NFIB-82.4/7
11 June 1982
MEMORANDUM FOR NATIONAL FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE BOARD
FROM: Walter Elder
Executive
Secretary
SUBJECT: Soviet Missile System Designators
REFERENCE: NFIB-82.4/6, 24 July 1980
The attached memorandum from the Chairman, WSSIC, which supersedes the reference, is forwarded for your information and retention.
/S/
WALTER ELDER
Attachment
As Stated
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DIRECTOR OF CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE
Weapon and
Space Systems Intelligence Committee
Attachment to
NFIB-82.4/7
11 June 1982
MEMORANDUM FOR THE NATIONAL FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE BOARD
SUBJECT: Soviet Missile System Designators
REFERENCE: NFIB-82.4/6, 24 July 1980
1. The Weapon and Space Systems Intelligence Committee (WSSIC) has reviewed and updated the reference. The attachment supersedes the list of Soviet missile system designators contained in the reference.
2. New and modified designators assigned since 24 July 1980 are as follows:
|
Memorandum for Holders No. date |
Action |
|---|---|
|
1. 15 August 1980 |
SA-X-12 designated |
|
2. 3 September 1980 |
SS-17 Mod 3 assigned |
|
3. 3 December 1980 |
SS-NX-20 designated |
|
4. 5 March 1981 |
DR-1, 2, 3 designated |
|
5. 8 April 1981 |
AS-X-13 designated |
|
6. 29 April 1981 |
SA-14 designated |
|
7. 5 November 1981 |
SS-NX-22 designated |
|
8. 20 November 1981 |
SS-N-17/Y-II operational |
|
9. 8 January 1982 |
SS-N-19 operational |
|
10. 28 January 1982 |
AS-7a,b assigned |
|
11. 25 February 1982 |
SA-N-6 operational |
|
12. 16 March 1982 |
SA-6a,b assigned |
|
13. 13 April 1982 |
AA-9 operational |
/S/
Chairman
Attachment:
As Stated
(1
June 1982)
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ATTACHMENT
SOVIET MISSILE SYSTEM DESIGNATORS
1. The Weapon and Space Systems Intelligence Committee (WSSIC) has the responsibility for assigning letter-number designators to foreign weapon systems. The National Foreign Intelligence Board is advised when new designators are assigned. Guidelines governing the assignment and use of Soviet missile system designators are formulated by WSSIC in [----DELETED SENTENCE----]
2. The assignment and use of designators are governed by the following:
a. A designator is assigned when it becomes apparent that a system is engaged in a viable system flight test development program leading to operational use. To distinguish it from an operationally deployed system, an "X" is inserted between the letters and the number; for example, the SS-X-00. If it is a naval system, an "N" is also included (e.g., SS-NX-00).
b. The letter "X" is removed from the designator when the system is considered to have reached an operationally deployed status.
c. Variants of surface-to-surface ballistic missile systems which significantly affect threat characteristics are assigned "Mod" numbers. Earlier systems were assigned letter suffixes which have been retained (i.e., SS-1a, SS-1b, and SS-1c).
d. Letter suffixes for variants in the other missile categories (e.g., SS-N-2a, SA-2b) will continue to be used. For these weapon systems, letter suffixes will be used to identify subsystem variants, e.g., guidance, payload, or significant performance differences.
e. Assignment of missile nicknames is the responsibility of the Air Standardization Coordinating Committee (ASCC).
f. In the enclosed list, the second column reads: ASCC-assigned missile nickname (if any)/Type of system (Classification). In the surface-to-air and antiballistic missile system sections, the second column reads: ASCC-assigned missile nickname (if any)/engagement radar nickname (if any) (Classification).
g. Classification guidelines:
(1) All letter-number designators (e.g., SS-4) when used alone are unclassified.
(2) The combination of a letter-number designator with an ASCC-assigned missile nickname or a radar nickname takes on the classification of the nickname.
(3) Missile systems with test range designators (e.g., the NE-04 launched from Nenoksa, TT-06 launched from Tyuratam, KY-12 launched from Kapustin Yar) are assigned [REDACTED] normally at the onset of a test program. They are classified according to source. They are replaced by an unclassified WSSIC-assigned letter-number designator when the system's role and characteristics are better understood.
(4) Although individual WSSIC-assigned designators are unclassified, the entire list is classified SECRET.
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