PROBABLE SS-N-18 SLBM FOLLOW-ON POPUP TESTING, USSR

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP82T00709R000200810001-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 6
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: April 1, 2010
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: June 1, 1982
• Content Type: REPORT

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imagery analysis report
NATIONAL PHOTO~GRAPHIC INURPREfATION CENT
Probable SS-N-18 SLBM Follow-on
Popup Testing, USSR (S)
Secret
WNINTEL
Z-14577/82
OAR-0042/82
JUNE 1982
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SECRET
PROBABLE SS-N-18 SLBM FOLLOW-ON POPUP
TESTING, USSR (S)
INTRODUCTION
1. (S/WN) Activity at Balaklava Missile Test Center USSR, in February and 25X1
early March 1982 indicated that the Soviets have begun popup testing of a liquid-fueled follow-on
to the SS-N-18 submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM). The test program will use popup test
platform 8 (Figure 1), which was originally constructed for the SS-NX-20 popup program. The
platform was modified at Sevastopol Shipyard Sevmorzavod 497 to accommodate 25X1
the new missile.
2. (S/WN) Activity at the missile test center in 1981 suggested that a new SLBM would be
tested and that the missile would be liquid fueled. A new liquid-propellant service area was
constructed. Fuel/oxidizer trailers and support vehicles were brought to the test center and two
trailers, previously used as missile transporters in the SS-NX-20 program, were refurbished and
covered with canvas.
ACTIVITY SUMMARY
3. (S/WN) A canvas-covered probable SLBM airframe was observed on imagery of
on a trailer in front of a fuel dispensing structure in the new liquid-propellant service
area (Figure 2). The probable airframe (approximately 14 meters long and 2 meters in diameter)
was aligned with guide rails on the floor of the fuel dispensing structure. A MAZ prime mover,
probably used to tow the airframe trailer, was on the opposite side of the structure. Concurrently
in the missile handling area, a nitrogen vehicle was next to a small support building, and a missile
dolly was in front of the high-bay checkout building (Figure 3). The nitrogen vehicle was probably
one of two that have always been seen in the missile storage area. The two nitrogen vehicles were
part of a septet of fuel/oxidizer trailers and other support vehicles brought to the test center in
mid-1981. The movement of the nitrogen vehicles was the first activity observed involving any of
these vehicles since their arrival, suggesting that test activity was commencing.
4. (S/WN) A probable propellant loading operation was underway at the new propellant
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service area ono The probable missile airframe was not visible and had probably been 25X1
placed on the guide rails in the propellant dispensing structure. Six vehicles, including one
firetruck, one water truck, one nitrogen vehicle, a propellant transfer vehicle, and one MAZ
prime mover were positioned around the structure (Figure 4). A fuel/oxidizer trailer (inset, Figure
4), missing from its normal location in the missile storage area on was probably 25X1
beneath the structure.
5. (S/WN) The activity in the new liquid-fuel service area had ended by All the 25X1
vehicles, including the fuel/oxidizer trailer, had returned to the missile storage area. One of the
refurbished missile transporters in the missile handling area had been moved, suggesting that the
transporter had been used to move the probable airframe (Figure 5).
(Continued p. 7)
WNINTEL
Z-14577/82
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SECRET
6. (S/WN) Related activity was observed at Balaklava Submarine Base and Ship Repair Yard
a large floating crane was brought to the base and 25X1
positioned in the popup platform maintenance/checkout area, probably in preparation for load-
ing the airframe into popup platform 8. Between popup platform 8 25X1
departed the base and popup testing of the new airframe probably took place during this period.
The platform had returned to the base by and was moored outboard the floating crane. 25X1
7. (S/WN) Concurrently with the return of the popup platform, a probable purging opera-
tion was underway at the propellant service area. The probable missile airframe was on the guide
rails under the dispensing structure on the airframe had been 25X1
removed from the guide rails and had been placed on a canvas-covered missile transporter. The
transporter was under the dispensing structure adjacent to the guide rails, which were now empty
(Figure 7). Balaklava was not covered on usable imagery again until By that time, all 25X1
activities had ceased in the propellant service area. The missile transporter had returned to the
missile handling area, probably delivering the airframe to the assembly/checkout building for
posttest examination.
IMAGERY ANALYST'S COMMENTS
8. (S/WN) The length of the probable airframe, 14 meters, is compatible with the length of
an SS-N-18 considering that part of the nose cone may not be present during a 25X1
propellant loading operation. The SS-N-8 is only long with the nose cone. This 25X1
strongly suggests that airframe observed in this sequence of events is a follow-on to the SS-N-18
and not to the SS-N-8.
(S/WN) All applicable satellite imagery acquired throughF__~was used in the preparation of 25X1
this report.
(S) Comments and queries regarding this report are welcome. The ma be directed to
Soviet Strategic Forces Division, Imagery Exploitation Group, NPIC,
-7-
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