CIA-RDP87T00076R000102080001-4

Sverdlovsk Guided Missile Production Plant 8 (S)
A Research Paper

RCA 09/0002/86
May 1986

[CIA Directorates of Intelligence and Science and Technology]

[EXCERPTS BELOW]

[Page iii]

[DELETED SEVERAL SENTENCES LIKELY REFERRING TO SA-12] Also for this system, preparations may be under way to assemble a missile that has some anti-tactical-ballistic-missile (ATBM) capabilities. The plant is also associated with the production of the SH-08 antiballistic missile (ABM) and with the SA-10 air defense missile, which is known to be assembled at another facility.

[Page 12]

Plant 8 has been or is involved with production of GSE for four SAM systems; this GSE includes the SA-4 transporter-erector-launcher (TEL), the SA-6 TEL, the SA-X-12 (both for the GLADIATOR and the GIANT) transporter-erector-launcher and radar (TELAR), and the SA-X-12 resupply vehicle that is referred to as a transloader, the SA-11 resupply vehicle, referred to as a transloader, and either the SA-6 and/or the SA-11 TELAR (chart 1).

[Page 14]

SA-4 – The SA-4 was the first missile produced in mass quantity at Plant 8. First deployed in 1967, the SA-4 is a mobile, medium- to high-altitude, medium-range SAM consisting of four solid-propellant, strap-on boosters and a liquid-propellant sustainer. It is deployed with Soviet forces in the USSR and Eastern Europe and with East European national forces. The SA-4 missile and booster were produced solely at Plant 8, and the launcher mechanism of the SA-4 TEL chassis, which was shipped in from another plant, was assembled at Plant 8.

[Page 15-16]

SA-X-12 System

The GLADIATOR, one of two subsystems of the SA-X-12, is a multi-altitude, medium- to long-range system primarily for use against aircraft. Missiles are transported in and launched from canisters mounted on a TELAR. The GLADIATOR TELAR and transloader can carry up to four canisters each. The GIANT is the other subsystem of the SA-X-12 and is believed to have ATBМ сараbilities, with a secondary function as an air defense weapon. The GIANT TELAR and transloader can carry only two canisters each; however, they are larger than the canisters of the GLADIATOR system. The same chassis are probably used for both the GIANT and GLADIATOR TELAR and transloader. [DELETED]

In 1972, the GLADIATOR prototype canister was first observed, and the SA-X-12 system was first [DELETED] Both Plant 8 and the Yaskin OKB were involved. [DELETED] However, by the end of 1972, they considered the GLADIATOR a separate missile system. Work on both canisters was proceeding at Safonovo Plastics Plant and Leningrad Machine Building Plant 232 (Bolshevik Machine Building Plant). [DELETED]

In 1974, prototype canisters for both systems were at Emba Missile Test Center (MTC). [*]

[* – Two types of prototype canisters associated with each subsystem of the SA-X-12 have been observed. The earlier prototype canisters of the GIANT and the GLADIATOR featured a conical cap. Later versions, featuring a slightly domed cap and a shorter overall length, were identified at Sverdlovsk Plant 8 in 1977 for the GLADIATOR and in 1980 for the GIANT. [DELETED] ]

Emba MТС is a primary test and development area for tactical SAMs. Numerous crates of various sizes have also been observed at Sverdlovsk and at Emba MTC and may be related to testing of the SA-X-12 prototypes. [DELETED]

Between 1975 and 1978, prototype canisters for both the GLADIATOR and GIANT were observed in the eastern transshipment yard.

[DELETED SENTENCES] and a GLADIATOR TELAR/transloader was first observed at Plant 8 in January 1983.

[DELETED PARAGRAPHS]

The solid-propellant motors are filled probably at Perm Solid Motor Production Plant.

The launch cradle mechanism is probably produced and installed at Plant 8, and the command guidance radar for the GLADIATOR TELAR is installed on a chassis supplied by another plant. The cradle mechanism and the crane for the transloader are probably installed at Plant 8. TELAR or transloader chassis were first observed at Plant 8 in March 1982, but little was done with them for several months. In January 1983, the complete TELAR/transloader was first observed in the transshipment area, and one or two TELARs/ transloaders have been present on subsequent occasions. [DELETED]

[DELETED PARAGRAPHS]

increasing number of GLADIATOR launch vehicles and transloaders being delivered to Emba MTC and the Orenburg troop training facilities. These deliveries indicate that initial operational deployment may occur in early to mid-1986. [DELETED]

Although the GIANT missile is not yet in series production [DELETED]

[DELETED]

This order may have represented machine tools needed to fit out the large specialized fabrication/assembly building that was externally complete in December 1985 and will probably be operational in early 1987. [DELETED SENTENCE]

However, GIANT TELARs/transloaders have not been seen there, and no increase in the number of GIANT TELARs/transloaders at Emba MTC has been observed. The start of series production of the GIANT is probably dependent on successful completion of flight testing at Emba MTC and completion of the specialized fabrication building. [DELETED]

SH-08 High-Acceleration ABM

[DELETED PARAGRAPH] The Lyulev OKB was involved in the development of the missile motor and first canister.[DELETED]

Developmental work on the SH-08 conical motor from the early 1970s through 1984 so closely paralleled that on the smaller GIANT conical booster that the two systems were confused at least once by the Soviets, when an order for a component part used on both systems was mistakenly identified with the GIANT rather than the SH-08. Also, [DELETED SENTENCE] In 1974, the two systems were linked for the first time when Zubets, a motor design bureau (MPB), was to ship both mandrels used in the production of the motors within a month of each other to Safonovo Plastics Plant. Both mandrels were shipped while Zubets MPB was developing the SH-08 and the GIANT motors, indicating similar motor winding technology. Other parts were also used for both motors. [DELETED]

[DELETED PARAGRAPH]

In the latter part of the year, a large conical motor, probably for the SH-08, was observed in the test facility transshipment yard at Perm Solid Motor Production Plant, indicating that the motor had probably been tested. [DELETED]

The first confirmed test firing of the SH-08 was conducted at the missile test range at Sary-Shagan MTC on [DELETED]. On [DELETED] an SH-08 canister was first observed outside the secured eastern transshipment area at Plant 8, indicating that the canister was empty. The canister likely served as a shipping container for this test firing.

[DELETED PARAGRAPH]

From 1976 to 1981, only the aforementioned SH08 ABM canister was observed at Plant 8, but by the end of 1981, three more had been added. Since 1983, an average of 13 to 14 SH-08 canisters has been observed at Plant 8 (figure 5), with a high count of 17. Testing of the SH-08 continues at Sary-Shagan MTC, [DELETED SENTENCE]

The activity and involvement of Plant 8 indicates that some of the prototype work was most likely performed in the missile-associated fabrication/assembly building that was completed in 1975. Both the GIANT and the SH-08 will most likely be series produced in the large specialized fabrication/ assembly building that was externally completed in December 1985. Additional work may be performed in other buildings at the plant and at the Salda branch. Series production of the SH-08 will probably be contingent on the successful completion of the flight test program at Sary-Shagan MTC. [DELETED]

[Page 25]

In 1982, construction began on a large specialized fabrication/assembly building (item 19). Each bay of the building appears to have a different function, but the building will probably be for series production of missiles. Delays in the construction of this building were due to problems with documentation and building supplies. Although construction of this building started at a slow pace, it was finished very quickly. Based on the completion of this building in December 1985, we project that series production will begin in early 1987. [DELETED SENTENCE] The timing of this building indicates that Plant 8 will probably be the series production facility for the GIANT and the SH-08 missiles. Both missile systems use conical motors, and these motors have been seen at the same development and production facilities, indicating that both motors will probably require similar assembly technologies. It is unlikely that complete final assembly will be performed in this building because a branch of the plant may be performing that task, but fitting out and some component manufacturing and assembly may be done there.

[Pages 30 to 55]

Table B1 Representative Sample of Canister Activity and Counts at Sverdlovsk Guided Missile Production Plant 8

[Summarized to just SA-12 and SH-08]

[Pages 68]

SA-X-12 TEL first seen in 1982; and three examples seen during that year.