SANYUAN SAM TRAINING AREA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80T01782R000200300001-2
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 13
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 11, 2010
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: October 1, 1980
• Content Type: REPORT

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Top Secret
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~ealc imeoery interpret'tion report
Sanyuan SAM Training Area (S)
DEPLOYED SAM FACILITIES
Top Secret
RCA-(25X101/80
OCTOBER 1980
copy 4 9
CHINA
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Sanyuan SAM Training Area
UTM COORDINATES
NA
GEOGRAPHIC COORDINATES
34-39-OON 108-58-30E
UMA. JOG, Series 1501, Sheet 49-5, scale 1:250,000
ABSTRACT
I. (SAD) This report describes changes and training activity at Sanyuan SAM Training Area, China,
from June 1962 through March 1980 and also describes two new or modified tracking and guidance
radars, the San-yuan A and San- uan B. The report updates information contained in DIA Basic Imagery
Interpretation Brief and satisfies all basic reporting requirements. This report has been
coordinated with D[A, which has the national tasking reporting responsibility for this facility.
2. (S/D) Sanyuan SAM Training Area is a SAM electronics training facility. This function was not
confirmed until the facility was significantly upgraded by the construction of an electronics training area
in 1966 and 1967. This construction was probably to accommodate increased training needs created by the
commencement of CSA-1 production in 1966. Immediately after the Chinese began production of the
CSA-I, the frequency of observation and numbers of launchers and tracking and guidance radars observed
began to increase. This increase continued through the 1970s and into 1980.
3. (U) This report contains a location map, four annotated photographs, one table of mensural data, and
one bar graph.
INTRODUCTION
4. (S/D) Sanyuan SAM Training Area is one of three SAM training areas in China.' ' It was formerly a
Chinese Air Force training school and is approximately 52 kilometers north of Xian in Shaanxi Province (Figure
1).
5. (S/D) SAM activity was first identified at the facility in June 1962, when three launch positions
were observed at the future location of a small CSA-1 site at the southern edge of an abandoned sod
airstrip, Sanyuan Airfield In 1963, three additional launch positions were added and 25X1
eight classroom buildings were under construction.
6. (S/D) Between 1962 and 1966, the exact function of the facility was unclear. Because of the
extensive housing classroom area and the construction of the eight additional classrooms in 1963, it is
possible that from 1962 to 1966 the facility served as a training area rather than an air defense site.
7. (TSR) In 1967, the function of the facility was confirmed as SAM electronics training when it was
significantly upgraded by the construction of the electronics training area. This construction was probably to
accommodate increased training needs created by the commencement of CSA-I production in late 1966. The
numbers of launchers and guidance radars observed began to increase and continued to do so through the 1970s
and into 1980. Prior to the manufacture of the CSA-1, the Chinese had only six to ten battalions of SA-2
equipment, which they had obtained from the Soviets in the late 1950s.~
8. (SAD) Sanyuan SAM Training Area is engaged in the training of radar operators and electronics
specialists.' The facility (Figure 2) encompasses approximately 95 hectares and consists of a housing/class-
room area, an electronics training area, a storage maintenance area, and a small CSA-1 site.
BASIC DESCRIPTION
Physical Description
Housing/Classroom Area
9. (S/D) The buildings in the housing/classroom area (Figure 3 and Table t)'?~ contain most of the
total facility tloorspace. The approximately 47,067 square meters of floorspace devoted to housing (har-
racks and quarters) represent 42 percent of the total facility floorspace. The classrooms are in the center of
the facility and contain approximately 8,458 square meters of floorspace. The housing classroom area
contains 17 barracks, 13 quarters, 11 classroom buildings, two administration buildings, two administra-
tion/classroom buildings, nine messhalls, one auditorium, one auditorium/gymnasium, one heating plant,
and several support buildings.
(Continued p. 7)
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SANYUAN
AM TRAINING AREA
SANYUAN
JINGYANG
YONGLEDIAN
XIAN/LINTONG 1
BEIJING
*O.
FIGURE 1. LOCATION OF SANYUAN SAM TRAINING AREA, CHINA
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LAUNCHERS
POSSIPROB LAUNCHERS
? TRACKING AND GUIDANCE RADARS
POSS/PROB TRACKING AND GUIDANCE RADARS
FIGURE 4. IEVEIS OF TRAININfi ACTIVITY AT SAMYUAN SAM TRAINING AREA
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Table 1.
Sanyuan SAM Training Area, China
(Items keyed to Figure 3)
phis table rn fts entirely is elasslfied SECRET/N~,ti7:VTEL
Item Description
Dimensions* Floorspace
(m) (sq m)
L W
Remarks
Item Description
Dimensions* Floorspace
(m) (sq m)
L w'
Remarks
Item Description
Dimensions* Floorspace
(m) (sq m)
L W'
Remarks
I Support bldg
46 Storage bldg
94 Quarters
2 Vehicle storage bldg
47 Storage bldg
95 Quarters
3 Acquisition radar bldg
KNIFE REST radar on roof
48 Storage bldg
Constructed in 1975;
96 Quarters
4 Vehicle storage bldg
section added in 1977
a
S Central guidanee~equipment
49 Heating plant
b
Added after 1968
storage bldg
50 Central guidance equipment
97 Quarters
6 Central guidance equipment
Completed in 1969
storage bldg
98 Quarters
storage bldg~*
51 Support bldg
Constructed between
99 Quarters
7 Barracks
3 stories; completed in 1975
1963 and 1966
100 Barracks~*
2 stories: observed complete
8 Support bldg
Prob present in 1967
S2 Heating plant
in 1974
9 Maintenance bldg
S3 Administration bldg
101 Barracks
Constructed between
10 Maintenance bldg
S4 Support bldg
1964 and 1966
L 1 Central guidance equipment
SS Support bldg
102 Barracks
Constructed between
storage bldg
56 Auditorium
1963 and 1966
12 Vehicle storage b1dg~~
Completed in 1969
57 Support bldg
103 Messhall
Completed in 1976
13 Central guidance equipment
S8 Garagewehicle
104 Storage shed
Constructed between
storage bldg
maintenance bldg
1963 and 1966
14 Support bldg
59 Support bldg
105 Storage shed
Constructed between
IS Support bldg
60 Storage maintenance bldg
1963 and 1966
l6 Administration classroom bldg
2 and 3 stories
61 Storage bldg
Constructed between
106 Storage shed
17 Support bldg
1963 and 1966
107 Storage shed
18 Support bldg
62 Storage bldg
108 Support bldg
a Support sec
a
109 Support bldg
b Vehicle storages
Added after 1967
b Addition
110 Barracks
3 stories
maintenance sec*~
63 Messhall
11 I Barracks
3 stories
l9 Quarters
64 Classroom bldg
112 Barracks
3 stories
20 Quarters
65 Classroom bldg
113 Barracks
3 stories
21 Quarters
66 Temporary central
114 Barracks
3 stories
22 Quarters
guidancewehiclestnrage bldg
118 Auditorium gymnasium
23 Quarters
67 Support shed
l 16 Swimming pool
24 Quarters~~
Completed in 1974
68 Central guidances
117 Swimming pool
Completed in 1974
2S Quarters**
Completed in 1974
equipment storage bldg
118 Messhall
26 Support bldg
69 Messhall
119 Messhall
27 Support bldg
70 Barracks
3 stories
120 Support bldg
a
Constructed in 1976
71 Classroom bldg
a
b
Added in 1977
72 Classroom bldg
b
28 Acquisition radar bldg
73 Classroom bldg
121 Classroom bldg
29 Vehicle storage bldg
74 Classroom bldg
2 stories
122 Barracks
3 stories
30 Vehicle storage bldg
2 portions of bldg
7S Classroom bldg
123 '.Messhall
added after 1967
76 Classroom bldg
124 Barracks
3 stories
31 Barracks
3 stories
77 Classroom bldg
128 Support bldg
32 Messhall
Constructed in 1975
78 Classroom bldg
126 Water tower
32.3 m fall
33 Messhall
79 Support shed
127 Storage support bldg
34 Support bldg
80 POL storage bldg
128 Support bldg
3S Support bldg
81 Support bldg
129 Support bldg
36 Support bldg
82 Storage maintenance bldg
130 Construction support bldg
31 Garagewehicle
83 Garagewehicle maintenance shed
131 Construction support bldg
maintenance bldg
84 Maintenance shop
132 Construction support bldg
38 Garagewehicle
8S Storage shed
Prob present in 1963
133 Construction support bldg
Constructed in 1977
maintenance bldg
86 Support bldg
134 Construction support bldg
L'con in late 1975
39 Garagewehicle
87 Barracks
3 stories
135 Construction support bldg
maintenance bldg
88 Barracks
3 stories
136 Construction support bldg
Ucon in late 1975
40 Support bldg
89 Barracks
3 stories
137 Prob quarters ucon
Several stories
41 Storage maintenance bldg
90 Barracks
3 stories
138 Prob quarters ucon
Several stories
42 Support bldg
91 Administralion~
Multistory
139 Prob quarters ucon
Several stories
43 Support bldg
classroom bldg
140 Prob quarters ucon
Several stories
44 Support bldg
92 Administration bldg
Total floorsp~
45 Storage/maintenance bldg
93 Messhall
Much of the mensuration from 1962 through mid-1966 was obtained from referenced document 5.
**Mensuration from referenced document I.
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10. (SAD) In the classrooms, the electronics trainees receive basic and intermediate training before
progressing to the electronics training area. The SAM equipment observed adjacent to the classroom
buildings indicates that basic training probably takes place in eight classroom buildings (items 71 through
78, Figure 3), and intermediate training probably occurs in two classroom buildings (items 64 and 65,
Figure 3).
Electronics Training Area
Il. (SAD) The electronics training area is within the northeastern section of the facility (Figures 2
and 3 and Table I ). It consists of four central guidance equipment storage buildings, four vehicle storage
buildings, three support buildings, and two acquisition radar buildings. The last phase of instruction
probably takes place in the electronics training area. Because the facility is in a relatively populated area
and the launch positions are close to each other, the last phase of insU~uction probably consists of
simulated firings rather than live firings.
Storage/Maintenance Area
12. (SAD) The storage maintenance area is in the southern portion of the facility (Figures 2 and 3
and Table 1). It contains four storage maintenance buildings, four storage buildings, four storage sheds,
one maintenance shop, five garagewehicle maintenance buildings, six support buildings, one support shed,
one POL storage building, and one heating plant. The total floorspace of these 27 buildings is approxi-
mately 12,057 square meters.
13. (S/D) The three garage/vehicle maintenance buildings (items 37, 38, and 39, Figure 3) are
physically separated from the storage maintenance area and function specifically to store and maintain
ground support equipment. Because ground support equipment was parked at the small CSA-I site and
was rarely parked at the electronics training area, it is probable that the ground support equipment parked
at the three garage%vehicle maintenance buildings was associated with the small CSA-1 site.
14. (S~D) The small CSA-1 site, originally designated Sanyuan SAM Site A06-2, is 200 meters in
diameter. This is approximately 100 meters smaller than afull-scale CSA-1 site. It consists of six revetted
launch positions and a central guidance equipment storage building. The small CSA-1 site was probably
an operational air defense site and~or a training aid during the 1970s, when it was occupied by six CSA-1
launchers, one tracking and guidance radar, one KNIFE REST radar, and several missile transporters.
I5. (SAD) In March 1980, the small CSA-I site was unoccupied and a new, larger CSA-I facility
approximately 840 meters north, Sanyuan SAM Site A04-21 was initially observed
occupied by CSA-I equipment (Figure 2). There is a possibility that the equipment at the small CSA-1 site
has been moved to Sanyuan SAM Site A04-21.
Development
16. (SAD) A substantial portion of the housing classroom and storage/maintenance areas was present at
the time of the initial observation of SAM activity in June 1962. Subsequent construction is characterized by
three periods of concentrated activity: 1962 and 1963, 1966 and 1967, and 1978 through 1980.
17. (S/D) The construction activity during 1962 and 1963 indicates that the installation was an
operational air defense site and/or a training area. Construction activity during 1966 and 1967 and from
1978 through 1980 was apparently in response to increased training needs.
18. (S/D) During 1962 and 1963, the small CSA-1 site was completed, and eight classroom buildings
were constructed. The completion of the classroom buildings added 4,407 square meters of classroom
space. The addition of the eight classroom buildings to the already extensive housing/classroom area
suggests that the facility was possibly used as a SAM training area rather than an air defense site.
19. (SAD) Sanyuan SAM Training Area was greatly expanded in the eastern section and significantly
upgraded by construction of the electronics training area during 1966 and 1967. Construction consisted of
two central guidance equipment storage buildings, one acquisition radar building, five quarters, one
barracks, one classroom/administration building, three vehicle storage buildings, five support buildings,
one messhall, and two maintenance buildings. This was an increase of approximately 11,012 square meters
of floorspace in the eastern section. This construction was probably to accommodate the increased train-
ing needs created by the commencement of CSA-1 production.
20. (S/D) The construction that had taken place during this time period confirmed that the function
of the facility would be for SAM training-specifically in electronics. Prior to this, SAM training had been
a possibility, based on the extensive barracks/classroom area.
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21. (S/D) Construction from 1978 through 1980 was distributed throughout the facility. The follow-
ing buildings were completed during this time period: two central guidance/equipment storage buildings,
one temporary guidance/equipment storage building, one acquisition radar building, one vehicle storage
building, one auditorium building, one administration building, ten support buildings, one storage build-
ing, one garage/vehicle maintenance building, one POL storage building, and four construction support
buildings. This was an increase of approximately 11,372 square meters of floorspace from 1970 through
1980. The overall increase in floorspace was probably in response to heightened SAM training.
22. (S/D) Construction of a separately secured area adjacent to and west of the housing/classroom
area of the facility was begun in late 1979 and was continuing in March 1980. Within this area, four
multistory probable quarters (items 137 through 140, Figure 3) were in the midstage of construction. This
expansion probably reflects the continuation of heightened SAM training activity.
Training
23. (S/D) The levels of training at Sanyuan SAM Training Area are reflected in the number of CSA-
1 launchers and tracking and guidance radars at the facility. Figure 4 is a graphic representation of CSA-1
training activity from June 1962 through March 1980. Prior to 1967, the facility was occasionally occupied
by three to six launchers and a tracking and guidance radar. It is not certain whether SAM activity before
1967 was for training or for air defense.
24. (S/D) Immediately after the Chinese began producing the CSA-1 in 1966, the frequency of
observation and numbers of launchers and tracking and guidance radars began to increase. As early as
June 1967, the number of launchers increased to 12.
25. (S/D) Training during the 1970s and into 1980 was marked by larger numbers of launchers and
tracking and guidance radars. The number of launchers usually ranged between 28 and 48; however, there
were two periods when unusually large numbers of launchers were observed. These two periods were from
late 1973 to mid-1974, when up to 81 launchers were present, and from mid-1979 through March 1980,
when up to 117 launchers were present.
26. (TSR) The San-yuan A tracking and guidance radar is either a new o mo ifi d FAN SONG
radar. This piece of equipment is similar to a FAN SONG radar except fora parabolic dish 25X1
mounted at the end of an arm immediately below the command dish (Figure 5). Initially identified at the
facility in October 1976, the San-yuan A has never been observed anywhere else and since October has
been parked adjacent to a classroom building (item 65, Figure 3).
27. (TSR) The San- uan B tracking and guidance radar is anew or modified GIN SLING radar
d
(Figure 6) with a parabolic dish mounted atop the horizontal trough nearest the vertical trough.
The San-yuan B, identified in October 1977, has only been observed in the electronics training area at this
facility.
Analyst's Comments
28. (TSR) Sanyuan SAM Training Area is one of the three known SAM training areas in China. It
functions as an electronics training facility for radar operators and electronics specialists.' The trainees
receive classroom instruction in electronics and tracking procedures before proceeding to the electronics
training sites for simulated missile firings. The electronics trainees and the SAM equipment on which they
were trained proceed to Shandan SAM Training Area A Figure 1)' after the completion
of the last phase of instruction at the electronics training area at Sanyuan.
29. (TSR) At Shandan SAM Training Area A, the SAM equipment and the electronics trainees are
combined with the ground support equipment and missile/ground support trainees to form a battalion.
(Prior to the arrival of the electronics trainees and their SAM equipment, the missile/ground support
trainees receive training at Shandan SAM Training Area A.)~ The newly formed battalion performs
simulated missile firings at Area A before proceeding to the nearby Shandan SAM Training Area B (BE
Figure 1),' the third SAM training area in China, where live firings take place before the
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(TSR) All available applicable imagery from
MAPS OR CHARTS
DMA. Joint Operations Graphic, Series 1501, Sheet 49-5, scale 1:250,000 (UNCLASSIFIED)
DOCUMENTS
1. DIA.
COMIREX D03
Project 200001DD
BDA-04/0004/75, Sanyuan SAM Training Area, Jul 75 (TOP SECRET
Forces Division, Imagery Exploitation Group, NPIC,
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