All have an onboard intelligence processing and dissemination capability. The six Primorye-class AGIs were built at Nikolayev Ship- yard Nosenko 444 in the Black Sea. They are: Pendant No Name Assigned Fleet SSV-464 Zabaykale Pacific SSV-465 Primorye Pacific SSV-501 Z_aporozhe Northern SSV-502 Zakarpatye Northern SSV-590 Krym Black Sea SSV-591 Kavkas Black Sea (S/WN) 4. The electronics equipment aboard all Pri- niorye-class units has been continually upgraded, and the four units deployed in the Pacific and Northern Fleets have either undergone or are un- dergoing major structural changes. (S/WN) Pacific Fleet 5. The SSV-464 Zabaykale and SSV-465 Pri- morye are home ported at Vladivostok Naval Base and Shipyard 202 Both units have also been modified and repaired at this facility. SSV-464 Zabaykale 6. The SSV-464 (Figure 2) was assigned to the Pacific Fleet in 1971, after operating briefly in the Black Sea. By 1980, eight optical trackers/cam- eras (Figure 3) had been installed. These optical trackers/cameras are used to monitor missiles as they are launched and reentry vehicles prior to impact. Initial modification of the Zabaykale oc- curred during March and April 1980, when the goalpost was removed. SSV-464 was the first of its class to undergo a major structural change. Be- tween December 1981 and April 1982, the aft sig- nals-intelligence deckhouse was removed, and a rectangular opening was made in the roof of the forward sigint deckhouse (Figure 4). No electronics equipment or radar was discernible through the opening in the deckhouse, which is believed to house a large parabolic dish antenna. The aft sigint deckhouse was replaced with a trail- er-mounted modified WILD CARD radar-a te- lemetry collector, and the center of the forward /AR-0045/84 SECRET WNINTEL Z-14096/84 25X1 25X1 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/11/17: CIA-RDP85T00840R000100200001-5 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/11/17: CIA-RDP85T00840R000100200001-5 sigint deckhouse was raised (Figure 5). The addi- tion of the WILD CARD gives SSV-464 the capabili- ty to monitor two widely separated targets simulta- neously. (S/WN) SSV-465 Primorye 7. The SSV-465, the lead ship of the class, was initially deployed in the Black Sea in early 1970 and later in the year was transferred to Vladivos- tok. By 1980, six optical trackers/cameras had been installed on this unit. This unit was at the repair quay in March and April 1980 and from late June through late September 1981. The aft goal- post was removed between June and September 1981. Major structural changes on SSV-465 began in mid-August 1984. By early September, the aft sigint deckhouse had been removed, and the cen- ter of the forward sigint deckhouse had been raised, indicating that when the modifications are complete, this unit will be similar to SSV-464 and be able to perform the same mission. The modified WILD CARD had not been installed on SSV-465 when this ship was last observed, on (S/WN) Northern Fleet 8. The SSV-501 Zaporozhe and SSV-502 Za- karpatye are home ported at Polyarnyy Naval Base South Both units have been mod- ified and repaired at Chalmpushka/Roslyakova Ship Repair Yard The structural changes to these units and those in the Pacific Fleet bear some similarities. The electronics equip- ment modifications differ, however, because the units in the Pacific Fleet have different collection requirements. The Primoryes in the Northern Fleet operate along the east coast of North America, from Canada to Puerto Rico. SSV-501 Zaporozhe 9. The SSV-501 had been transferred to Po- Iyarnyy Naval Base South by mid-1972, after a Mediterranean deployment. In 1975, a PERT SPRING satellite communications antenna was added to the front of the forward sigint deck- house, improving the Zaporozhe's dissemination capability. Between February and early May 1981, the LARGE CROSS direction finder was replaced with a TWIN WHEEL DF, and a large camera was installed. Major structural changes began on SSV- 501 in early April 1984. In September, the aft sigint deckhouse cover was removed intact and placed on the shore (Figure 6), indicating that after modifi- cations are complete, the deckhouse will be rein- stalled. In October, the forward sigint deckhouse was also removed. (S/WN) SSV-502 Zakarpatye 10. The SSV-502 had been assigned to Po- Iyarnyy Naval Base South by the end of 1972. In 1976, a TWIN WHEEL DF replaced the older LARGE CROSS DF on the mainmast. Additional electronics were added to the forward mast on the aft sigint deckhouse during 1981. This mast was reinforced to support the added weight of the new electronics. An additional electronics mast was also placed on the aft sigint deckhouse. Structural changes began in June 1983, when a 25X1 diameter opening was made in the roof of the 25X1 forward sigint deckhouse, and the center of the 25X1 deckhouse was raised (Figure 7). As with the two Pacific Fleet units, no electronics equipment was discernible within the deckhouse. (S/WN) Black Sea Fleet 11. The SSV-590 Krym and SSV-591 Kavkas 25X1 are home ported at Sevastopol Naval Base (BE Modifications and repairs to both 25X1 units were completed at Sevastopol Naval Base and Shipyard Kilenbal and Sevas- 25X1 topol Ship Repair Yard Bukhta Severnaya 0 25X1 No major structural changes have been 2ma structural changes have been 25X1 made to either of these units. The Black Sea Pri- moryes augment the two Northern Fleet Primor- yes, which patrol the US east coast, and also col- 25X1 lect sigint in the Mediterranean Sea and in the25X1 vicinity of Ascension Island when missile tests are conducted in the Atlantic Missile Test Range (Fig- ure 1).1 (S/WN) SSV-590 Krym 12. The SSV-590 was assigned to Sevastopol Naval Base in May 1970. In 1975, two PERT SPRING antennas were added to the main mast. In 1977, five optical trackers/cameras were added. By 1980, the forwardmost mast had been removed WNINTEI Z-14096/84 BAR-0045/84 SECRET Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/11/17: CIA-RDP85T00840R000100200001-5 IAR-0045/84 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/11/17: CIA-RDP85T00840R000100200001-5 SECRET KIRINATI U.S. HAWAII .VPIC T-9986 s i - BREMERTON UNITED STATES ~VANDENBERG VORFOLK %SAN DIEGO CHARLSTON \.77 BERMUDA CAPE CANAVERAL CANADA Miller Cylindrical Projection Scale 185,000,000 MEXICO < 1"BELizD . HOND GUATEMALA EL SALVADOR CUBA IAYAICA RAS NICARAGUA PANAMA COSTA RICA 1 THE BAHAMAS PUERTO RICO DOMINICAN IUJTIIREP. II ~ fST. CHRISTOPHER Axe NEVIS AxTwu..w uRwDA ET.IUGU pCMIXKA S VINCENT RHO l BARBADOS MF BRFXADIXFS-+ GPFNADA TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO iVENEZUELA } GUYANA ` SURINAME COLOMBIAr ( French NGuiana h,- 1 r PERU'..... BOLIVIA 1 " ~11 /-'/~ PARAGUAY BRAZIL CHILE) r URUdUAY ARGENTINA Greenland (DEN 1 ICELAND IRELAND UNITED KINGDOM NETH,.' f'0.0 .R POLAND `. ERG Cx _ SSV-590 KRYM ?" D" SSV-591 KAVKAS ICE AUS.! HUN. ; '') ROMANIA.,. M NEISO. VUGO ITALY BULGARIA ALB7 i i MALTA TUNISIA PORTUGAL SPAIN o Western SaITATaj MAURITANIA CAPE r 1 MALI NIGER CHAD VERDE SENE\GAL ~."-~~ ~ \ THE GAMBIAN \ !'f VOLTA VOLTA ~-'"~ GOINEA.RISSAU GUINEA ~.,~v:, ~` BESIIN / l f SIERRA LEONE /tIVORV,GHAI NIGERIA E4 C.A.. ! `COAST "% R LIBERIA I , Td GO /CAME N sa TAME 1PPBIXCIPE GABON EDUATgIMI GUINEA ',ASCENSION ISLAND NORWAY. SWEDEN DENMARK SNMIbard (NORI FINLAND TURKEY GREECE ----CYPRUS J~ _SYRIA! SRAEyIRAQ ` IN: Pii III PA.R.Y. /' It. YEYFXI naoun ETHIOPIA.... SOMALIA y._ ( lKENYA~ (i~awexD ~ /BURUSOI ANZANIA ~n ANGOLA ; 14uwl CoIIFRUS ZAMBIA - BABWE;MOZAMBIGUE MADAGASCAR MAURnwD ZAIRE Txe URned Sure. Go+etnmenf Ca. Tnf ?ecoan.Yed TON moarportlxn of Bran.. LATH. and LnnwTa ITIO me SORNI Unwn OMer boondnY .RPTR.eanwe n of neu.urdy AmxwlmlRe SSV-501 ZAPOROZHE SSV-502 ZAKARPATYE OLYARNYY SEVASTOP0L 0- SWAZILAND IRAN SAUDI ARABIA U.A.E. OMAN SEYCHELLES C.A.R. -CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC F.R.G. -FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY G.D.R. -GERMAN DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC P.D.R.Y.-PEOPLE'S DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF YEMEN U.A.E. -UNITED ARAB EMIRATES Y.A.R. -YEMEN ARAB REPUBLIC SOVIET UNION SRI LANKA ~ SSJI-465 PRIMO VE MONGOLIA ~, - VLADIVOSTOK~ N KOREA S. KOREA CHINA ~l ~ETNAM ~THAILAND$ ll KAMP v MUN6, MALAYSIA Ni '$IHGAPORC 'r,HOn9 Konp NK.) Macau POUTI INDONESIA PHILIPPINES JAPAN AUSTRALIA PAPUA NEW GUINEA SOLOMON ISLANDS VANUATU SCUBA NEW ZEALAND KWAJA LE I N ISLAND FIJI WESTERN SAMOa TONGA FIGURE 1. OPERATING AREAS OF THE PRIMORYE-CLASS AGIs -3- SECRET Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/11/17: CIA-RDP85T00840R000100200001-5 WN/N TEL Z-14096/84 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/11117: CIA-RDP85T00840R000100200001-5 SECRET Chart 1. Primorye-Class AGI Modification/Repair Periods, 1980-1984 1981 J F MA M J JASON D J F MA M J JASON 0 J FMA M j JASON D J FM AM J JASON D J F MA MJ JASON 1980 This chart is classified SECRET/WNINTEL. FIGURE 2. SSV-464 ZABAYKALE I 1982 1983 1984 IAR-0045/84 SECRET Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/11/17: CIA-RDP85T00840R000100200001-5 Z-14096/84 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/11/17: CIA-RDP85T0084OR000100200001-5 SECRET from the unit, and a small platform was added to the outboard corners of the bridge face super- structure. In 1984, a BRICK SHELL electronics in- tercept antenna was placed on each of the small platforms (Figure 8). This unit was in a repair/mod- ification status at Sevastopol from January through October 1980 (Chart 1), during which time an ex- tension of a small housing between the aft sigint deckhouse and the goalpost was completed. The configurations of SSV-590 and SSV-591 are nearly identical, indicating that they collect against the same types of targets. (S/WN) 13. The SSV-5)1 was assigned to Sevastopol Naval Base in November 1970. In 1976, six optical trackers/cameras were installed (Figure 9); in 1977, a PERT SPRING antenna was affixed to the top of the goalpost. By 1980, the forwardmost mast had been removed from the unit, and a small platform had been added to the outboard corners of the bridge face superstructure. In 1982, the LARGE CROSS DF was replaced by a TWIN WHEEL DF. (S/WN) IAR-004 5/84 SECRET WNINTEL Z-14096/84 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/11/17: CIA-RDP85T0084OR000100200001-5 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/11/17: CIA-RDP85T0084OR000100200001-5 Iq Next 1 Page(s) In Document Denied Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/11/17: CIA-RDP85T0084OR000100200001-5 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/11/17: CIA-RDP85T0084OR000100200001-5 SECRET All applicable satellite imagery acquired between January 1980 and photography were used in the preparation of this report. (S/WN) and selected ground 25X1 1. FSL Inc (a subsidiary of TRW Inc). SC-252-0023/82, TM-1478, Capabilities and Functions of the Soviet Auxiliary Ships (U), Part 1, 12 Dec 81 (TOP SECRET `Extracted information classified SECRET. Comments and queries regarding this report are welcome. They may be direct Soviet Air, Navy, Nuclear Division, Imagery Exploitation Group, NPIC, IAR-004 5184 or 25X1 C) Lbx'l WNINTEI SECRET Z-14096/84 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/11/17: CIA-RDP85T0084OR000100200001-5 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/11/17: CIA-RDP85T0084OR000100200001-5 Secret Secret Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/11/17: CIA-RDP85T0084OR000100200001-5