IMAGERY ANALYSIS MONTHLY REVIEW

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP81T00380R000100940001-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 17
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: November 16, 2010
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: December 1, 1980
• Content Type: REPORT

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National
Foreign
Assessment
Center
Imagery Analysis
Monthly Review
Top Secret
Top Secret
133
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National
Foreign
Assessment
Center
Imagery Analysis
Monthly Review
This publication of the Office of Imagery Analysis contains
substantive findings and analytical judgments that were de-
rived principally from analysis of imagery. (U)
Comments and queries on the contents of this publication
are welcomed. They should be directed to the analyst whose
name and secure line extension appear after each arti-
cle. (U)
Top Secret
IS MR 80-OIOJX
December 1980
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Top Secret
Contents
Page
Soviets Experimenting with Mobile The Soviets are apparently conducting exercises
Communications Equipment at SS-18 using mobile command, control and communica-
Facilities (S) tions (C3) equipment with the SS-18 ICBM. Two
mobile C3 exercises, involving vehicles like those
associated with the SS-20 mobile IRBM, were ob-
served near one of the SS-18 launch control facili-
ties (LCFs) at the Tyuratam Missile/Space Test
Center in November and December 1980.
2 Soviets Preparing for Initial Deployment Construction of facilities at Poltava Airfield, a
of AS-9 Missiles with Backfire Soviet Long Range Aviation (LRA) base where
Bombers (S) Backfire are operationally deployed, suggests that
the Soviets are making preparations for the initial
deployment of the AS-9 short-range air-to-surface
missile system with Backfire bombers
4 Soviets Increasing the Number of Since late 1979 the Soviets have been increasing the
BMPs in Motorized Rifle Units (S) number of BMP armored personnel carriers in their
BMP-equipped motorized rifle regiments-from
just under 100 to over 130.
5 Soviets Scrapping Riga-Class The first Riga-Class frigate (FF) to be scrapped by
Frigate (S) the Soviets is currently undergoing dismantlement
at Liepaja Naval Base and Shipyard.
6 Soviets Deploy Rapid Fire Mortars to The Soviets are increasing the firepower of their mo-
Battalion Level Along Sino-Soviet torized rifle battalions along the Sino-Soviet border
Border (S) by redeploying the rapid fire Vasilek mortar from
the regimental level to battalion level.
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7 New Soviet Oil Discovery in A new Soviet oil discovery has been identified near
Kazakhstan (S) Lake Tengiz in central Kazakh S.S.R. on satellite
photography of August 1980. A major oil discovery
in this general region was reported earlier by US oil
industry sources. 25X1
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Top Secret
R(II
8 Chinese Expanding Their Coal Export The Chinese have begun a port development
Facilities (S) program designed to greatly increase their coal ex-
porting capabilities. Construction of a new, large
coal terminal and expansion of existing transship-
ment facilities is currently under way at Qinhuang-
dao-China's largest coal export facility.
10 Chinese Arms Shipments to Pakistan continues to be China's chief customer for
Pakistan (S) ground forces equipment. On two, and possibly
three occasions since March 1980, Chinese tanks
and artillery were loaded onto a Pakistani merchant
ship at the Chinese port of Diaoshuntsun.
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Soviets Experimenting With Mobile
Communications Equipment at SS-18
Facilities (S)
The Soviets are apparently conducting exercises us-
ing mobile command, control and communications
(C3) equipment with the SS-18 ICBM. Two mobile
C3 exercises were observed near one of the SS-18
launch control facilities (LCFs) at the Tyuratam
Missle/Space Test Center, one in November and
one in December 1980. The exercises involved vehi-
cles like those associated with the SS-20 mobile
IRBM. This is the first time that this type of mo-
bile C3 equipment has been seen at Tyuratam. The
vehicles, which were all canvas covered, included
two probable van trucks, one possi-
ble an truck, a possible missile
support van, and one unidentified vehicle with an
erected antenna.
The SS-18 LCF was apparently involved in both of
the exercises. One of the LCF's retractable anten-
nas was erected and a larger-than-normal comple-
ment of van trucks and trailers was present on the
site when the LCF was observed on
the retractable
antenna had been stowed and the mobile C3 equip-
ment had been moved to a nearby location indicat-
ing that the first exercise was no longer in progress.
Although the purpose of these exercises is unclear,
the mobile C3 equipment may have been used in
the launch of an SS-18 ICBM which took place at
Tyuratam on eight days after the
mobile C3 equipment was first observed near the
LCF.
Other sources indicate that a similar exercise in-
volving a mobile C3 unit occurred at the Aleysk
SS-18 ICBM complex in May 1980. Although the
types of mobile C3 vehicles used in this exercise are
unknown, control of the Aleysk ICBM Division
was passed to a mobile C3 unit and then returned
to a permanent command post. This part of the ex-
ercise most likely included the simulated repair of a
damaged command post. It was during this same
exercise that the Soviets simulated the reloading
and refiring of SS-18s from some silos after the ini-
tial salvo.
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Soviets Preparing for Initial Deploy-
ment of AS-9 Missiles with Backfire
Bombers (S)
The Soviets are making preparations for the initial
deployment of a short-range air-to-surface missile
system-probably the AS-9-with Backfire bomb-
ers. A handling and storage facility for tactical air-
launched missiles (TALMs) is under construction
adjacent to the Backfire bomber dispersal area at
Poltava Airfield. The AS-9 is the only tactical air-
to-surface missile known to be associated with the
Backfire.
In July 1978 the Soviets began construction of three
twin-bay, drive-through TALM handling and stor-
age bunkers and a vehicle parking or missile-fueling
apron at Poltava Airfield-a Long Range Aviation
(LRA) facility. Construction could be completed
during 1981. Bunkers of this type are often found
at Soviet tactical airfields and are used to support
tactical air-to-surface missiles-including the AS-9.
There is no evidence of similar construction activity
at the other two LRA bases or at the three Soviet
Naval Aviation (SNA) bases where Backfire are op-
The AS-9, an antiradiation homing missile, has a
maximum range of 100 kilometers and is normally
carried by Fencer A and Fitter CAD aircraft. It un-
derwent integration testing with a Backfire-B air-
craft from July 1975 through September 1978 at
Akhtubinsk and Ramenskoye Flight Test Centers.
To date, no AS-9 equipment has been identified at
any of the six operational Backfire bases. We have
not determined the number of AS-9 missiles that
could be carried by each Backfire. The Backfire is
capable of carrying conventional or nuclear bombs,
mines, or the AS-4 ASM which has a demonstrated
range of 390 to 460 kilometers.
erationally deployed.
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Top Secret
Soviets Increasing the Number of
BMPs in Motorized Rifle Units (S)
The Soviets have been increasing the number of
BMP armored personnel carriers in motorized rifle
units by approximately one-third since late 1979.
The number of BMPs in a motorized rifle regiment
(MRR) is being increased from just under 100 to
over 130. This change is attributable to an increase
in the number of BMPs at the company level-and
probably at the platoon level.
This increase was first identified in September 1979
in the MRR of the Soviet experimental tank divi-
sion at Belogorsk when one motorized rifle battal-
ion with 42 BMPs (with space for 43) was ob-
served. A second sighting occurred in April 1980 in
the MRR of the Dauriya Motorized Rifle Division
in the Transbaykal Military District (MD). At least
five more Soviet BMP-equipped units have incorpo-
rated this change. Three of these are MRRs subor-
dinate to motorized rifle divisions which are located
in Mongolia and in the
The remaining two units are motorized
rifle battalions subordinate to tank regiments. One
of these battalions was observed training at Juter-
bog Training Area on I and the 25X1
other is stationed at Grodno in the Belorussian
M D.
This increase in BMP holdings apparently stems
from a decision by the Soviets to increase the num-
ber of BMPs in the standard platoon, and to add
one more BMP at the company level. A typical So-
viet BMP-equipped company will now have 14
BMPs rather than 10, and a typical BMP-equipped
battalion will have 43 BMPs rather than 31. Al-
though photographic evidence of this change at the
platoon level is still inconclusive, a platoon of four
BMPs already exists in the reconnaissance company
of tank and motorized rifle regiments. In addition,
during the early to mid-1970s the platoons of tank
battalions subordinate to MRRs were expanded
from three to four tanks each.
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Soviets Scrapping Riga-Class
Frigate (S)
The first Riga-class frigate (FF) to be scrapped by
the Soviets is undergoing dismantlement at Liepaja
Naval Base and Shipyard. The initial dismantle-
ment of the frigate began in late October 1980 at
Liepaja Naval Base and Winter Harbor, where the
ship's primary weapons system-three single-
mounted 100-mm/56 dual-purpose guns-were re-
moved. The frigate was moved in November to Lie-
paja Naval Base and Shipyard for further dis-
mantlement. Eventually the ship will be moved to
the breakers yard at Riga Naval Base and Shipyard
Bolderaja for final scrapping.
The Soviets built a total of 64 Riga-class FFs be-
tween 1952 and 1958. Sixteen of these vessels were
transferred to foreign countries. Of the 48 Riga-
class FFs remaining in the Soviet inventory, 15 are
in conserved or preserved status, I 1 are out of ser-
vice at several naval bases and ship repair yards,
and 22 are still in active service throughout the four
The Soviet designation for the Riga-class FF is
Strozhevov Korbal (SKR) or patrol ship. Additional
classes of ships with this designation are the Krivak
guided-missile frigates (FFGs), the Petya and modi-
fied-Petya light frigates (FFLs), and the Mirka
FFLs. Only the Krivak FFGs are rated first-class
by the Soviets-the highest combat effectiveness
ranking in the SKR designation. The remaining
classes of ships are rated second- and third-class,
including the Riga FFs, which bear a third-class ra-
ting-the lowest combat effectiveness ranking. In
view of the dismantlement of one Riga-class frigate
and the low Soviet rating of these ships, it appears
that the Soviets may scrap the entire class in the
near future.
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Top Secret
Soviets Deploy Rapid Fire Mortars at Bat-
talion Level Along Sino-Soviet Border (S)
The Soviets are increasing the firepower of their
motorized rifle battalions along the Sino-Soviet
border by redeploying the rapid fire Vasilek mortar
to battalion level. Previously, four Vasilek mortars
had been deployed with the artillery of the motor-
ized rifle regiments. Since May 1980, however, as
many as three Vasilek mortars have been observed
parked with the six 120-mm mortars assigned to
motorized rifle battalions.
This same combination-three Vasilek mortars and
six 120-mm mortars-has been observed since late
1979 with the motorized rifle battalions of the So-
viet experimental tank division at Belogorsk in the
Far East Military District. It has also been ob-
served with Soviet forces in Afghanistan during
1980. This may only be an interim organization,
however. We believe that the Vasilek will eventually
replace the 120-mm mortars on a one-for-one basis.
Such a replacement has already occurred in border
guard and fortified defense units along the Chinese
The Vasilek mortar is reported to be 82 mm in cali-
ber and to have an extremely high rate of fire-up
to 120 rounds per minute. Compared to the 120-
mm mortar's rate of fire of 12 to 15 rounds per
minute, the Vasilek is superior in firepower, al-
though it fires a smaller round. The reported maxi-
mum range of the Vasilek is approximately 4,000
meters-less than the 120-mm mortar's range of
5,700 meters. The Vasilek may be employed in a
direct-fire mode which, coupled with its high rate
of fire, gives this system a greater capability against
armored vehicles than the 120-mm mortar. 0
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Ton Secret
New Soviet Oil Discovery in
Kazakhstan (U)
A new Soviet oil discovery has been identified near
Lake Tengiz in central Kazakh S.S.R. on satellite
photography of August 1980. Three oil or gas drill-
ing rigs were seen in an area located approximately
90 kilometers east-northeast of the town of Arka-
lyk. A major oil discovery in this general region
was reported earlier by US oil industry sources.
Previous photographic coverage of the area dated
April 1979 showed no activity of any kind. There
are no other fields in this part of Kazakhstan. (S
The Soviets reportedly intend to drill 200 develop-
ment wells in this area. When put into production,
probably several years in the future, this field will
supply oil to areas of Soviet South Central Asia
that are currently receiving oil via pipeline from
Western Siberia. Soviet officials have said that one
well in the new field has a potential production ca-
pacity of 3,300 to 3,700 barrels per day-compara-
ble to some of the better producing wells in West-
The oil from this new discovery is reported to con-
tain high concentrations of hydrogen sulfide and
carbon dioxide-two dangerous and extremely cor-
rosive contaminants. One source indicated that the
Soviets may erect a plant at the field to remove the
contaminants before transporting the oil. Photogra-
phy shows evidence that the drilling locations may
have equipment for remote operation of the rigs to
protect the workers from hydrogen sulfide expo-
sure. According to industry sources, the Soviets are
also attempting to purchase special high-quality
drilling and production equipment from various
Western companies for the new field.
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Top Secret
Chinese Expanding Their Coal Ex-
port Facilities (S)
The Chinese have begun a port development pro-
gram designed to greatly increase their coal export-
ing capability. Although coal is handled at several
ports in China, it is presently exported only from
Qinhuangdao, Lianyungang, and possibly Qingdao.
Recent satellite photography of Qinhuangdao
shows construction of a new, large coal terminal
and expansion of existing transshipment facilities
for coal export. The new coal terminal at Qinhu-
angdao is designed to eventually handle 30 million
tons of coal per year. China also plans to build ma-
jor coal export facilities at Lianyungang, Qingdao,
and Shijiusuo with annual capacities ranging from
10 to 30 million tons each. Presently only about
five million tons of coal are exported annually from
China.
Qinhuangdao is already China's largest coal han-
dling center with an annual throughput capacity of
10 million tons-principally for domestic consump-
tion. By September 1980, the first phase of develop-
ment of the new coal transshipment terminal was in
the midstage of construction. The terminal is 4 ki-
lometers northeast of the main port complex and
will include two berths located along a 548-meter-
long quay that appears to be essentially complete.
Each berth will have four coal loaders that will feed
the coal from an open storage yard covering at
least 425,000 square meters. When the facilities
presently under construction at Qinhuangdao are
completed in 1982, the terminal is expected to han-
dle 10 million tons of coal per year. The second
phase of development, which appears to be in the
initial stage of construction, is scheduled for com-
pletion in 1986. This will increase the terminal's ca-
pacity to 30 million tons.
An existing general cargo berth and its support fa-
cilities at Qinhuangdao is being converted to handle
coal. The portal jib cranes have been replaced with
five quayside coal loaders, and a coal storage area
of 50,000 square meters is being added. The storage
area is connected by rail to a recently constructed
13-track railyard that will facilitate the movement
The reason behind this ambitious expansion pro-
gram is China's desire to promote exports of coal-
instead of oil-to Japan in the 1980s. China has
offered to ship 10 million tons of coal to Japan in
1985-to offset its deficit in export trade for Japa-
nese industrial plants.
Locations of Chinese Coal Export Facilities (S)
Planned Expansion of Existing Facilities
A Planned New Facilities
of coal through the port complex.
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Top Secret
Chinese Arms Shipments to
Pakistan (S)
Pakistan continues to be China's chief customer for
ground force equipment. On two occasions since
March 1980, a Pakistani merchant ship has been
observed loading tanks and artillery at the Chinese
port of Diaoshuntsun. There is evidence that a
third Pakistani arms shipment also occurred during
this period. Diaoshuntsun is China's only known
port for exporting ground force equipment and the
principal port for the export of aircraft. The three
shipments of ground force equipment to Pakistan
have been the only ones observed at Diaoshuntsun
since M arch.
The three arms shipments were carried aboard one
of two Pakistani merchant ships-the Ravi or the
Jhelum. One of these two ships was seen berthed at
Diaoshuntsun on
In March and November, a floating crane
was being used to load tanks and armored recovery
vehicles from a barge onto the ship. These two
arms shipments apparently included other tanks
and artillery seen on the qua near the ship. The
Pakistani ship seen at Diaoshuntsun may
have also been aded with tanks. Two tanks seen
on the quay on were absent onsug-
gesting that they had been loaded aboard the re-
cently berthed Pakistani ship.
served on imagery at Diaoshuntsun included the
following amounts and types of equipment:
--27 Tanks (at least two were Type 62 light
tanks and 12 were Type 59 medium tanks)
-- 9 Armored recovery vehicles
12 Unindentified armored vehicles
35 Field artillery (18 were Type 54 122-mm
howitzers)
-- 8 Antiaircraft artillery
These recent shipments of ground force equipment
to Pakistan are part of a longstanding Chinese mili-
tary assistance arrangement with Pakistan dating
from the 1950s. To date, Pakistan is the single larg-
est recipient of Chinese military aid. China has pro-
vided more tanks to Pakistan than to any other
country-over 1,300 medium tanks as of late 1977.
Although Chinese light tanks have been exported to
at least eight other countries, the identification of
Type 62 light tanks in the November 1980 shipment
is the first confirmed export of light tanks to Paki-
stan.
The three Chinese arms shipments to Pakistan ob-
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New OIA Publications
The following reports have been published by the Office of Imagery Analysis since the
last issue of the Imagery Analysis Monthly Review.
Imagery Research Papers
I. IS 80-10162J,
SS-18 Mod 4 (MIR V) ICBM Payload-Related Comno-
news n quiptttent, November 1980 (Top Secret
2. IS 80-10165, Nizhniv Tagil Metallurgical Combine Lenin, USSR, November 1980
3. IS 80-10169K,
1980 (Top Sec
in Refining Industry, November
Imagery Analysis Reports
I . IS 80-I0209J, Disposition of Iraqi and Iranian Forces in the Battle
Area-October 1980 (Top Secret
Intelligence Assessments
1. IS 80-10199JX, ER 80-10603JX, Iraq Petroleum Facilities: Damage
and Repair Assessment, (Top Secret
2. IS 80-10208X, ER 80-10629X, Iran Oil Facilities: Damage Assessment
((Secret NOFORN
Imagery Analysis Memorandums
I. IS 80-10196K,
Delta - Series SSBN Production Likeli, to Continue
Jeverodvinsk Shipyard 402 (Top Secret
cret
4. IS 80-10186K,
Aircraft (Top Secret
Analysis ofthe Soviet SA
-11 SAM System (Top Se-
Analysis of the Soviet RAM-L Experimental Fighter
5. IS 80-10200K, Indications of a New Missile Program at Kapustin Yar
Missile Test Center, USSR (Top Secret
6. IS 80-10171 K, Analysis of Selected Transformers at the Zao:ertn_'v
Uranium Isotope Separation Plant, USSR (Top Secret
7. IS 80-10187K,
(Top Secret F-
Status of Chinese Luda Destroyer Program, June 1980
8. IS 80-10195, Ground Force Activity in Angola's Military Region 2 (Secret
9. IS 80-10206J, Movement of Ethiopia's 11th Division Headquarters To-
ward the Ethiopian/Somali Border (Top Secret
10. IS 80-
Secret
li Crude Oil Holdings for October 1980 (Top
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Top Secret
Top Secret
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