DEVELOPMENT OF PROBABLE ICBM BOOSTER-CLASS ROCKET MOTOR, LAN-TIEN SOLID PROPELLANT PRODUCTION COMPLEX, PRC

Document Type:

CREST [1]

Collection:

NGA Records (Formerly NIMA) [2]

Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST):

CIA-RDP78B07179A000100240001-2

Release Decision:

RIPPUB

Original Classification:

Document Page Count:

Document Creation Date:

December 28, 2016

Document Release Date:

March 29, 2010

Sequence Number:

Case Number:

Publication Date:

September 20, 1978

Content Type:

REPORT

File:

Attachment	Size
CIA-RDP78B07179A000100240001-2.pdf [3]	59.14 KB

Body:

Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/03/29: CIA-RDP78BO7179A000100240001-2 i' National TOP Secret RUFF 20 SEPTEMBER 1978 Photographic ,It Center IMAGERY INFORMATION REPORT DEVELOPMENT OF PROBABLE ICBM BOOSTER-CLASS ROCKET MOTOR, LAN-TIEN SOLID PROPELLANT PRODUCTION COMPLEX, PRC (TSR) TSR Anew probable rocket motor/stage transporter was observed ono of at the Lan-tien Solid Propellant Production Complex in the People's Republic of China (PRC). This sighting provides the first evidence of ICBM booster-class (TSR) The probable transporter was on a concrete driveway outside a probable shop !building on the northern edge of the finishing and final assembly area at the Lan-tien meters. The probable transporter appears to be of substantial frame construction with parallel structural members forming the sides and a lateral crossbrace at one end. Five From the crossbraced end of the probable transporter. A transporter of this size and configuration would be well suited to carry an ICBM first-stage rocket motor. (TSR) Several possible mold components were adjacent to the main road and were :about 35 meters southeast of the probable rocket motor/stage transporter. Molds are some- times used in the rocket motor production process to form specially configured areas of a ,propellant grain such as an aft closure section. The southernmost component in the group (see illustration) has an inner diameter o~and an outer diameter of (TSR) Within the past few months, the Lan-tien Complex may have become opera- tional. This probable status was determined by the final concrete paving of roadways ,between key functional areas of the complex and recent evidence of test activity in the vicinity of test cells 1 and 2. (TSR) The only known strategic solid propellant missile system under development in ,the PRC is a submarine-launched ballistic missile which is being developed at the Hu-ho- :hao-te Solid Propellant Complex 0 While no missile system has been previously associated with the Lan-tien Solid Propellant Production Complex, the complex appears to have sufficient capability to develop, test, and series produce rocket motors for a multistage solid propellant missile system. (S) Comments and queries regarding this report are welcome. They ma be directed Asian Forces Division, Imagery Exploitation Group, NPIC, GEOGRAPHIC COORDINATES 34-03-19N 109-24-30E COUNTRY CODE CH Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/03/29 : CIA-RDP78BO7179A000100240001-2