Documents / FOIA release
This is National Intelligence Estimate 11-5-61, Soviet Technical Capabilities in Guided Missiles and Space Vehicles. It was submitted by the Director of Central Intelligence and concurred in by the United States Intelligence Board on 25 April 1961. The estimate assesses Soviet surface-to-air, antimissile, air-to-air, air-to-surface, ballistic, ICBM, naval and space programs. It concludes that the first Soviet ICBM unit was probably operational around 1 January 1960. It also says there is no evidence the Soviets are developing offensive space weapons. It contains no UFO material.
“The Advance”10 pages
21 no specific evidence relating BW and missiles research and development. In view of opera- tional considerations we consider BW use in ballistic missiles unlikely, although possible for certain special purposes. 85. Mobility appears to be a basic considera- tion in Soviet ballistic missile design, and we have, good evidence of road mobility on some systems with ranges of 1,100 n.rn. and less. The size and weight of the 700 and 1,100 n.m. missiles may be such as to limit road mobility to selected first class roads. In the case of road mobile systems, It is probable that mis- sile carriers and support vehicles are readily adaptable for rail transport. The ICBM, and probably the IRBM, are designed to be launched from fixed positions, and would be heavily dependent on the Soviet rail net SS-1: 150 n.m. Ballistic Missile System 86. After World War II, the Soviets began production of V-2 type missiles and initiated firings at Kapustin Yar in 1947. This missile program appears to have been dropped, how- ever, and has been succeeded by a second generation short range missile which uses storable liquid propellants. We estimate that this missile, nicknamed SCUD and designated 55.-1, became operational in 1957. Recent reanalysis of photographs of the SCUD, which was displayed in 1957 and 1960 Moscow pa- rades (see Figure 24), indicates that it probably has a ma_xlmurn range of lt-t; instead of the previously estimated 75 n.m. A comparison of the relative volumes of the separate fud tanks indicates that the missile could utilize nitric acid and a kerosene type fuel. We estimate that the SCUD carries a 1,500 pound payload and has a CEP of about 1/2 n.m. Rs guidance system probably is of the radio-inertial type, but could be all-iner- tial. 55-2: 350 n.m. Ballistic Missile System 87. The Soviet Union has also developed a surface-to-surface ballistic missile (SS-2) with a range of 350 n.m. This missile is probably based on the German-designed R-I0 and the Soviet-designed Korolov missile, both of which incorporated an engine using non- storable liquid fuel and delivering about 75,000 pounds thrust. Since 1949, the Soviets have probably fired several hundred missiles to this range. The SS-2 probably reached an initial operational capability in 1954. It probably employs radar track-radio command guidance providing a CEP of about V4 n.m. Warhead weight is estimated at about 2,000 pounds. Within about the next year, the Soviets prob- ably will have a follow-on system with im- ;-_,rcv.-1 o;.s.-rati^nal characteristics. SS-3: 700 n.m. Ballistic Missile System 88. The USSR has developed a medium range ballistic missile system with a range of about 700 n.m. nicknamed SHYSTER and desig- nated SS-3 (see Figure 25). A total of' about 150 mis.siles of this range have been fired. Firings are still occurring at the Ka- pustin Yar range, some for troop training, some for other purposes. We estimate that the 85-3 became operational in 1956. Some SHYSTERs are probably deployed in East Germany. In addition, there are indications that this missile and/or the 1,100 n.m. missile is deployed in the Carpathian, Baltic, and_ Far Eastern areas of the USSR. 89. Data lhave provided good evidence on the characTeristics of the 700 n.m. missile. It probably employs a radio-inertial guidance providing a CEP of about c:Ic Warhead weight is estimated at 3,000 pounds We believe that the SHYSTER uses nonstor- able liquid propellants. SS-4: 1,100 n.m. Ballistic Missile System 90. The 1,100 n.m. missile was first observed in the November 1960 Moscow parade (see Figure 26). The test firing of the 1,100 n.m. missile system was beam in mid-1957. Since that time, over 125 firings of this missile have been observed C, These missiles were launched from Kapus tin Yar to impact areas located approximately 950 n.m. and 1,050 n.m. downrange—the longer range firings to the impact area at Sary Shagan in conjunction with the anti- TOP SECRET
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FOIA release, from the cia-readingroom collection. The PDF is mirrored here; the original link is above. 101 pages are in the text index: search them above, or from the library's search.