KHARKOV POSSIBLE SILO R&D FACILITY

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• 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
• Publication Date: May 1, 1982
• Content Type: REPORT

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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
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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
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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
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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
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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.
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(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
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(S) Comments and queries regarding this report are welcome. They may be directed to
Strategic Forces Division, Imagery Exploitation Group, NPIC,
Soviet 7!X1
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