Sary Shagan test range and UFO phenomena, CIA, 1973

[PAGE 1] Approved for Release 2026 [CIA seal] Intelligence Information Report WARNING NOTICE SENSITIVE INTELLIGENCE SOURCES AND METHODS INVOLVED Classified by Recorded Reporting Officer. Exempt from General Declassification Schedule of E.O. 11652 [exemption category illegible]. Impossible to determine date of automatic declassification. DIRECTORATE OF OPERATIONS PAGE 1 OF [illegible] THIS IS AN INFORMATION REPORT, NOT FINALLY EVALUATED INTELLIGENCE CONFIDENTIAL [struck through] REPORT NO. FIRK-311/01638-77 [stamp partly illegible] DATE DISTR. [handwritten, illegible digits] December 19[illegible, presumably 1973] COUNTRY: USSR DOI: November 1972-November 1973 SUBJECT: The Sary Shagan Weapons Testing Range [blank/redacted box] ACQ: Germany FIELD NO.: [blank box] SOURCE: [blank box] former Soviet citizen who served [rest of source description continues in a large blank/redacted box below] This report [blank/redacted box] Summary: This report provides limited information on the Sary Shagan weapons testing range, to include facilities, work areas, security fencing, the regional headquarters (V/Ch 03080), and a warhead checkout unit (V/Ch 03142). Also included is limited information on the following: System-75 [SA-2] and System-300/Aldan [ABM-1 GALOSH] warheads; rumored laser research; and an unidentified aerial phenomenon. End of Summary. [blank/redacted box] 5 4 3 2 CONFIDENTIAL [struck through] 3915084-13 1 (classification) (dissem controls) STATE DIA NSA [XXXX] [XXXX] (For Field Distribution see final paragraph) USIA FBI SWS NPIC IAS OSR OWI OSO OCR [PAGE 2] CONFIDENTIAL [struck through] /WARNING NOTICE - SENSITIVE INTELLIGENCE SOURCES AND METHODS INVOLVED - 4 - FIRK-311/01638-77 [blank/redacted box] 10. Besides the System-75 [SA-2] warheads, Site 4 also checked the warheads for a missile(s) known as the System-300 and/or Aldan. (Field Comment: Source did not know if Aldan was another name for the System-300 missile, or if they were two similar missiles.) The System-300/Aldan warheads after being checked at Site 4 were taken to Site 35 for launching. According to rumor, the missile was for antimissile defense (protivo raketnaya oborona - PRO). (Field Comment: Source identified the System-300/Aldan missile in available reference material as the ABM-1/GALOSH.) 11. The warhead for the System-300/Aldan missile was about two meters long and 80 to 100 centimeters in diameter. The warhead weighed approximately 400 kilograms, and it contained an unrecalled number of black cassettes, 45 x 12 centimeters, which housed an unknown number of metal balls (shariki). Warheads for the System-75 [SA-2] missile had approximately 100 grey cassettes, 30 x 7 centimeters, each of which held about 200 to 300 metal balls, each no more than 1.5 centimeters in diameter. (Field Comment: Source had no knowledge regarding nuclear warheads. He opined that all systems could be equipped with nuclear warheads. However, Source stated all work done by his department was basically experimental (opytnaya).) [blank/redacted box - paragraph 12 redacted] 13. According to hearsay, experiments involving laser weapons were being conducted at an unknown location at the range. Supposedly, the tests involved powerful antennas (no further details). 14. On one evening in late Summer 1973, Source observed an [stamp, illegible] CONFIDENTIAL [struck through] [PAGE 3] CONFIDENTIAL [struck through] /WARNING NOTICE - SENSITIVE INTELLIGENCE SOURCES AND METHODS INVOLVED - 5 - FIRK-311/01638-77 [blank/redacted box] unidentified phenomenon at Site 7. While watching a sport competition between Canada and the USSR on television, he stepped outside for some air and observed an unidentified sharp (bright) green circular object or mass in the sky. The object was situated west of the site at an angle of sighting of approximately 70 degrees. The altitude of the object was undeterminable. (Field Comment: Although there were no clouds in the sky that evening, Source believed that the green mass would have been higher than cloud level. Source could not estimate the diameter of the object.) Within 10 to 15 seconds of observation, the green circle widened and within a brief period of time several green concentric circles formed around the mass. Within minutes the coloring disappeared. There was no sound, such as an explosion, associated with the phenomenon. (Field Comment: Source had no opinion as to what this phenomenon was. There was no resultant rumors. Source could not provide any further details.) [blank/redacted box]