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.
“Kapustin Yar”16 pages
TOP CECRET ANNEX B ESTIMATED REACTION AND RELOAD TIMES Surface-to-Surface Missiles We have no good evidence on the reaction times of Soviet surface-to-surface missile units. However, based on our analysis of the characteristics of these systems and general Soviet capabilities, we estimate the following reaction times as of mid-1961: a. SS-1: This 150 n.m. missile, which is trar4orted in a fueled state by a track-lay- ing vehicle, could be fired about five minutes after reaching a presurveyed position. b. SS-2 through SS-4: Although these sys- tems are capable of varying degrees of mo- bility Ave estimate that they would be deployed to simple presurveyed sites when hostilities become imminent. The reaction times for units already deployed will vary with the degree of alert and will be approximately the same as discussed under SS-5 and 55-6 (ICBM) below. For units in transit at the time of alert, 2-4 hours will be required to launch the first missile after the unit has arrived at the presurveyed or prepared site. c. SS-5 and SS-6 (ICBM): We estimate the SS-6, and probably the SS-5, will probably utilize fixed sites. The Soviet design philos- ophy, particularly in the respect to the fuel- ing techniques employed at operational launch sites, will critically affect ICBM re- action times. Assuming that rapid reaction time has been a Soviet objective, we estimate the following minimum reaction times for ready missiles under the three alert condi- tions indicated: Condition I: Crews on routine standby, electrical equipment cold, missiles not fueled. Reaction time 1-3 hours. Condition II: Crews on alert, electrical equipment warmed up, missiles not fueled. Reaction time 15-30 minutes. Condition III: Crews on alert, electrical equipment warmed up, missiles fueled and occasionally topped. This condi- tion probably could not be maintained for more than an hour or so. Reaction time 5-10 minutes. Air-to-Air and Air-to-Surface Missiles The AAMs and ASMs have a short enough reaction and reload time that they are not the delaying factor in he takeoff of the air- craft. Surface-to-Air Missiles All SAMs, including those mounted on ships, will have a reaction time of no more than a minute when alerted. The reload time will vary with the type of missile system. Naval Missile Systems lc The reaction times in minutes for naval systems are estimated as follows: ROII- RELOAD ALERT TINE TIME REMARKS SS-N-1 1 5-10 5 DD Subsonic cruise 30-40 n.m. SS-N-2 1 5-10 5 DD Supersonic cruise 30-40 n.m. SS-N-4 10 15 No reload "Z" Class Sub SS-N-5 5 15 No reload Advanced Sub "Na estimates of reaction and reload times are available for SS-N-3, a 300 n.m. supersonic cruise missile designed to be fired from a surfaced sub- marine. TOP CBORET 48
Not linked to a story yet.
FOIA release, from the cia-readingroom collection. The PDF is mirrored here; the original link is under it. 101 pages are in the text index: search them above, or from the library's search.