Published on CIA FOIA (foia.cia.gov) (https://www.cia.gov/readingroom)


KHARKOV POSSIBLE SILO R&D FACILITY

Document Type: 
CREST [1]
Collection: 
NGA Records (Formerly NIMA) [2]
Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 
CIA-RDP82T00709R000200730001-5
Release Decision: 
RIPPUB
Original Classification: 
S
Document Page Count: 
8
Document Creation Date: 
December 28, 2016
Document Release Date: 
March 11, 2010
Sequence Number: 
1
Case Number: 
Publication Date: 
May 1, 1982
Content Type: 
REPORT
File: 
AttachmentSize
PDF icon CIA-RDP82T00709R000200730001-5.pdf [3]547.82 KB
Body: 
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/03/11: CIA- R D P82T00709 R000200730001-5 Secret 25X1 basic imagery interpretation report Kharkov Possible Silo R&D Facility (S) STRATEGIC WEAPONS INDUSTRIAL FACILITIES USSR Secret Z-14559/82 RCA-09/0010/82 MAY 1982 copy 2 9 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/03/11: CIA-RDP82T00709R000200730001-5 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/03/11: CIA-RDP82T00709R000200730001-5 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/03/11: CIA-RDP82T00709R000200730001-5 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/03/11: CIA-RDP82T00709R000200730001-5 SECRET 25X1 Silo Research and Development Facility UR CATEGORY IBE NO. COMIREX NO. DMAAC. USATC, Series 200, Sheet 0234-12, scale 1:200,000 ABSTRACT 1. (S N) This report describes activity at Kharkov Possible Silo Research and Development Facility, USSR, from the information cutoff date. it updates a previous NPIC report, 2. (S/WN) Significant construction activity included the completion of a ground support equipment (GSE) training hole, a type IIIF (SS-18) training silo, and several garages for SS-18-associated GSE. This facility has been reassessed to be a Strategic Rocket Forces cadre training facility for SS-9 and SS-18 ICBM systems. 3. (U) This report includes a location map, one annotated photograph, and one table. INTRODUCTION 4. (S/WN) The Kharkov Possible Silo Research and Development (R&D) Facility is in the northern suburbs of Kharkov at the northern edge of the Kharkov Aviation Institute Figure 1). The facility is road and rail served and contains two ICBM training silos and approximately 50 structures. Of the three principal areas of the facility, only the support area appears not to be completely enclosed by a security wall or fence with access controlled at security checkpoints. 5. (S/WN) This installation has been reassessed to be a probable training facility for Strategic Rocket Forces (SRF) SS-9 and SS-18 crew cadre. It probably receives logistical support from the adjacent Kharkov Aviation Institute. (Continued p. 4) WAINTEL Z-14559/82 -1- SECRET 25X1 25X1 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/03/11: CIA-RDP82T00709R000200730001-5 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/03/11: CIA-RDP82T00709R000200730001-5 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/03/11: CIA-RDP82T00709R000200730001-5 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/03/11: CIA-RDP82T00709R000200730001-5 SECRET Table 1. Structures at Kharkov Possible Silo Research and Development Facility, (Items Keyed to Figure 2) Item No 1 Control bldg 2 Utility 3 Utility 4 SS-18 ICBM training silo 5 Site support bldg 6 SS-9 ICBM training 7 Personnel access bld 8 Utility 9 Security bldg Dimensions (m) W First Observed Complete Oct 76" Oct 76 Jul 79 Only a small part of apron remained to be completed and was by Sep 79 A watch tower with total height of 5m projects above center of bldg Oct 76 Jun 81 Bldg is connected by buried cable to electrical substation b Maint sect Oct 76 Jun 81 11 Utility Sep 80 Feb 81 12 Garage Oct 76 Sep 77 13 Garage Oct 76 Sep 77 14a Garage b Addition Sep 77 Jul 78 16 Garage 17 Storage 18 Admin/classrooms 19 Garage 21 Poss GSE training bldg a Addition ucon Jun 79 Ucon 22 Support Oct 76 Dec 77 23 Shop 24 Garage 25 Storage 26 Storage 27 Utility 28 Utility 29 Utility 30 Support 31 Security bldg 32 Support Apr 77 Oct 77 33 Utility Jan 74" 34 Utility 38 Utility 39 Utility Jan 75 Aug 77 40 Utility May 77 Dec 77 41a Heat/steamplant Jan 75 Aug 75 b Tech sup sect Jan 75 Aug 75 42 Utility Oct 76 Apr 77 43 Storage 44 Storage 45 Admin 46 Barracks Floorspace added sin -3- Z-14559/82 SECRET Floorspace First (sq m) Observed Ucon Bldg has 5 sects; height shown shown is for largest sect Height shown is for highest sect; bldg will have 9 sects when sect a is complete; admin/tech- nical apt sects on the east and west sides of bldg are 2 stories Bldg has 6 sects; height shown is for largest sect Height shown is for highest part of roof which slopes severely Bldg has 4 sects; height is for highest sect 25X1 25X1 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/03/11: CIA-RDP82T00709R000200730001-5 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/03/11: CIA-RDP82T00709R000200730001-5 SECRET BASIC DESCRIPTION Silo Training Area 6. (S/WN) Construction began on the type IIIF training silo in the summer of 1976. By October 1976, initial excavation was underway for the silo and two utility buildings (items 2 and 3, Figure 2 and Table 1) were essentially complete as was approximately 50 percent of the silo's access apron. Subsequently, construction of the silo progressed at a slow rate until its completion in July 1979, a period of 33 months. Available imagery was inadequate to determine if the silo was full or partial depth. The 33-month construction time, however, strongly suggests that this is a full-depth silo since 21 to 24 months is the established normal construction time for a type IIIF silo. 7. (S/WN) Training commenced following the completion of the silo and has consisted of simulated silo loading/unloading and propellant loading exercises. The training activity involved the use of SS-18- associated GSE, including canister transporters, MAZ-543 transporters, silo loaders, and multisystem pro- pellant transporters. Other equipment involved in training exercises included a MAZ-543 probable communications van and a Ural-375 support van. 8. (S/WN) At the SS-9 training silo (item 6), propellant loading and silo maintenance training exer- cises have been observed less frequently during the last few years and it appears that such activity will be completely phased out. Evidence supporting this conclusion include the removal in 1980 of an SS-9 load simulator/training device that had been present in the GSE training and storage area since 1972, the absence of SS-9 first- and second-stage transporters since May 1980, the apparent cessation in December 1979 of SS-9-related activity at the GSE training hole (item 20) in the GSE training and storage area, and the removal of some of the components of the SS-9-associated BEVERAGE antenna. The apparent cessa- tion of SS-9-related training activity at this facility is concurrent with the conversion of type IIIC silos to type IIIF silos at deployed complexes and-Tyuratam Missile and Space Test Center GSE Training and Storage Area 9. (S/WN) In the GSE training and storage area, training was limited to SS-9 silo loading/unloading procedures at the GSE training hole that was constructed between January 1974 and January 1975. Other additions to this area included three garages (items 10a and b, 12, and 13) for SS-18-associated GSE. The garages were constructed concurrently with the type IIIF silo and several additions to existing buildings. An addition (item 21a) to the possible GSE training building was under construction at the end of this reporting period. Although the function of this building has not been confirmed, the dimensions of the high-bay section, would allow it to accommodate the operation of any of the GSE at the facility. The other large part of the building, a probable shop/training section, could easily support GSE maintenance and repair training. The construction of a traveling gantry crane between June and October 1981 on the service apron adjacent to the possible GSE training building suggests that it is now engaged in a new activity involving large/heavy pieces of equipment. 10. (S/WN) In May 1981, three objects identified as type B transition segments for the type IIIF silo were at the southwestern corner of the possible GSE training building. At SS-18-deployed complexes, a silo modification program involves the replacement of the original type A silo wall transition segments (located between the upper end of the silo wall and the bottom of the headworks base) with type B transition segments. Although no such activity has been observed at the type IIIF silo at this facility, the presence of the transition segments suggests that it will eventually be modified. Support Area 11. (S/WN) The most significant new addition in this area is the large heat/steam plant (item 41a and b) constructed between January and August 1975. This new plant, with a far greater capacity than the original heat/steam plant (item 35) will, in addition to serving this facility, provide heat/steam to nearby new buildings that are a part of the Kharkov Aviation Institute. Also new to this area is an SRF obstacle course constructed between April and September 1977 and several small support and utility buildings. -4- Z-14559/82 SECRET Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/03/11: CIA-RDP82T00709R000200730001-5 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/03/11: CIA-RDP82T00709R000200730001-5 SECRET (S/WN) All available satellite imagery acquired between cutoff date, was used in the preparation of this report DMAAC. US Air Target Chart, Series 200, Sheet 0234-12, scale 1:200,000 (SECRET *Extracted material is REQUIREMENTS COMIREX J02 Project 542038J Distribution 86-004 RCA-09/0037/73, Kharkov Aviation Institute, Mar 73 (TOP SECRET 75X1 25X1 25X1 (S) Comments and queries regarding this report are welcome. They may be directed to Strategic Forces Division, Imagery Exploitation Group, NPIC, Soviet 7!X1 25X1 -5- SECRET RCA-0910010182 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/03/11: CIA-RDP82T00709R000200730001-5 Sanitized Copy AK Se~cr-et Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/03/11: CIA-RDP82T00709R000200730001-5 ecret

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[2] https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/collection/nga-records-formerly-nima
[3] https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/docs/CIA-RDP82T00709R000200730001-5.pdf