MODIFIED TWIN DISH KOMSOMOLSK, USSR (SANITIZED)

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP84T00171R000201210001-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: February 8, 2012
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: July 22, 1983
• Content Type: REPORT

Declassified in Part -Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/02/08 :CIA-RDP84T001718000201210001-6
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Z-12720/83
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NP IC/IEG (JULY 83)
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(c) NATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHIC INTERPRETATION CENTER
MODIFIED TWIN DISH
KOMSOMOLSK, USSR (SWN)
Attachment to Z-12720/83
NPIC/IEG
22 JULY 1983
1. SIGNIFICANCE: A MODIFIED VERSIOAj'OF THE STANDARD TWIN DISH
TROPOSCATTER RELAY SYSTEM HAS BEEN DEPLOYED IN THE SOVIET FAR
EAST. (SWN) '
2. REMARKS: ANALYSIS OF THE NEWEST SOVIET TROPOSCATTER RELAY
SYSTEM, NPIC INTERIM DESIGNATOR UL-EL-O1, INDICATES IT IS A
SECOND-GENERATION VERSION OF THE STANDARD TWIN DISH (R-408)
SYSTEM WHICH HAS BEEN IN SERVICE SINCE 1960. (SWN)
FIELD TESTING OF THE MODIFIED TWIN DISH WAS CONDUCTED AT ULAN
UDE 9TH RVGK SIGNAL BDE AL-3 FROM MID-DECEMBER 1982 UNTIL
MARCH 1983. A MODIFIED TWIN DISH STATION IS COMPRISED OF
13 VEHICLES AND TRAILERS RATHER THAN THE EIGHT VEHICLES AND
TRAILERS OF THE OLDER SYSTEM (GRAPHIC 1). SINCE MARCH, EIGHT
MODIFIED TWIN DISH STATIONS HAVE BEEN STORED IN AN OPEN VEHICLE
PARK NEXT TO A TWI1~ PLATE BATTALION AT KOMSOMOLSK NA AMURE ARMY
BKS. (SWN)
BOTH THE NEW AND OLD VERSIONS HAVE TWO 10-METER PARABOLIC
DISHES THAT ARE GROUND MOUNTED ON A V-B'AR LATTICE MAST WITH TWO
LATTICE SUPPORT ARMS. HOWEVER, THERE ARE STRUCTURAL, MOBILE,
AND OPERATIONAL DEPLOYMENT DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE TWO
SYSTEMS. FIRST, THE MODIFIED TWIN DISH ANTENNA HAS A SOLID,
5.3-METER CENTER RING WITH A MESH OUTER RING COMPOSED OF
18 SEGMENTS. BY CONTRAST, THE STANDARD TWIN DISH ANTENNA IS
COMPLETELY MESH CONSTRUCTED WITFI A TWO-RUNG-LADDER-SHAPED
DESIGN IN ITS CENTER RING. SECONDLY, THE NEW SYSTEM HAS
IMPROVED TRAFFICABILITY SINCE IT USES NEWER AND MORE VERSATILE
URAL-375 TRUCKS INSTEAD OF THE ZIL-157 TRUCKS OF THE OLDER
SYSTEM. FINALLY, WHEN THE MODIFIED TWIN DISH IS OPERATIONALLY
DEPLOYED, ITS VEHICLE LAYOUT PATTERN CLOSELY RESEMBLES THAT OF
THE TWIN PLATE STATION (GRAPHIC" 2). (SWN)
ANALYST'S COMMENTS -- NSA HAS PROPOSED THIS SYSTEM BE NAMED THE
TWIN DISH B. HOWEVER, UNTIL THE OFFICIAL NAME IS DESIGNATED,
NPIC REPORTING WILL USE MODIFIED TWIN DISH RATHER THAN
UL-EL-Ol. (SWN)
These notes have been prepared for briefing purposes only and sh uld not be used for detailed analytical work.
Their use should be restricted to the particular briefing boardls) they were prepared for and must be considerRd
WARNING NOTICE
INTELLIGENCE SOURCES
OA METHODS IN VOLVEO
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!;, Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/02/08: CIA-RDP84T001718000201210001-6
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(c) NATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHIC INTERPRETATION CENTER
ACCORDING TO ONE SOURCE, A NEW MODEL R-408 TWIN DISH WAS USED
TO ESTABLISH A COMMUNICATIONS LINE BETWEEN BULGARIA AND ODESSA
IN MARCH 1978. THIS MIGHT HAVE BEEN THE FIRST EXPERIMENTAL
PHASE OF THE SYSTEM'S DEVELOPMENT. IN ADDITION, THIS SOURCE
DESCRIBED VEHICLE COMPONENTS WHICH WERE ALMOST IDENTICAL TO THE
MODIFIED TWIN DISH VEHICLES OBSERVED ON IMAGERY. MODIFIED TWIN
DISH WILL PROBABLY REPLACE THE OLDER TWIN DISH SYSTEM AND BE
USED MUCH LIKE ITS PREDECESSOR. (SWN)
Attachment to Z-12720/83
NPIC/IEG
22 JULY 1983
COORDINATES 50-34-35N 136-54-57E (S)
COORDINATES 51-51-09N 107-53-32E (S)
4. COLLATERAL REFERENCE: DOD. IR 2 218 7668 80, DIFFERENCES
BETWEEN R-410M1 and R-410M2 RADIO STATIONS, A NEW R-408 MODEL,
AND INFORMATION ON THE R-412, 18 NOVEMBER 1980. (CONFIDENTIAL)
These notes have been prepared for briefing purposes only and shb'uld not be used for detailed analytical work.
Their use should be restricted to the Darticular briefing board(s) they were prepared for and must be considered
WARNING NOTICE
INTELLIGENCE SOURCES
OR METNOOS IN VOLVED
SECRET
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