SA-11 TACTICAL DEFENSIVE SAM SYSTEM TEST PROGRAM, EMBA MISSILE TEST CENTER USSR

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80T00913A000300010001-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 7
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: May 18, 2010
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: March 1, 1980
• Content Type: REPORT

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i~oyory onolyala roport
SA-11 Tactical Defensive SAM System
Test Praaram, Emba Missile Test Center
USSR
Top Secret
IAR-0032125X1
MARCN 1980
copy 16 7
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Top Secret
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Top Secret RUF
SA-11 TACTICAL DEFENSIVE SAM SYSTEM T AM,
EMBA MISSILE TEST CENTER, USS
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1. Extensive analysis o
f the SA-11 re
search and d
evelop
m
ent progra
m at the Emba Missile
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Test Center in the U
SSR revealed t
hat the comp
lete S
A-
11 system
,* as of February 1980,
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was not yet ready for deployment. Based on the observation of specific pieces of equipment and the use of
test and training facilities, it appears that the SA-11 system is being developed along two separate lines
and deployed in two distinct phases. One design line resulted in an interim enhancement of the older SA-6
GAINFUL missile system, and the other will produce an improved follow-on to replace the SA-6 system.
The initial phase used only the three-missile SA-11 transporter-erector-launcher-and-radar (TELAR; Fig-
ure 1) with either the SA-6 GAINFUL missile, modified SA-6 GAINFUL missile, or the SA-11 missile
(9M-38).' During this phase, the TELAR was deployed into existing SA-6 regiments resulting in a mixed
SA-6/-11 regiment. The first phase of SA-11 development was achieved in December 1979 when the three-
missile SA-11 TELAR was deployed to the SA-6 regiment housed at Leninakan Army Barracks North AL
3 In the later phase, the four-missile SA-11 TELAR (Figure 2), the SA-11 missile, the 25X1
EM-EL-03 radar, and unique support equipment designed for the SA-11 system will be deployed to form a
pure SA-11 regiment. It will probably be in the 1982-1983 timeframe before this latter deployment
occurs.
DESCRIPTION
late 1976, athree-missile TELAR in several different developmental models was tested at pad A-2. From
Development of the SA-11 System
2. 0 Work was begun on the design of the three- and four-missile versions of the SA-11 as 25X1
early as June 1972; however, major emphasis was placed oq the three-missile version at that time.' By
April 1973, a prototype of the three-missile TELAR had been produced.' The first observation of the
three-missile TELAR at launch area A of the Emba Missile Test Center occurred during 1974. Due to the
developmental emphasis on the three-missile TELAR, work was not started on the four-missile TELAR
until 1975.' The four-missile TELAR was not observed in launch area A when it 25X1
was seen at pad A-2, the primary research and development pad for the SA-11 TELAR. From 1974 until
pad A-2 was vacant. During this period, the four-missile TELAR 25X1
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was initially brought to Emba for testing. This five-month period may represent a break in the SA-11
system development program, when emphasis was shifted from the three-missile TELAR to the four-
missile TELAR and its support equipment.
3. ~ In the months preceding and subsequent to the first sighting of the four-missile TELAR, a 25X1
number of other events occurred at Emba which can be linked to the start of testing of the four-missile
TELAR. These events, which are related to the developmental testing of the four-missile SA-11 TELAR
included the following.
Date Event
April 1976 First sighting of SA-11 calibration vehicle
October 1976 First sighting of SA-11 probable command vehicle
February 1977 First sighting of four-missile SA-11 TELAR
March 1977 First sighting of SA-11 probable resupply vehicle
June 1977 First sighting of SA-11 transloader
July 1977 Start of construction for two concrete hardstands in launch area A; these
hardstands were later associated with the SA-11 transloader
and SA-11 probable command vehicles
October 1977 First sighting of two EM-EL-03 acquisition radars
November 1977 Three-missile SA-11 TELAR moved to Emba Missile Test Center
Operations Support Area to begin initial troop 25X1
4.0 The equipment listed in the above table is being developed as support and radar 25X1
equipment for the four-missile TELAR. The early arrival of the SA-11 calibration vehicle, replacing a gun
carriage-mounted calibration antenna, occurred because the onboard radars for both the three- and four-
missile TELARs are probably the same.' The SA-11 calibration vehicle can probably be utilized by both
TELARs.
5. ~ After November 1977, while the four-missile TELAR remained at pad A-2 for testing, the 25X1
three-missile TELAR was seen in increasing numbers and frequency engaged in troop familiarization and
training exercises at the SA-6 system training and checkout area in the operations support area. Troop
familiarization/training
*The final design configuration of the SA-ll system includes afour-missile SA-11 TELAR carrying SA-11 missiles, the EM-EL-03
acquisition radar, and three pieces of unique SA-11 support equipment.
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Top Secret RUFF
training in the operations support area and field exercises at adjacent SAM training areas from January to
August 1979 indicated that the three-missile SA-11 TELAR was being integrated with the SA-6 system as a
mixed SA-6/-11 regiment. This regiment consisted of five batteries containing three SA-6 transporter-
erector-launchers (TELs), one three-rail SA-11 TELAR, and orie STRAIGHT FLUSH tracking and guid-
ance radar per battery. Also, support equipment organic to the SA-6. system was used in these exercises.
This included the SA-6 service transloader, the SA-6 canister transporter, and the SA-6 command and
control vehicle. Acquisition radars such as the THIN SKIN, LONG TRACK, SPOON REST, and FLAT
FACE, which are used with tactical SAM regiments, were also present.
6. ~ The first phase of SA-11 development was completed in December 1979 with the deploy-
ment of the three-missile TELAR to the SA-6 regiment housed at Leninakan Army barracks North AL 3.
A second mixed SA-6/-11 regiment was deployed to Sary-Ozek Army Barracks AL 1/Headquarters Mo-
torized Rifle Division
Second-Phase Development of the SA-11 System
7. ~~ The four-missile SA-11 TELAR and associated support equipment was first observed in
1977, indicating that the research and developmental testing of this equipment was approximately three
years behind that of the three-missile SA-11 TELAR. Thus, the second phase of the SA-11 system deploy-
ment will probably not occur until the 1982-1983 timeframe. The following additional information
supports the concept of a 1982-1983 deployment date for the SA-11 system. The average timeframe from
design stage t.o deployment for Soviet tactical defensive SAM (SA-4, SA-6, and SA-8) systems has been
seven years. The SA-11 TELAR was developed within this average timeframe; the design phase for the
three-missile SA-11 TELAR began in 1972 and the prototype was completed in 1973. Since emphasis on
design work for the four-missile SA-11 TELAR did not begin until 1975, 1982 is probably the earliest
deployment date that can be expected if the average seven-year development time is maintained. Histori-
cally, deployment of the SA-4, SA-6, and SA-11 three-missile SAM systems occurred from 16 to 24 months
after aTEL/TELAR for that system was removed from the launch complex and moved to the operations
support area for initial troop familiarization. The three-missile SA-11 TELAR was tested for three to four
years in launch area A before it was moved to the operations support area for initial troop familiariza-
tion/training. If development time for the four-missile SA-11 TELAR in launch area A is consistent with
the three-missile SA-11 TELAR, it would not be ready to start troop training and/or field exercises in. the
operations support area until 1980. Assuming that there will be 16 to 24 months of troop training and/or
field exercises for the four-missile SA-11 TELAR, no deployment prior to 1982 could be expected.
8. ~As of February 1980, the four-missile TELAR was probably not ready to be moved to the
operations support area. Its almost continuous presence at pad A-2 since 1977 indicates that the four-
missile TELAR is probably still undergoing developmental testing. Only one, or possibly two, four-missile
SA-11 TELARs have been seen with the second possible four-missile TELAR first observed in launch area
A during 1979. The presence of no more than two four-missile TELARs, only one SA-11 transloader, one
SA-11 probable command vehicle, one probable SA-11 resupply vehicle, and two EM-EL-03 radars
strongly suggests that the four-missile SA-11 system is not ready for field exercises. In contrast, during the
field exercises for the three-missile SA-11 TELAR in 1979, at least nine three-missile TELARs were
present at Emba. As many as 20* four-missile TELARs would be needed to conduct a pure SA-11
regimental exercise.
9. ~ The previous analysis could not be made until a method for differentiating the three-
missile SA-11 TELAR from the four-missile TELAR was developed. The three-missile TELAR has a
missile launch. rack similar to the SA-6, with three rails to support the missiles. The four-missile TELAR
probably has four small missile mounts or short rails that appear to be capable of independent elevation.
Types of Missiles Associated with Three- and Four-Missile SA-11 TELARs
10. An intelligence gap exists in the knowledge of what type of missile will be
deployed with. the three- and four-missile SA-11 TELARs. There are three candidate missiles that may be
used with the two SA-11 TELARs-the SA-6 GAINFUL missile, a modified SA-6 GAINFUL missile, and
the SA-11 missile.
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TELARs have only been seen with SA-11 missiles in launch area A during t e past our years, while the
three-missile SA-11 TELAR has been seen with the SA-6 GAINFUL and the SA-11 missile. Confirmation
of the missile type on the three-missile TELAR in training exercises at Emba or after deployment at
Leninakan or Sary-Ozek, however, has not yet been made.
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