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/specialCollection/MissileGap/1961/1961-04-25.pdf

Central Intelligence Agency · 101 pages · text from the file's own layer

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.

  • p. 15 …At the test range, the Soviets have fol- lowed a generally similar pattern in the de…
  • p. 33 …We believe that at the present time, the Soviets are well advanced in a program to…
  • p. 57 …the Soviet state of the art in re-entry techniques at that time. Subsequent advances in…
  • p. 58 …specific time designated well in advance, i.e., maximum readiness. The ready missile rate is expected…
  • p. 66 …program for developing advanced ASW weap- ons systems exists. The USSR has the basic scientific and…
  • p. 80 …technological advances in sev- eral key areas. 163.The Soviets are aware of the advantages offered…
  • p. 81 …The caliber of the Soviet work to date indicates that the USSR is among world leaders…
  • p. 82 …the vehicle should permit the Soviets to effect rendezvous with an earth orbiting vehicle. 173.Advanced…
  • p. 91 …We estimate the SS-6, and probably the SS-5, will probably utilize fixed sites. The…
  • p. 93 …The Academy of Sciences provides supplementary proposals and re- search programs designed to advance the state…
C002784 07
TOP SE-C—RET
ANNEX A
ESTIMATED RELIABILITY OF MISSILE SYSTEMS
ESTIMATED It ELIA BI LI TI ES
We have little information on which to !we an estimate of the operational rdid ''y Snviet Thz: following
are considered as possible reliabilities. For several years after an IOC, the reliability of a missile system wiii probabiy
improve, and Alien level off. Except where noted the following reliabilities are for the current period, and reflect im-
provements from the IOC date. In those eaSes where the IOC Ims been recent, or is in the future, improvements are
generally specified.
US Designation OPERATIONAL
CA PABI LIT Y
!featly
i.h isile
ItatC •
lttL!A DILITY
REM A RES
Launcher
In
Flight •
Air-to-Surface Systems: 4 •
AS-1 1956-1957 n a 90 80 55 n.m.
AS-2 Late 1960 no 80 70 100 n.m.
(90) (80) (1963).
AS-3 Lite 1960 no 80 70 350 ti.m.
.(85) (80) (1963).
Surface-to-Surface (Ground
Launched):
SS-I 1957 no 90 80 150 n.m.
SS-2 1954 na 90 80 350 tt.m.
SS-3 1956 85 90 80 700 n.m.
SS-4 Late 1958 or early 85 95 80 1,100 n.m.
1959.
SS-5 Late 1961 or early 75 80 75 2,000 n.m.
1962. (85) (95) (80) (Late 1964-1st half 1065.)
SS-6 1 Jan. 1960' 70-85 85-90 70-85 As of mid-1961.
(85-90) (90) (80-90) (1963).
Surface-to-Surface (Naval
Launched):
SS-N-I 1958 85 80 20-30 ti.m. Subsonic, destroyer-
launched.
SS-N-2 1958 no 85 80 20-30 n.m. Supersonic, destroyer-
launched.
SS-N-4 1958/1959 no 95 .80 "Z" and "0," 150 n.m.1350 n.m.
SS-N-5 1962/1963 U4 85 80
with sub-
sequent
500-1,000 ei.m. Launched from
nuclear sub.
improve-
ment
See footnotes a t end of table.
—rot- CECRET 46

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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.