25TH ANNIVERSARY PARADE - MANAGUA, NICARAGUA - 8 NOVEMBER 1986

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP87T00076R000100260001-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 10
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: April 15, 2011
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: November 14, 1986
• Content Type: REPORT

Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/04/15: CIA-RDP87T00076R000100260001-6
ROUTING
TO:
NAME AND ADDRESS
DATE
INITIALS
1
2
3
4
ACTION
DIRECT REPLY
PREPARE REPLY
APPROVAL
DISPATCH
RECOMMENDATION
COMMENT
FILE
RETURN
CONCURRENCE
INFORMATION
SIGNATURE
REMARKS:
FROM:
NAME. ADDRESS. AND PHONE NO.
DATE
SECRET
(Security Classification)
(See inside cover)
Z-15785/86
NPIC/IEG (11/86)
Warning Notice
Intelligence Sources or Methods Involved
NATIONAL SECURITY INFORMATION
Unauthorized Disclosure Subject to Criminal Sanctions
SECRET
(Security Classification)
29
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/04/15: CIA-RDP87T00076R000100260001-6
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/04/15: CIA-RDP87T00076R000100260001-6
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/04/15: CIA-RDP87T00076R000100260001-6
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/04/15: CIA-RDP87T00076R000100260001-6
SECRET
NATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHIC INTERPRETATION CENTER
Page I of 4
25TH ANNIVERSARY PARADE
MANAGUA, NICARAGUA
8 NOVEMBER 1986
1. SIGNIFICANCE: A MILITARY PARADE OF SEVERAL THOUSAND TROOPS
AND A LARGE DISPLAY OF MILITARY EQUIPMENT, CELEBRATING THE
25TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FOUNDING OF THE SANDINISTA PARTY, WAS
UNDERWAY IN NICARAGUA'S CAPITAL CITY OF MANAGUA. DESPITE
REPORTS THAT A NEW AIR DEFENSE WEAPON SYSTEM WAS TO BE
UNVEILED DURING THE CELEBRATIONS, NO WEAPONS NEW TO THE
SANDINISTA INVENTORY WERE OBSERVED ON IMAGERY. 25X1
2. REMARKS: ON (U-2) IMAGERY OF 8 NOVEMBER, A 25X1
CROWD OF APPROXIMATELY 30,000 PEOPLE WAS WATCHING AS A LARGE
MILITARY PARADE PREPARED TO PASS-IN-REVIEW AT THE EAST END OF
THE PARADE AREA ALONG THE LAKESHORE IN NORTHERN MANAGUA
(GRAPHIC 1). THIRTY-FIVE FORMATIONS, TOTALING OVER 5000
PERSONNEL, LED THE PARADE (GRAPHIC 2), FOLLOWED BY A LARGE
REVIEW OF MILITARY HARDWARE (GRAPHIC 3). SIGNIFICANT ITEMS
OF EQUIPMENT INVOLVED IN THE REVIEW INCLUDED: 55 T-54/55
TANKS; 13 BTR-60 ARMORED PERSONNEL CARRIERS (APC); 12 BRDM-2
APC; ARTILLERY INCLUDING 18 BM-21 MULTIPLE ROCKET LAUNCHERS,
24 ZIS-2/3 ANTITANK GUNS, SIX 122MM HOWITZERS D-30, AND
EIGHTEEN 152MM GUN/HOWITZERS D-20; ANTIAIRCRAFT (AA) WEAPONS
TO INCLUDE SIX 37MM AA GUNS, SIX ZPU-4 AA GUNS, 24 ZU-23 AA
GUNS, AND 12 ZPU-1 AA GUNS; TWO CONFIRMED AND ONE POSSIBLE
FLAT FACE B AERIAL SURVEILLANCE RADARS; AND VARIOUS ITEMS OF
ENGINEER AND SUPPORT EQUIPMENT INCLUDING SEARCHLIGHT TRUCKS,
TMM TRUCK-LAUNCHED BRIDGES, AND AMBULANCES. TWELVE
ADDITIONAL ZIS-2/3 GUNS HAD BEEN SET UP ON LINE EAST OF THE
REVIEWING STAND, PROBABLY TO PROVIDE CEREMONIAL SALUTES.
ADDITIONAL PIECES OF SEVERAL EQUIPMENT TYPES LISTED ABOVE
WERE IN RESERVE IN THE PARADE AREA, SERVING AS REPLACEMENTS
These notes have been prepared for briefing purposes only and should not be used for detailed analytical work. Their use should be restricted
to the particular briefing board(s) they were prepared for and must be considered valid only for the reporting period as indicated by the date of
issue.
WARNING NOTICE
INTELLIGENCE SOURCES
DR METHODS INVOLVED
SECRET
Z-15785/86
NPIC/IEG/AAD
14 NOVEMBER 1986
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/04/15: CIA-RDP87T00076R000100260001-6
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/04/15: CIA-RDP87T00076R000100260001-6
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NATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHIC INTERPRETATION CENTER
Page 2 of 4
Z-15785/86
NPIC/IEG/AAD
14 NOVEMBER 1986
FOR EQUIPMENT WHICH MIGHT BREAK DOWN PRIOR TO THE REVIEW.
ADDITIONALLY, AT LEAST 15 HIP HELICOPTERS WERE OBSERVED IN
THE CLOUD-FREE AREAS OF PUNTA HUETE AIRFIELD. THE
HELICOPTERS WERE PARKED ON THE MAIN RUNWAY IN FIVE GROUPS OF
THREE, PROBABLY PREPARING TO PARTICIPATE IN A FLY-BY OF THE
PARADE AREA.
ANALYSTS' COMMENTS -- MILITARY ACTIVITY RELATED TO PARADE
PREPARATION WAS OBSERVED AS EARLY AS WHEN THE
TANK BATTALION GARRISONED IN THE MANAGUA AREA AT EL TEMPISQUE
ARMOR BATTALION HEADQUARTERS WAS PRACTICING DRIVING IN
BATTALION FORMATION. THROUGHOUT OCTOBER, THE NUMBER AND
TYPES OF UNITS INVOLVED IN PARADE PRACTICE INCREASED
SIGNIFICANTLY, TO INCLUDE ELEMENTS OF TANK, MECHANIZED
INFANTRY, ARTILLERY, AND ANTIAIRCRAFT UNITS PRACTICING
DRIVING IN LARGE FORMATIONS AT EITHER THE MANAGUA PARADE AREA
OR AT MONTELIMAR AIRFIELD ON NICARAGUA'S WEST COAST. BY
EARLY NOVEMBER, ALL THE EQUIPMENT AT MONTELIMAR HAD BEEN
RELOCATED TO THE MANAGUA AREA, WHERE LARGE FORMATIONS OF
ALTHOUGH THE CELEBRATIONS DID INVOLVE THE LARGEST DISPLAY OF
MILITARY MIGHT YET MUSTERED BY THE SANDINISTAS, NO WEAPON
SYSTEMS NEW TO THE NICARAGUAN INVENTORY WERE OBSERVED ON
IMAGERY OF THE PARADE AREA. MOST OF THE EQUIPMENT INVOLVED
IN THE PARADE WAS PROBABLY SUBORDINATE TO UNITS GARRISONED IN
THE MANAGUA AREA WHICH CONSTITUTE THE SANDINISTA ARMY'S HIGH
COMMAND RESERVE OR 'RAM'. THE MEDIUM TANKS AND APC'S ARE
PROBABLY ELEMENTS OF THE ARMOR BRIGADE HEADQUARTERED AT
These notes have been prepared for briefing purposes only and should not be used for detailed analytical work. Their use should be restricted
to the particular briefing board(s) they were prepared for and must be considered valid only for the reporting period as indicated by the date of
issue.
SECRET
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NATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHIC INTERPRETATION CENTER
Page 3 of 4
IMAGERY ANALYSIS BRIEF Z-15785/86
NPIC/IEG/AAD
14 NOVEMBER 1986
LA QUEBRADITA MILITARY BARRACKS AREA. THE ARTILLERY IS
PROBABLY SUBORDINATE TO THE RAM'S ARTILLERY BRIGADE
GARRISONED AT CUAJACHILLO MILITARY BARRACKS AREA, WHERE
BM-21, 152MM D-20, 122MM D-30, AND ANTITANK GUNS HAVE BEEN
OBSERVED. OTHER UNITS PARTICIPATING IN THE REVIEW PROBABLY
INCLUDED PORTIONS OF THE ENGINEER BATTALION AND CHEMICAL
DEFENSE COMPANY GARRISONED AT SAN ISID TRAINING FACILITY,
ON NEARBY CHILTEPE PENINSULA. ~ 7
COORDINATES 12-09-40N 086-16-48W (S)
COORDINATES 11-48-15N 086-30-42W (S)
EL TEMPISQUE ARMOR BATTALION HEADQUARTERS
COORDINATES 12-12-38N 086-20-25W (S)
LA QUEBRADITA MILITARY BARRACKS AREA
COORDINATES 12-07-15N 086-17-IOW (S)
COORDINATES 12-07-36N 086-20-13W (S)
COORDINATES 12-12-29N 086-18-OOW (S)
COORDINATES 12-20-57N 086-11-OOW (S) 25X1
4. COLLATERAL REFERENCES: JCS WASHINGTON DC, DTG 151318Z SEP
86, 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FOUNDING OF THE FSLN (U), (U)
These notes have been prepared for briefing purposes only and should not be used for detailed analytical work. Their use should be restricted
to the particular briefing board(s) they were prepared for and must be considered valid only for the reporting period as indicated by the date of
issue.
SECRET
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/04/15: CIA-RDP87TOO076ROO0100260001-6
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/04/15: CIA-RDP87T00076R000100260001-6
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NATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHIC INTERPRETATION CENTER
Page 4 of 4 IMAGERY ANALYSIS BRIEF Z-15785/86
NPIC/IEG/AAD
14 NOVEMBER 1986
DIA WASHINGTON DC/JSI-7, DTG 1803S1Z OCT 86 NICARAGUA:
ANNIVERSARY PARADE PREPARATIONS (U), THE EXTRACTED 25X1
INFORMATION IS CLASSIFIED 25X1
5. ANALYSTS:
1
These notes have been prepared for briefing purposes only and should not be used for detailed analytical work. Their use should be restricted
to the particular briefing board(s) they were prepared for and must be considered valid only for the reporting period as indicated by the date of
issue.
SECRET
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/04/15: CIA-RDP87T00076R000100260001-6
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/04/15: CIA-RDP87T00076R000100260001-6
25th Anniversary Parade
Managua, Nicaragua
Z-15785 NPIC/IEG (11/86) 1 of 3
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 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/04/15: CIA-RDP87T00076R000100260001-6
25th Anniversary Parade
Managua, Nicaragua
8 November 1986
Z-15785 NPIC/IE6 (11/86) 2 of 3
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 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/04/15: CIA-RDP87T00076R000100260001-6
25th Anniversary Parade
Managua, Nicaragua
8 November 1986
I-15785 NPIC/IEG (11/86) 3 of 3
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