SA-8 SAM SYSTEM

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79T00919A000700140001-0
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 8
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: December 28, 2001
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: February 1, 1977
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For Release 2002/02/27 : CIA-RDP79T00919A000700t4 0Cret
NOFORN
I/-
Imagery Analysis Report
SA-8 Sam System
Declass
Review by
NIMA/DoD
Secret
IS 77-10003
February 1977
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Warning Notice
Sensitive Intelligence Sources and Methods Involved
(WNINTEL)
NATIONAL SECURITY INFORMATION
Unauthorized Disclosure Subject to Criminal Sanctions
CLASSIFIED BY 207674
Exempt from General Declassification Schedule
of E.O. 11652, Exemption Category 5B(2), (3)
Automatically declassified on:
DATE IMPOSSIBLE TO DETERMINE
DISSEMINATION CONTROL ABBREVIATIONS
NOFORN- Not Releasable to Foreign Nationals
NOCONTRACT Not Releasable to Contractors or
Contractor/Consultants
PROPIN- Caution-Proprietary Information Involved
USIBONLY- USIB Departments Only
ORCON- Dissemination and Extraction of Information
Controlled by Originator
REL This Information has been Authorized for
Release to .. .
Printed by the
NATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHIC INTERPRETATION CENTER
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 SECRET
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CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
Directorate of Intelligence
Office of Imagery Analysis
SA-8 SAM SYSTEM
The SA-8 is a highly mobile, tactical, surface-to-air missile (SAM)
system. The essential elements of this system are the SA-8 (Gecko)
missile and its transporter-erector-launcher (TEL). The Gecko missile
is a relatively small, command-guided missile which will operate at low-
to-medium altitudes. The TEL is amphibious and has four missile launch
rails, an acquisition radar, and a fire control unit mounted on it.
Because each vehicle is a complete firing unit, this system represents
a significant design improvement over the SA-4 and SA-6 SAM systems.
This unit is more efficient and has improved survivability.
The SA-8 Missile
The Gecko missile is a command-guided, low-to-medium altitude SAM.
It is about 3.1 meters long, about 0.2 meters in diameter, and has control
surfaces on its forward and aft sections. The line drawing of the missile
(Figure 1) was prepared from dimensions obtained from hand-held photog-
raphy acquired during the 7 November 1975 Moscow parade.
The information and judgements presented in this publication were
derived principally from analysis of imagery. Although other sources of
intelligence may be included, this publication does not reflect an all-
source assessment and has not been formally coordinated within CIA.
Comments and queries on the contents is report are welcomed.
They may be direct the Missile Systems Division,
OIA, Code 143
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The Transporter-Erector-Launcher
The TEL is composed of a three-axle, amphibious vehicle with a
rotatable platform mounted on top. A fire control unit is attached to
one end of this platform as shown in Figure 2. This unit is composed
of radar antennas which provide target tracking as well as missile
tracking and guidance. An electro-optical device is attached directly
to the top of the relatively large target tracking antenna to aid with
the tracking functions in hostile electronic countermeasures environ-
ments. Attached to the other end of the platform are four missile
launch rails and another radar antenna. This antenna provides short
range acquisition data on potential targets. Figure 2 shows the TEL in
a travel mode. When in this mode the antenna for the acquisition radar,
is turned toward the rear of the missile racks and folded down toward
the top of the vehicle. Two launch rails are located on either side and
below the acquisition radar antenna. Each rail is fixed and inclined it
about 30 degrees. All the components on the platform are slaved to its
rotation, although some are apparently also capable of independent nmove-
ment. Two versions of the TEL were noted in the Moscow parade, but the
minor differences which were noted on the photography of the TEL's
chassis indicate there is little significant difference in capability.
ELECTRO-OPTICAL
TRACKING DEVICE
ACQUISITION RADAR
IN TRAVEL MODE
J
-3-
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System Design Improvement
The SA-8 system is a significant design improvement over the SA-4
and SA-6 missile systems. The electronic functions of target acquisition
and tracking and missile guidance and control are performed by a vehicle
other than the TEL in both the SA-4 and SA-6 systems. Therefore, if this
one vehicle is destroyed, the collective firepower of the unit is negated.
Each SA-8 TEL, on the other hand, possesses the capability to acquire, to
track, and to engage targets independently of any other vehicle. This
capability would 1) increase the number of engagements which could be
conducted at any one time, 2) reduce the minimum amount of time required
for an engagement, and 3) increase the survivability of the unit's fire-
power.
Deployment
An SA-8 regiment appears to be organized in the following manner.
Each regiment is composed of five firing batteries. Each battery
consists of four TELs, one or two resupply vehicles, and a BTR-60
variant to provide command and control for the battery. A Long Track
radar, a Flat Face radar, and a Thin Skin radar are assigned at the
regiment level to provide loner range target data for the firing
25X1 D batteries five SA-8 regiments were known to be
deployed--one in t e Moscow area and four along the Sino-Soviet border.
Requirement
C-WI5-89,615
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List of Conversion Factors by Classification
MILLIMETERS
0.0394
INCHES
KILOGRAMS
2.2046
POUNDS(AVOIR.)
CENTIMETERS
0.3937
INCHES
P OUNOS(AVOIR.)
0.4536
KILOGRAMS
INCHES
25.4000
MILLIMETERS
SHORT TONS
0.9072
METRIC TONS
INCHES
2.5400
CENTIMETERS
METRIC TONS
1.1023
SHORT TONS
FEET
0.3048
METERS
METRIC TONS
0.9842
LONG TONS
FEET
0.0003
KILOMETERS
LONG TONS
1.0160
METRIC TONS
YARDS
0.9144
METERS
METERS
3.2808
FEET
METERS
0.0005
MILES(NAUTICAL)
METERS
1.0936
YARDS
KILOMETERS
3280.8400
FEET
KILOMETERS
0.6214
MILES(STATUTE)
KILOMETERS
0.5400
MILES(NAUTICAL)
LITERS
0.2642
GALLONS
MILES(STATUTE)
1.6093
KILOMETERS
LITERS
0.0063
BARRELS(POL)
MILES(NAUTICAL)
6076.1154
FEET
LITERS
0.0010
CUBIC METERS
MIL ES(NAUTICAL)
1.8520
KILOMETERS
GALLONS
3.7854
LITERS
MILES(NAUTICAL)
1852.0000
METERS
GALLONS
0.1337
CUBIC FEET
GALLONS
0.0238
BARRELS(POL)
GALLONS
0.0038
CUBIC METERS
BUSHELS
0.0352
CUBIC METERS
CUBIC FEET
7.4805
GALLONS
CUBIC FEET
0.1781
BARRELS(POL)
SQUARE CENTIMETERS
0.1550
SQUARE INCHES
CUBIC FEET
0.0283
CUBIC METERS
SQUARE INCHES
6.4516
SQUARE CENTIMETERS
CUBIC YARDS
0.7646
CUBIC METERS
SQUARE FEET
0.0929
SQUARE METERS
BARRELS(POL)
158.9873
LITERS
SQUARE YARDS
0.8361
SQUARE METERS
BARRELS(POL)
42.0000
GALLONS
SQUARE METERS
10.7639
SQUARE FEET
BARRELS(POL)
5.6146
CUBIC FEET
SQUARE METERS
1.1960
SQUARE YARDS
BARRELS(POL)
0.1590
CUBIC METERS
SQUARE METERS
1.0000
CENTARES
CUBIC METERS
1000.0000
LITERS
SQUARE METERS
0.0002
ACRES
CUBIC METERS
264.1721
GALLONS
SQUARE METERS
0.0001
HECTARES
CUBIC METERS
35.3147
CUBIC FEET
ACRES
4046.8564
SQUARE METERS
CUBIC METERS
28.3776
BUSHELS
ACRES
0.4047
HECTARES
CUBIC METERS
6.2898
BARRELS(POL)
HECTARES
10000.0000
SQUARE METERS
CUBIC METERS
1.3080
CUBIC YARDS
HECTARES
2.4711
ACRES
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