PROBABLE HYBRID ROCKET ENGINE TEST POSITION UFA ROCKET ENGINE TEST FACILITY USSR

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78T05162A000300010042-2
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 8
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 9, 2011
• Sequence Number: 42
• Publication Date: August 1, 1973
• Content Type: REPORT

Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/08/09: CIA-RDP78TO5162A000300010042-2
T
25X1
PHOTOGRAPHIC
INTERPRETATION
REPORT
NATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHIC
INTERPRETATION CENTER
PROBABLE HYBRID ROCKET
ENGINE TEST POSITION
UFA ROCKET ENGINE TEST FACILITY
USSR
25X1
AUGUST 1973
COPY NO 'T 2 2
5 PAGES
PIR-030/73
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/08/09: CIA-RDP78TO5162A000300010042-2
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/08/09: CIA-RDP78TO5162A000300010042-2
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/08/09: CIA-RDP78TO5162A000300010042-2
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/08/09: CIA-RDP78TO5162A000300010042-2
ur 'tl Kt I Kurtl
Ufa Rocket Engine Test Facility
GEOGRAPHIC COORDINATES
54-59-05N 056-04-20E
MAP REFERENCE
ACIC. USATC, Series 200, Sheet 0165-10, scale 1: 200,000
/9rVA
25X1
25X1
1. A small probable hybrid engine test position was identified at Ufa
Rocket Engine Test Facility, USSR, on photograph Figures 1 25X1
and 2). The identification of the new test position provides the first indication
that the Soviet Union's probable hybrid rocket engine program has moved from
the research and development stage to one of acceptance testing.
2. Ufa Rocket Engine Test Facility, which consists primarily of a large
horizontal test building with four firing positions, was apparently complete and
operational when first observed in April 1962. The test facility has probably
been engaged in the testing of SA-2 and SS-N-2 sustainer engines for Ufa Air-
craft Engine Plant B26 , which is approximately 10 nautical
miles south of the test facility. 1
3. The new test position, constructed in the center of the blast apron for
the large horizontal test building, represents the first major change at this
facility since 1962. Initial construction activity for the new position was ob-
served in the form of a small irregular excavation in the blast apron on photog-
raphy the excavation, then rectangular 25X1
in shape, had been enlarged and The ex- 25X1
cavation was probably prepared for filling with reinforced concrete, which
would provide a more stable base for the engine test firing block. In addition,
eight holes for the vertical supports of the environmental shelter had been
excavated.
4. I Ithe supporting framework for the shelter was 25X1
complete and I A probable 25X1
firing block, which could not be measured due to limited interpretability, was
observed between the four center posts of the framework. In addition, a pipe
gallery connected the new position to the probable instrumentation bay of the
large horizontal test building. The roof of the shelter, which covered approxi-
mately two-thirds of the test position 25X1
-1-
TO SECRET RUFF
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/08/09: CIA-RDP78TO5162A000300010042-2
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/08/09: CIA-RDP78TO5162A000300010042-2
iur )tLKt I KLJ t
a small light-toned object was visible beneath the open 25X1
portion of the roof. When first observed, it was thought this object was prob-
ably a propellant run tank and that the presence of this single tank, in addition
to other common features, provided a strong comparison with a slightly larger
but similar test position at the Primorsk Rocket Engine Test Facility 25X1
The test position at Primorsk is probably used for research and devel- 25X1
opment testing of hybrid propulsion systems.
-2-
TO
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/08/09: CIA-RDP78TO5162A000300010042-2
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/08/09: CIA-RDP78T05162A000300010042-2
TOP SECRET RUFF
6. Because in a typical hybrid rocket engine only the oxidizer is liquid
and the fuel an inert solid, the importance of what was thought to be a single
propellant run tank was readily apparent. However, a subsequent study of
other photography of poorer interpretability from the same mission obtained on
revealed that only a portion of the object thought to be a propellant
entirety as observed on
the probable firing block in the same position as the object seep
roof. Because of its size, configuration, and location within the test position,
25X1
25X1
25X1
25X1
25X1
Figure 2 sho
s a sketch of the object in its
It appeared to be resting on
It
-S-
TOP T RUFF
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/08/09: CIA-RDP78T05162A000300010042-2
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/08/09: CIA-RDP78T05162A000300010042-2
TOP SECRET RUFF I
the object is now believed to be a probable hybrid rocket engine (containing
the inert solid and thrust chambers) rather than a probable propellant run
tank.
7. The fact that the probable engine remained in place
suggests a "battleship" engine may have been used to assess
performance characteristics of components of the new test position before be-
ginning a test program involving production line engines. A "battleship"
engine is a specially constructed reusable engine which can be used for re-
peated test firings following replacement after each test of components such as
fuel grains, igniters, and nozzles. Although the absence of a single tank
containing the oxidizer would seem to detract from the identification of this new
test position as being hybrid associated, it is possible that the oxidizer is
supplied to the engine through one of the pipes which connects it to the large
horizontal test building. It is also possible that the position is not yet opera-
tional and that a tank has yet to be installed. In any case, even though the
absence of a propellant run tank and the presence of a probable hybrid rocket
engine are features which are not comparable with the test position at Primorsk,
the other similarities, including the environmental shelter, probable firing
block, and pipe gallery, provide sufficiently strong indicators to retain the
identification of a probable hybrid rocket engine test position.
8. In view of past history of this facility as an acceptance testing
rather than a research and development facility, the presence of this new test
position suggests hybrid rocket engines have now moved into the production
phase.
TOP SECRET RUFF
25X1
25X1
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/08/09: CIA-RDP78T05162A000300010042-2
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/08/09: CIA-RDP78TO5162A000300010042-2
TOP SECRET RUFF
MAPS OR CHARTS
ACIC. USATC, Series 200, Sheet 0165-10, scale 1: 200,000
DOCUMENT
1. DIA. Foreign Missile Production (Communist World), DI-410-3A-72-SSO,
Jul 72 (TOP SECRET
Project 143382NK
TOP SECRET RUFF
25X1
25X1
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/08/09: CIA-RDP78TO5162A000300010042-2
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/08/09: CIA-RDP78T05162A000300010042-2
TOP SECRET
TOP SECRET
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/08/09: CIA-RDP78T05162A000300010042-2