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KY-15 Skorost "Speed" - Western Views

There was no discernable discussion of this system in the contemporaneous open literature in the West. The association of the KY-15 nomenclature and reported activity with the Skorost "Speed" program remains tentative, as there is an offset of about a year between the KY-15 reported activity and the Skorost "Speed" chronology. If it were a fact, it wouldn't be intelligence. Russian sources

The primary source of information about this program is the November 1984 Basic Imagery Interpretation Report "Soviet Mobile Missile Activity 1 July-30 September 1984 Summary Report 25", formerly Top Secret RUFF, declassified 16 July 2010, and the "Soviet Mobile Missile Activity - 1 October-31 December 1984 Summary Report 26".

Another bit of trivia is found in "POSSIBLE KY-15 CANISTER KAPUSTIN YAR MR TEST COMPLEX C", Approved for Release 19 July 2010, seemingly dated December 1984. This NPIC report states that "a spent misisle canister has been palced in the expended canister storate area... The placement of a spent canister in the storage area following the second launch of a KY-15 ... suggests that it was the one that contained the KY-15 missile. The cannister ... is shorter that the stnader SS-20 cannister..."

The November 1984 "Summary Report 25" relates that preparations for the flight test program of a probable follow-on to the SS-20, which has an interim designaton of KY-15 in previous Mobile Missile Summary Reports was titled "Activity in Support of a New IRBM System". In Summary Report 25 it was identified as "Activity in Support of a Follow-on to the SS-20". This report states that "DEFSMAC reported the launch of a KY-15 from Kapustin Yar..." though the date is redacted. "It has been assessed that the KY-15 consists of the first two stages of the SS­X-25 with a different postboost vehicle and a MIRV payload. ... , because of the identification of activity at LP 1C-4 just prior to the launch, it is likely that the KY-15 was launched from this new launch test position".

The November 1984 "Summary Report 25" continued that "an additional mobile missile canister was identified in the expended canister open storage area at LP 1C-2. This canister .. did not appear to have a domed endcap attached. Therefore, although this canister appeared to be shorter than the complete SS-20 canisters in this area, it could not be determined if the new canister was a complete canister or only part of a canister. Some of the SS-20 canisters in this area have been cut up or have had a section or sections removed".

"At Kapustin Yar General Support Area, activity probably in support of SS-20 crew training and the flight test program of the KY-15 was identified. In general, activity levels - vehicle arrivals, training exercises, and the frequent observation of large personnel formations - have significantly increased in the General Support Area over the last several months. Significant equipment and activity identified during the reporting period included a new-type ... TEL and a new-type ... canister dolly, both probably for the KY-15...", and increased levels of driver training, with standard SS-20 TELs on the paved driver-training course north of the facility.

A " new-type TEL was identified in the east missile/payload handling area of the facility. The vehicle is based on a six­ axle MAZ-type chassis ..... On all acquired images, this vehicle has carried a canvas- covered load simulator.... The cab configuration of the new TEL is also different from that of the SS-20 TEL. Although the left cab extends to the front of the vehicle, the right cab is slightly recessed and is not contiguous with the left side of the vehicle."

"Although the cab configuration is different, the wheel spacing and overall length of this vehicle are compatible with the six-axle MAZ-chassis observed on the Minsk ring road in August 1981. Based on the timing of the identification of this new-type TEL at Kapustin Yar and at the production facility, it probably will be used for the KY-15 and also may be used for the SS-X-25 mobile ICBM."

In addition, "a new-type mobile missile canister dolly was identified in the original missile/payload handling area. Two of these dollies were east of the missile/payload receiving and and both wece covered with canvas.... In addition, the ends of the new-type dolly are distinctly different from the SS-20 dolly. The ends of the new dollies have a tablike appearance instead of a rectangular appearance. Because of the timing of their identification at the rangehead, these dollies also probably are for the KY-15."

"Facilities constructed since 1978 at the General Support Area and probably in support of the KY-15 include a new training/administration area, a new vehicle storage and maintenance area, the east and west missile/payload handling areas, a paved driver-training course, a rail-served missile/ payload transloading area, and a rail-to-road transloading area. Most of the buildings and structures at these facilities are complete, although some were in the late stages of construction. Except for the rail-served missile/payload transloading area, all the new facilities are being used."

By November 1984, at Kapustin Yar MR Test Complex C Site 1, further probable KY-15 prelaunch activity was under way.

Subsequently, the "Soviet Mobile MissileActivity - 1 October-31 December 1984 Summary Report 26" indicated that "Significant developments and observations at Kapustin Yar during the period included the following: one KY-15 was launched (for a total of two during 1984); two KY-15 canisters were observed without domed endcaps, and they were shorter ... than an SS-20 canister without a domed endcap ... a missile support van (MSV) was observed for the first time in the western missile receiving/checkout area of the general support area...

"Activity in support of crew training and flight testing for the KY-15 program was observed during the reporting period at site 1 C and in the general support area. DEFSMAC reported the second launch of a KY-15 ... from Kapustin Yar (DEFSMAC K/DQ/ 1480-B4 [TSZ]). Detailed softcopy analysis has revealedd distinctive differences between the KY-15 and SS-20 missile canisters ....

"Analysis has revealed distinctive differences between the KY-15 and SS-20 missile canisters. Both types of canisters, however, have the same outside diameter .... and probably the same launch assist device (LAD) extension ... After detailed softcopy analysis, the KY-15 canisters at site 1 appear to be complete but without domed endcaps and .... horter than an SS-20 canister without a domed endcap. The cable raceway of the KY-15 canister is configured differently from that of the SS-20 canister.... The cable raceway on the LAD extension end of the KY-15 canister appears to be about twice the length of the one on the SS-20 canister. The cable raceway that extends toward the front of the KY-15 canister is slightly shorter than the one on the SS-20 canister."

"A high level of activity was observed at the new driver training course north of the general support area. On [date redacted] at least 27 vehicles, including 17 MAZ-543 four-axle chassis and cargo trucks, were on the course. This course was probably constructed to support crew training for the KY-15".