UNUSUAL MILITARY ACTIVITY DURING SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 1980, FAR EAST MILITARY DISTRICT, USSR

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP81T00380R000100920001-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 6
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: November 10, 2010
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: January 1, 1981
• Content Type: REPORT

Secret
921
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Imagery analysis report
Unusual Military Activity During
September -October 1980, For East
Military District, USSR (8)
Secret
WNINTEL
Z-20002/81
IAR?0001/81
JANUARY 1981
Copy 17 0
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UNUSUAL MILITARY ACTIVITY DURING SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 1980, FAR EAST
MILITARY DISTRICT, USSR (S)
1. (S/D) On imagery from) I a high level of training and 25X1
related military activity was observed in the 5th Army' and the probable unidentified Lesozavodsk
Army/Corps areas of the Far East Military District (MD), USSR (Figure 1). The active units
included a front-level SCALEBOARD brigade, elements of four motorized rifle divisions (MRD),
army-wide air defense assets, and a helicopter combat assault regiment. This activity is atypical
since the usual summer training cycle ended the last week in August.
2. (S/D) The most significant activity observed was a probable readiness alert on 25X1
=involving at least three motorized rifle regiments (MRRs) and an SA-6 regiment from two 25X1
armies and a probable army/corps. The three MRRs were equipped with BMP armored personnel
carriers (APC) and were seen departing Ussuriysk Army Barracks West AL-3 25X1
Figure 2), Lesozavodsk MRD Headquarters/ Barracks East AL-2 Figure 3), and 25X1
Bikin Tank Division Headquarters/Barracks AL-1 The Ussuriysk MRR is sub- 25X1
ordinate to the 5th Army while the Lesozavodsk MRR and Bikin MRR are subordinate to the
probable unidentified Lesozavodsk Army/Corps and the 15th Army, respectively. All units had
returned to garrison by The short duration of the activity, only six days, and the fact 25X1
that each MRR had already participated in the summer training cycle suggest a readiness alert
rather than a field training exercise (FTX).
3. (S/D) On 80 percent of the 5th Army area was imaged and extensive 25X1
training activity was observed. An unusual combined-arms FTX was underway at Sergeyevka
Training Area Southwest 1 Elements of an MRR (30 medium tanks, 13 BTR- 25X1
6PB, and three ZSU-23/4) and a multiple-rocket launcher (MRL) battery (five BM-21) were
operating in conjunction with elements of an army-level helicopter combat assault regiment. The
MRR and MRL elements were advancing on a possible command post (CP) I nautical mile (nm)
to the west which consisted of three HIP helicopters, one tank, and 20 vehicles. In addition, eight
probable HIND D/E (Figure 4) were parked in a field 2 nm to the south. The.combat assault
elements were probably deployed from Chernigovka Airfield FTXs integrating 25X1
divisional and army assets are usually terminated by late August.
4. (S/D) Two other unusual FTXs were also seen on An SA-6 regiment was 25X1
deployed in a field 1.5 nm north of Ussuriysk AL-3, where the regiment is garrisoned (Figure 5). The
entire regiment conducted a FTX from
another major exercise within three m
was underway at Pushkino Training A
eaI
ally would not be expected to hold
an army-wide air defense exercise
southwest of Ussuriysk (Figure 6).
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Equipment observed included at least 32 ZSU-23/4, 30 SA-9, 21 ZU-23 or ZPU-4 antiaircraft (AA)
guns, 12 57mm AA guns S-60, 17 BTR-60 command vehicles, and approximately 100 trucks. This
represents the regimental air defense assets for at least two divisions of the 5th Army and elements of a
divisional AAA battalion. As at Sergeyevka, training activity involving assets of several divisions is
unusual in mid-September.
5. (S/D) On a large SCALEBOARD surface-to-surface missile FTX (Figure 7) 25X1
was observed 2 nm south of Novosysoyevka SSM Launch Position I and involved 25X1
four SCALEBOARD transporter-erector-launchers (TELs), four SCALEBOARD resupply vehi-
cles with SCALEBOARD resupply canisters, two possible warhead vans, one MAZ-535/-537
heavy-duty crane, and 36 vehicles. The Far East MD subordinate SCALEBOARD brigade at
Novosysoyevka SSM Launch Position 1 has not previously been active in October.
WNINTEL
Z-20002/81
SECRET IAR-0001/81
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 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/11/10: CIA-RDP81T00380R000100920001-1
SECRET
6. (SAD) Usually when the summer training cycle ends, all units return to garrison by the
last week of August. The mid-September and early October activity at Sergeyevka, Pushkino, and
Novosysoyevka and the SA-6 exercise at Ussuriysk indicated that the 1980 summer training cycle
was significantly extended in this area.
(S) Comments and queries regarding this report are welco
Warsaw Pact Forces Division, Imagery Exploitation Group, NPIC,
132? 138?
BIROBIDZHAN
\ ?
SPAASK-DAL'MIY
SERGEYEVKA ?
NOVOSYSOYEVKA
USSURIYSK
PUSHKINO
STATUTE MILES
NN IC T-0681 j
FIGURE 1. LOCATIONS OF UNUSUAL MILITARY ACTIVITY, FAR EAST MILITARY DISTRICT, USSR
IA R-0001/81
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