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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. 94 …under the Astro- nomical Council of the Academy of Sciences probably has the prime responsibility for…
Summary Table I
PROBABLE SOVIET DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM FOR SURFACE-TO-AIR MISSILE SYSTEMS • (Ground Launched)
Initial Nfaximum
Arbitrary
Reference
Designation
Opera-
tional
Capa-
bility
Maximum Effective
Altitude • (in feet)
horizontal
Range
(urn)
Opera-
tional d
Accuracy
(CEP in ft.)
Guidance
Maximum
Warhead
(II,,. and type)
REMARKS
Speed ClassDitto I.
SA-1 19.54 60,000 (minimitin about
3,000).
20-30 65-120 Track-while scan/
radio command.
500 HE or Nu-
clear.
Deployed around t Moscow
area only. Uses V-301 guided
missile. GUI I) EELI (part
of SA-2 system) may be used
in some SA-1 it replacing
3.5
V-301.
SA-2 1057 00,000 (minimum alti- 23-30 100 Track-while sena.. 500 111 .: ur Nit- Mobile SAM system using
tilde about 2,500).
We estimate t ha t in the next
3
few years
.
the system could be improved iii
clear.
rangv. ;tltitude.
GUIDELINE
n
Ex-
tesively deployed in USSR:
and ECCM capabilities. chief advantage k its flexibility
in deployment.
SA-3 1001 40,000-60,000
Nominal minimum 50
12-13 20 Sem iact C W
radar homing.
200 HE or Nu-
clear.
Mobile system : for use withh
field forces and defense of in-
dustrial and communications
centers.
2
SA-4 (AN1M) 1063- Soviets will probably deploy an antimissile missile system during 1963-1960 Crell if the system provides only im interim limited
1066 capability. See paragraphs 60-61, page 15 for discussion of the capabilities.
• We evaluate this program as "probable" with varying degrees of confidence concerning detailed characteristics. Each missile listed will probably go through
various states of development which are not nccesaarily reflected in this table.
b The date when the first operational unit is trained and equipped with a few missiles and launchers.
• Maximum altitude is not necessarily achieved at maximum range. Range will vary with the size/direction of appratch, and altitude of the attacking air-
craft. A limited capability will exist above the estimated altitude.
d Accuracy varies with target size, speed, altitude, and range.
Warhead includes the explosive device and ft.s associated fusing and firing mechanism.

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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.