NEW ACTIVITY POSSIBLY ASSOCIATED WITH THE SS-X-16 DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM, PLESETSK MISSILE/SPACE TEST CENTER SSM, USSR

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78T05162A000400010036-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 10
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 14, 2011
• Sequence Number: 36
• Publication Date: August 1, 1974
• Content Type: REPORT

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TO
NATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHIC
INTERPRETATION CENTER
PHOTOGRAPHIC
INTERPRETATION
REPORT
NEW ACTIVITY POSSIBLY
ASSOCIATED WITH THE SS-X-16
DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM, PLESETSK
MISSILE/SPACE TEST CENTER
SSM, USSR
COPY NO.12
9 PAGES
PI R-051 /74
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TOP SECRET RUFF
NEW ACTIVITY POSSIBLY ASSOCIATED WITH THE SS-X-16 DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
PLESETSK MISSILE/SPACE TEST CENTER SSM, USSR
1. Repetitive coverage over the Plesetsk Missile/Space Test Center SSM during the months
of June and July 1974 has provided additional information on the camouflage and/or concealment
activity, which may be part of a mobile SS-X-16 development effort. Additionally, two areas of
newly constructed revetments were seen at an abandoned sod airfield near launch site 16.
2. Amapof
the Plesetsk center shows the relative locations where camouflage and/or concealment has been seen;
? the report also includes six annotated photographs and a table containing all dates of coverage over
these areas of camouflage and/or concealment activity.
information on camouflage activity previously observed at the center see NPIC
3. The SS-X-16 missile has been undergoing research and development (R&D) at the Plesetsk
Missile/Space Test Center SSM (PMSTC) since March 1972. This three-stage solid-propellant missile
is probably being tested for deployment in a mobile mode and, if so, would be the second mobile
missile system to have been tested at the PMSTC. The first system, the SS-X-15, was tested through
the summer of 1969 at launch sites 16 and 21. Between the discontinuance of the SS-X-15 program
in August 1969 and the first reported launch of the SS-X-16 in March 1972, changes were observed
at the two SS-X-15-associated launch sites and at launch site 5, an SS-7 launch site. An extension
was added to the eastern launch pads at launch sites 16 and 21, and launch site 5 underwent a
reduced state of readiness which included the removal of the erectors and the propellant tanks. For
4. New camouflage and/or concealment activity and revetment construction seen during the
months of June and July occurred near launch sites 5, 13, 16, and in the SS-X-16 missile receiving
and checkout area of the missile handling facility (Figure 1 and Table 1).
which is believed to be associated with
the R&D of the SS-X-16 missile system, concealment activity was observed
TOP SECRET RUFF
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I 'I aI_ l I_ I nwI I
Launch Site
5
Near Launch
Site
13
Near Launch
Site
16
Missile Handling
Facility
Launch Site
5
Near Launch
Site
13
Near Launch
Site
16
Missile Handling
Facility
3 small tents
NC
NC
No c/c P
IDO
NC
IDO
NC
NC
NC
CC
No c/c P
No c/c P
NC
NC
NC
CC
NC
CC
NC
No c/c P
Vehicles
Area R1
NAC
3 small tents
NC
CC
IDO
removed
prob complete
3 small tents
NC
5 camouflaged
NC
No c/c P
No c/c P
NAC
NAC
removed
vehicles
NC
NC
CC
NC
NC
NC
NAC
NC
CC
NC
NAC
NC
Netting
No c/c P
NAC
Net-covered MAZ-543
4 vehicles near
No c/c P
NAC
NC
Netting
No c/c P
NC
NC
Area A
CC
NC
CC
NC
Vehicles
No c/c P
3 revetments
NAC
CC
CC
CC
CC
removed
bulldozed over
Netting removed
NC
NC
NC
NAC
NC
NAC
NC
CC
NC
NC
NC
CC
CC
CC
NC
Netting
4 camouflaged
Vehicles
NAC
CC
NC
Area R2
vehicles
removed
present--
Netting
CC
CC
NAC
camouflaged
NC
NC
NC
NAC
vehicle nearby
NC
NC
No c/c P
NC
No c/c P
No c/c P
NAC
MAZ-543
Netting removed
NAC
No c/c P
NAC
removed
NC
5 camouflaged
NC
NAC
No c/c P
No c/c P
NC
I DO
vehicles
No c/c P
No c/c P
NAC
No c/c P
NC
CC
NC
NC
No c/c P
No c/c P
Vehicle
No c/c P
Netting
NC
No c/c P
NC
removed
Netting removed
NC
CC
NC
No c/c P
NC
CC
NAC
IDO
No camouflage/concealment activity present
Not covered
Cloud covered
No apparent change from previous activity
Identifiable only
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8. Five heavily camouflaged vehicles were seen approximately 0.6 nm west of ICBM Test Site
16 Three of these vehicles are MAZ-543-type
vehicles. The remaining two vehicles could not be identified because of the configuration of the
canvas/netting over the vehicles; however, measurements of the two vehicles indicate that they are
dimensionally the same as the MAZ-543-type vehicle (Figure 4). These vehicles, which were parked
in line in the clearing for the former overrun to an abandoned sod airfield, were not present on
of IRBM R&D and Training Launch Site 1
north-northeast of the former airfield overrun.
arked in line 0.3 nm southwest
were approximately 5.5 nm
amouflaged vehicles were still
discernible, and a fifth vehicle was seen in the clearing. These five vehicles are probably
the same as those five vehicles seen near launch site 16. The five vehicles had been moved from
this clearing near site 13
the vehicles discernible
10. approximately 3,000 yards southwest of the sod airfield overrun at 62-47-32N
040-34-OOE, a large drive-through revetment and seven drive-in revetments had been constructed since
at least four heavily camouflaged vehicles
The turning radii of the vehicle trackage made by three of
This area, arbitrarily designated R1, may be the first observed PI signature
for a mobile ICBM field site. The drive-through revetment is approximately 270 feet long,
the
revetment had been bulldozed over.
rive
ve
-5-
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the three drive-in revetments immediately south of
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TOP SECRET RUFF
11.I I a second area of revetment construction (designated R2) was identified
approximately 0.5 nm northwest of R1 at 62-48-03N 040-33-09E (Figure 7). This activity was not
This area also contains one long drive-through revetment approximately
325 feet long I Seven drive-in
revetments similar to the ones at area R1 had also been constructed in the immediate area.
12. canvas and/or net-covered vehicle similar in appearance to the five vehicles
seen near launch site 13 was parked on an unimproved road approximately 0.3 nm
south of area R2. This vehicle was also present and was not present
Missile Handling Facility
13. In the SS-X-16 missile receiving and checkout area of the missile handling facility
a net covered MAZ-543 type veh
icle was parked next to a large linear earthen mound
The net, which was draped over the vehicle, effectively
blended the vehicle in with its environment. The vehicle was also present
however, identification from that coverage would have been difficult. This activity occurred
in the same area where three drive-in net/covered tentlike structures have been erected
One of the three structures was removed These structures
are probably used to house the MAZ-543-type vehicle, since there is no vehicle storage building in
this area of the missile handling facility.
MAPS OR CHARTS
DMA. US Air Target Chart, Series 200, Sheets 0102-9 and 10, scale 1:200,000
DOCUMENT
1. NPIC PIR-011/74, Camouflage Activity Probably Associated with the SS-X-16 Program at Ple-
setse and Space Center, USSR, Feb 74 (TOP SECRET RUFF
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