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LAUNCH COMPLEXES A AND B AND AREA OF CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITY TYURATAM MISSILE TEST CENTER, USSR

Document Type: 
CREST [1]
Collection: 
NGA Records (Formerly NIMA) [2]
Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 
CIA-RDP78B04560A002000010081-4
Release Decision: 
RIPPUB
Original Classification: 
T
Document Page Count: 
9
Document Creation Date: 
December 28, 2016
Document Release Date: 
November 8, 2000
Sequence Number: 
81
Case Number: 
Content Type: 
REPORT
File: 
AttachmentSize
PDF icon CIA-RDP78B04560A002000010081-4.pdf [3]476.26 KB
Body: 
Approved For Release 200~f8$1Yf.TCIAC~~Btl Y6OA002000010081-4 LAUNCH COMPLEXES A AND B AND AREA OF CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITY TYURATAM MISSILE TEST CENTER, USSR This report presents information derived from KEYHOLE photography of on changes and additions at Launch Complexes A and B, and the area of construction activity between the two complexes, at the Tyuratam Missile Test Center. 1/ 2/ Continued activity at Launch Complex A (Figures 1 and 2) is indicated by the construction of a rail spur to a point approximately 5,700 feet southeast of pad Al. The rails do not appear to be in place as yet, but cut and fill have been accomplished. The curves in this spur appear to be the result of following the contour of the terrain. A small vague uniden- tified structure is near the terminus of the spur. A tower on the center rail 500 feet to the rear of pad Al appears to be similar to those seen at Launch Complex G. The tower, approx- imately 50 feet high, is larger in diameter at the top than at the base. Measurement of its height was made difficult by an indistinct sha- dow and the slope of the rail embankment, and should be considered with caution. Two new buildings have been constructed between launch pads Al and A2. One building, 100 by 30 feet, is northwest of pad Al and the other, 90 by 30 feet, is just southeast of pad A2. Activity in the Instrumentation Control Cen- ter is indicated by rows of probable electronic vehicles/vans. Traces in the snow near the east end of the center indicate that a possible inter- ferometer is under construction. 25X1 D 25X1 D The launch area at Complex B (Figures 3 and 4) was enlarged between by moving the northeast side of the double security fence 1,200 feet to the northeast. The dimensions of the secured area are now approx- imately 5,100 by 2,600 feet. A new rail spur has been constructed from the largest of the missile assembly/checkout buildings to connect with the spur serving the launch pad. A new road extends to the northeast side of the area where it terminates in a square configuration approximately 225 feet on each side. That part of the road forming the square has been con- structed on an embankment which forms a shallow bowl. There was evidence of this road construction in 1). An unidentified object is located on the northwest side of the square. A newly identified secured area is located approximately 2,200 feet west of the launch pad. Fencing can be identified on the east side, and a portion of the northern and southern sides, of a small hillock on which there is a probable semiburied building approximately 180 by 110 feet. Unimproved roadways and trails from the support area appear to be the only visible con- nections with this facility; track activity to the area was apparent as early as Declassification Review by NIMA / DoDI - 25X1 D 25X1 D Approved For Rel"~0T/D$/21tCIA;RQP7.$BQ45~QA002000010081-4 Approved For Release 2001/08/21 : CIA-RDP78B04560A002000010081-4 OISTANCE TO NEW OIPPORT AREA 7.8 NAUTICAL MILES LAUNCH AREA ,. UNIDENTU ED STRUCTURE UNIMPROVED ROAD TO NEW SUPPORT AREA APPROXIMATELY 2.1 NAUTICAL MILES ROAD DISTANCE TO NEW SUPPORT AREA 10.3 NAU'"ICAL MILES POSSIBLE IN'TE-RFEROMETER UNDER-CONSTRUCTION Approved For Release 2001/08/21 : CIA-RDP78B04560A002000010081-4 TOP EO RYf: AYtO Approved For Release 200 /08/2 :CIA- B A002000010081-4 NNN / / NEW /"~'II' //'/(// BUILDING 90'X30' - NEW'NJ BUILDING 100' X 30', ~\'\ \/llnrrn PROBABLE WASTE/ DISPOSAL FACILITY PAD Al / AND > SERVICE / 77TOWS \Cl POSSI INTER FER CO D UN NSTRi PROBABLE ELECTRONIC VEHICLES/ VANS PROBABLE -. INT ERFEROME/TER N \ Railroad, double track Railroad, single track Road Trail/unimproved road i Open storage/vehicle park Building under construction Underground waterpipe trace Unidentified trace Linear earth mounding '#x PROBABLE TRACKING ANTENNA I N ACTIVE % BUILDING FOUNDATIONS EARTHEN REVETMENT UNIDENTIFIED STRUCTURE PROBABLE TRACKING ANTENNA BUILDINGS RAZED BUILDING FOUNDATIONS WASTE DISPOSAL FACILITY FIGURE 2. LAYOUT OF LAUNCH COMPLEX A.. - 3 - Approved For Relpa6ep20TLpe~1-CI9:RQP7,$BQUgnA002000010081-4 CH )r Approved For Release 2001/08/21 : CIA-RDP78BO456OA002000010081-4 Approved For Release 2001/08/21 : CIA-RDP78BO456OA002000010081-4 TOP SECRET CHE Approved For Release 2001/08/21 : CIA-RDPSBOS RUFF 60A002000010081-4 PROBABLE 180' X 110' SEMI BURI ED /BUILDING i,n, u c Railroad, double track Railroad, single track Road Trail/unimproved road Fence Building under construction Earth mounding Approved For Releaa~000Lp$/21 CIeR,Qr, 58BQ456QA002000010081-4 Approved For Release 2001/08/21 :' CIA-RDP78B04560A002000010081-4 Railroad under construction Road Trail/unimproved road Fence Possible building under construction = Ditching or linear earth mounds FIGURE 5. AREA OF CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITY. 25X1 D Approved For Release 2001/08/21 CIA-RDP78BO456OA002000010081-4 Approved For Release 200 fID$1~`T. CIACM&7'8130 'SEA002000010081-4 Another newly secured area, possibly an electronic facility, is located approximately 5, 500 feet northeast of the launch pad. It appears to be approximately 1, 400 feet square, but fencing has not been identified on its southern side. The area contains two buildings under construction, one (170 by 35 feet) with attached structures on each end and three small wings on one side. A small building with a possible dome is just northeast of the latter building under construc- tion. There are also two unidentified objects within the area. Rail and road construction in the area of construction activity between Launch Complexes A and B (Figure 5) have not been extended beyond 25X1 D the point first observed in -(Mission 25X1 D _ A secured area, similar in shape to Launch Area G3/G4 at Launch Complex G, is under construction on the east side of the rail and road construction, about 4,000 feet south of the terminus. Fencing is not complete, but the area is currently at least 2,500 by 1, 900 feet, with the longer axis oriented north and south. An in- distinct shallow excavation approximately 210 by 125 feet, with a building approximately 75 by 20 feet adjacent to it, is located in the approx- imate center of the area. On the west side of the rail and road construction, approximately 7,000 feet south of the secured area, is an area of possible construction activity which may be re- lated. In this 25X1 D area appeared to have a number of indistinct ditches or linear earth mounds and one possible building under construction. The area was snow covered and appeared inactive and unchanged in 1. NPIC. R-315/63, Launch. Complexes A and E, Tyuratarn Missile Test Center, USSR, Changes since Dec 63 (TOP SECRET CHESS RUFF) 2. NPIC. R-227/63, Launch Complexes A and 13 and Central Support Facility, Tyura Tarn Missile Test Center, USSR, Sep 63 (TOP SECRET CHESS RUFF) Approved For Rel ~e~20~pe/j.CI~~gP7ABQj5A002000010081-4 Approved For Release 2001x08/21$tIAR P781304560A002000010081-4 Approved For Release 2001/08/21 : CIA-RDP78B04560A002000010081-4 TOP SECRET 01 Approved For Release 20PM/2~SECRMP78BO456OA002000010081-4 / Copy I VC, NPIC/R-235/64 / 7 Pages April 1964 X / PHOTOGRAPHIC INTERPRETATION REPORT / 00Z LAUNCH COMPLEXES A AND B AND AREA OF CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITY ~. TYURATAM MISSILE TEST CENTER, USSR j/ Handle Via TALENT - KEYHOLE Control Only This document contains classified information affecting the national security of the United States within the meaning of the espionage laws U. S. Code Title 18, Sections 793 and 794. The law prohibits its transmission or the revelation of its contents in any manner to an unauthorized person, as well as its use in any manner prejudicial to the safety or interest of the United States or for the benefit of any foreign government to the detriment of the United States. It is to be seen only by personnel especially indoctrinated and authorized to receive TALENT-KEYHOLE information. Its security must be maintained in accordance with KEYHOLE and TALENT regulations. NATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHIC INTERPRETATION CENTER Z z TOP SECRET Gwo ~P Eaclud.d Iro dovgradnq gnd d_lassfica] Approved For Release 2001/08/21 :CIA-RDP78B04560A002000010081-4

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[1] https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/document-type/crest
[2] https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/collection/nga-records-formerly-nima
[3] https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/docs/CIA-RDP78B04560A002000010081-4.pdf