LOCATION AND DESCRIPTION OF FLIM FLAM STATION NO 3 LAKE BALKHASH, USSR

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78T04751A000400010037-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 17
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 19, 2003
• Sequence Number: 37
• Publication Date: July 1, 1960
• Content Type: IR

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SC-02753/60
Joint Photographic Intelligence Report
LOCATION AND DESCRIPTION OF
FLIM FLAM STATION NO 3
LAKE BALKHASH, USSR
NAVY CIA
PIC/JR-16/60
JULY 1960
Declass Review by NIMA / DoD
THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS MULTIPLE CODEWORD MATERIAIJ
PUBLISHED AND DISSEMINATED BY
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
PHOTOGRAPHIC INTELLIGENCE CENTER
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LOCATION AND DESCRIPTION OF
FLIM FLAM STATION NO 3
LAKE BALKHASH, USSR
PIC/JR-16/60
JULY 1960
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This joint report, based on communications and photographic intelli-
gence, has been prepared by the Army, Navy, Central Intelligence Agency,
and National Security Agency, in answer to requirements NSA 25
~Naay DNI Project 443-60, and Army A-47-60, which requested a
detailed analysis of the FLIM FLAM station located by in the 25X
southwest Lake Balkhash area of the USSR. This report presents both
land photographic analysis of this installation.
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UNION OF SOVIET SOCIALIST REPUBLICS
DERIVED LOCATIONS OF USSR FLIM FLAM STATIONS. The numbers are the Soviet designations. These stations report to the Computer
en er In Moscow.
-??- Boundary of U.S.S.R. Railroad, (selected)
Scale 136,700,000
0 250 500 1000 1500 2000
Statute Miles
0 250 500 1000 1500 2000
CIA /PIC G-3224 Kilometers
Base 12040.1 10-51
0
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FLAM Station No 3 is located south of Sary Shaga.n at approximately
45?53?N 73?37TE and that it probably consists of a phase-measuring station
and numerous other electronics facilities, some of which cannot be defi-
nitely identified, Also present nearby are additional electronics facilities
which cannot be positively associated with the FLIMFLAM station, although
such an association is possible.
SUMMARY
Correlation of evidence indicates ; that FLIM
INTRODUCTION
combined with other available evidence, indicates that FLIM FLAM
Station No 3 is probably located south of Sary Shagan (46'1 VN 73'48E)
rather than at the previously reported tentative location of 46?40?N 740004E,
approximately 50 nm (nautical miles) southwest of the city of Balkhash.
The previous location had been based on analysis of radio direction finding
(RDF) bearings and extrapolations for station location from orbital tracking
Analysis of FLIM FLAM * tracking data obtained after
data obtained from Sputnik III during
coverage of the northwestern shore of Lake Balkhash was
obtained on Excellent photography of the area originally
suggested by analysis as the location of Station No -3 fails to
reveal any electronic installations. However, in the area of Sary Shagan,
on the western shore of the lake, fair to good photography shows an instru-
mentation complex at
by the more recent
this station.
analysis as the best probable-location for
FLIM FLAM is an arbitrary designation assigned to the, binary data
stream passed to Moscow by the extensive Soviet tracking network via
high frequency 'communications facilities.
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approximately the latitude and longitude predicted
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DETAILS FROM PHOTOGRAPHIC ANALYSIS
The instrumentation complex consists of two sites positioned 5 nm
apart along a north-south line and connected by an improved road and a
cable line. These two sites could operate together as one functional unit.
For convenience of description, the northernmost site is labeled Site A and
the southernmost, Site B. In addition, the photography shows two nearby
communications stat-ions, which together constitute the major base commu-
nications facilities for the entire Sary Shagan complex. These two stations,
one for receiving and the other for transmitting, probably have a secondary
role of providing the major portion of the communications for the instru-
mentation complex when it is in operation. Descriptions of the instrumenta-
tion sites and communications stations follow.
Site A
This site, located at approximately 45?534N 73?37?E, consists of'a
phase-measuring station, a probable instrumentation area, four receiving
rhombic antennas (not part of the base communications), a control area,
and a support area (see Figure 1). The site appears complete and opera-
tional. There is no evidence of construction under way.
Of particular interest is the phase-measuring station. This station,
road-served and enclosed by a circular fence, appears to consist of four
instrumentation points, which are positioned so that two perpendicular
baselines having a cruciform configuration are formed. The four points
are situated on a level plain enclosed by a low mound. The baselines are
oriented north-south and east-west. At each end of each baseline there is
an instrumentation, point; the instruments themselves, however, cannot be
identified. At the intersection of the baselines is a bunker. The road serving
the station enters through the fence and encircles the instrumentation
points between the fence and the mound, A cable line leads from the bunker
southwest through the control area and terminates at the probable instru-
mentation area 3,100 feet away. Unlike other Soviet phase-measuring sta-
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FIGURE 1. SITE A. Significant features of this site are the phase-measuring station, the probable instrument-
ation area, and the control area.
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1. PHASE-MEASURING BASELINES
EACH 400' LONG WITH
CONTROL BUNKER 70' x 45'
2. EARTH MOUND - 640' x 640'
3. CIRCULAR ROAD - 1,005' DIA.
4. CIRCULAR FENCE - 1,250' DIA.
5. 5 VEHICLES
6. CONCRETE PAD 40' DIA. WITH
AN U/I OBJECT ON PAD
7. U/I OBJECT - POSSIBLE BLDG.
8. CIRCULAR MOUND - 450'
9. CIRCULAR CONCRETE PAD 90'
DIA. - WITH 3 VEHICLES ON PAD
10. U/I OBJECT
Major Minor Azimuth
Axis Axis (?)
(ft) (ft)
A 435 Ej~p
B 845
C 435
D 845
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tions, Site A contains no domed instruments. All heretofore noted missile-
associated tracking stations utilizing phase measuring are similar in
configuration. The three associated with Tyura Tam 2/ and the seven
associated with Kapustin Yar 3/ include, in addition to a phase-measuring
device, another associated tracking facility consisting of two to five 20-foot -
diameter domed instruments. In contrast to the other stations, Site A has
a road encircling the phase-measuring device, probably for calibration,
and also has rhombic antennas and two circular concrete pads probably
containing instruments.
The probable instrumentation area consists of a circular concrete pad
encircled by a low mound; three vehicles are positioned on the pad. No
instruments can be identified in the area. The probability that this area
has an instrumentation function is suggested by the presence of the vehicles
on the pad and the cable line from the phase-measuring station and the
control area. A possible. cable also leads from this instrumentation area
to the cable line along the all-weather road.
The four rhombic antennas (items A, B, C, and D) are arranged in two
pairs, one pair on each side of the control area; both pairs are oriented
toward Moscow. Each pair consists of a day and a night rhombic which are
separated and arranged for diversity reception. Rhombic data are given
with Figure 1. Stick masts which may support other types of antennas are
also located in the vicinity, but obliquity precludes further analysis of
these masts.
The control area, located just north of the probable instrumentation
area, contains three buildings, a small circular concrete pad with an
unidentified object on it, five vehicles in a staggered line, and other uni-
dentified objects. This area is probably the control point for the phase-
measuring station, the probable instrumentation area, the rhombic antennas,
and the unidentified objects.
The support area, located approximately midway between the phase-
measuring station and the probable instrumentation area, lies adjacent to
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the road connecting Sites A and B. The area, which is partially fenced,
contains at least 30 buildings of various types and a standpipe. An athletic
field is adjacent. A water line leads from the shore of Lake Balkhash
through the support area and then toward the main portion of the Sary
Shagan Support Base. The area appears to have no unusual features.
Site B
This site, located at 45?48?N 73?35E, contains a tall self-supporting
lattice tower, a radar operations area, and a support area (see Figure 2).
Construction under way at the time of photography involved minor expansion
and the completion of permanent facilities and could have been finished in
a relatively short time; the site appears to be operational.
The outstanding feature of this site is the fenced self-supporting lattice
tower, approximately 450 feet high. An object is barely visible atop the
tower, but the poor resolution of the photography precludes its identifica-
tion. A possible cable leads from an unidentified object located along the
northern portion of the tower fence toward the support area, but the cable
scar becomes obliterated by heavy trackage near the support area. A
ditch from the unidentified object leads to the radar operations area. From
this area another ditch leads to the support area and apparently terminates
at the standpipe.
The radar operations area is fenced and contains a TOKEN-type radar
with its accompanying vehicles, at least four buildings of varying sizes, a
circular tank under construction, and two semiburied structures. A ditch
leads from the two structures to another semiburied structure 1,300 feet
northeast of the area. This latter structure was apparently being fenced
at the time of the photography. A graded road runs from the radar opera-
tions area to the main road serving Site B.
The support area contains at least 22 buildings of varying sizes (one
under construction), a standpipe, two earth-mounded tanks, a motor pool,
and other facilities. About 1,200 feet west of the area is a small building.
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1. PROB. TANK - 35' DIA.
2. SEMIBURIED STRUCTURE - 110' x 50'
3. 'T' SHAPE BLDG - 270' x 230' x 45'
4. TANK U/C - 50' DIA.
5. TOKEN-TYPE RADAR W/ 5 VEHICLES
7. STANDPIPE - 20' DIA.-
8. POWERHOUSE - 80' x 35'
9. 3 BARRACKS - 150' x 45'
10. BUILDING - 20' x 20'
12. MOTOR POOL
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A ditch from this building leads into the support area and on to the two
earth-mounded tanks; the ditch is covered within the support area, One
nm north of Site B and adjacent-to the road serving the site is a power
substation. An overhead power line leads from the Sary Shagan Support
Base to the substation. The power line then leads underground into the
radar operations area. There is some indication that the line continues
into the support area.
Sary Shagan Base Communications
The Sary Shagan base communications receiving station is located at
45 ?55'N 73?38'E, adjacent to the north side of Site A (see Figure 3). The
station is fenced and includes eight single rhombics arranged in four pairs
(a day and night rhombic in each pair). The pairs are arranged for diversity
reception. Two pairs (items 3, 4, 9, and 10) are oriented toward Moscow
and the other two (items 1, 2, 11, and 12) toward Kapustin Yar. Ten other
stick masts located within the'station are arranged in pairs and probably
support horizontal antennas (items 5, 6, 7, 8, 13, 14, and 15. A cable line
leads from this station south along the improved road and terminates in
the radar operations area at Site B. Antenna data are given with Figure 3.
The base communications transmitting station is located at 46?03'N
73 ?36'E, 9 nm north of Site A (see Figure 4). The station, measuring 2,600
by 2,400 feet, is fenced and contains four double rhombics (items 1, 2, 3,
and 4) arranged in two pairs (one day and one night rhombic in each pair);
the orientations of the rhombics are almost identical with those in the
receiving station. Twenty other stick masts, which probably support hori-
zontal antennas (items 5-20), are also apparent. Antenna data are given
with Figure 4.
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Major Minor
Axis Axis Leg
No (ft) (ft) (ft)
1 440 295 240
2 685 325 380
3 790 375 440
4 405 195 220
9 405 195 225
10 790 375 435
11 685 325 380
12 440 205 240
x,15
8
End Pole
Height
(ft)
Distance
Between
Stick Masts Height
No (ft) (ft)
5 160
6 160
7 275
8 200
90
50
65
Tilt Angle
(? ' )
Distance
Between
Stick Masts
(ft)
13 165
14 130
15 90
Azimuth
(?)
Height
(ft)
65
65
50
Design
Frequency
(mc)
Azimuth
(?)
FIGURE 3. COMMUNICATIONS RECEIVING STATION. The rhombic antennas at this station are oriented to-
ward Moscow and Kapustin Yar.
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Azimuth
(?) No
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Dist.
Between
Masts 1-lt.
(ft) (ft)
5 185 95
6 185 75
7 180 75
8 175 75
9 180 85
10 170 65
11 65
12 90
13 210 105
14 220 120
15 240 90
16 145 70
17 120 70
18 130 80
19 190 80
20 185 85
Major Minor End Pole End Pole
Axis Axis Distance Leg Height
No (ft) (ft) (ft) (ft) (ft)
1 745
2 445
3 870
4 445
350
210
410
Azimuth
(1)
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PROBABLE-
HORIZONTAL ANTENNAS ?
131
i
14I
15/
\20
16//
17'
4
181
4
19/
Tilt Angle Azimuth
(?) (?)
95 410 115 65
60 245 60 65
105 475 120 65
60 245 65 65
Design
Frequency
(mc)
FIGURE 4. COMMUNICATIONS TRANSMITTING STATION. This station and the receiving station probably
provide the major portion of the communications for the instrumentation complex (Sites A and B).
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CONCLUSIONS
. 1. The FLIM FLAM angular data are probably derived from the
phase -measuring station,
2. The north-south/east-west orientation of the phase-measuring
station suggests that the station may have been designed for tracking space
vehicles, rather than missiles.
3. The TOKEN-type radar at Site B is probably not the ranging radar.
4. The circular concrete pad at Site A is possibly the location of the
FLINT FLAM ranging apparatus, which may or may not have been present
at the time of photography.
5. The rhombic antennas at Site A are possibly used for the reception
of time signals transmitted from the Moscow area.
6.. - It cannot be determined whether the 450-foot lattice tower at'Site
B is part of the FLIM FLAM station,
7. The rhombic antenna arrays in the transmitting and receiving
stations which are oriented toward Moscow are probably used for high-
frequency communications between the FLIM FLAM station and Moscow.
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SOURCES
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ACIC, USAF Pilotage Chart, Sheets 245 B&C, 2d ed, Apr 56, Scale
10500,000 (U)
REFERENCES-
1. NSA
Association of Soviet Organization Desig-
nated by Routing Indicator Sputnik, Moscow, With the Tyura Tani Mis-
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sile Test Range, 29 Sep 59
NSA.
The Use and Characteristics of FLIM
FLAM- a Soviet Missile /Satellite Tracking Data Transmission System,
11 May 59,
NSA. FLIM FLAM Base Time and Track Station
25X1 Designator Identified in COMINT, 17 Nov 59 (1
NSA. Further Refinement of Location for FLIM
FLAM Station No 3, 14 Jun 59
2. CIA. HTA/JRm4/58, Missile Launching Complex andTest Range, Tyura
Tam, USSR, Sep 58
3. CIA. PIC/JB=-2/60, Probable Interferometer-Type Instrumentation
25X1 Sites, Kapustin Yar-Vladimirovka Missile Test Center, 14 Jan 60 II
Army, ACSI. DC-110-60, The Report of the Ad Hoc Army Missile
Intelligence Group on Missile Activity .- Mission 4155, Apr 60
4. NSA. Possible Identification of FLIM FLAM
Range Tracking System, 19 Nov 59
5. International Telecommunications Union. Recapitulatory Supplement
No 6 to the List of Special Service Stations, 15th ed, Geneva (U)
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