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The Sary Shagan Weapons Testing Range
Intelligence information report from a former Soviet citizen describing facilities, missile systems (System-75/SA-2, System-300/Aldan/ABM-1 GALOSH), laser weapons research, and an unidentified aerial phenomenon at the Sary Shagan range. The source observed a bright green circular object in the sky in late summer 1973 that expanded into concentric green circles before silently disappearing.
Analysis
A bright green mass appeared in the sky west of Site 7 at the Sary Shagan weapons testing range in late summer 1973. Within 10 to 15 seconds it expanded into concentric green circles, hung there silently, then vanished. No sound. No explosion. No clouds to hide behind. The witness — a former Soviet citizen debriefed by the CIA — couldn't explain what he'd seen, and neither could anyone else at the facility. No rumors circulated afterward, which at a Soviet military installation suggests the sighting was either suppressed or genuinely baffled everyone present. The report itself is a grab-bag: sandwiched between missile warhead specifications for the SA-2 and ABM-1 GALOSH systems and rumors of laser weapons research sits this single paragraph about something inexplicable over one of the USSR's most sensitive test ranges.
Key Findings
- Bright green circular object observed west of Site 7 at approximately 70 degrees elevation angle
- Object widened within 10-15 seconds and formed several green concentric circles around the original mass
- Coloring disappeared within minutes; no associated sound
- Sky was clear with no clouds; source believed the object was higher than cloud level
- Source had no opinion on what the phenomenon was; no resultant rumors at the facility
- Report also documents System-300/Aldan warhead specs: ~2 meters long, 80-100 cm diameter, ~400 kg
Page Extractions 3 pages
Page 1
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doc_typereport
classificationCONFIDENTIAL (WARNING NOTICE: Sensitive Intelligence Sources and Methods)
page_descriptionCIA Intelligence Information Report on the Sary Shagan Weapons Testing Range in USSR, from November 1972-November 1973, including information on unidentified aerial phenomena.
dates
- 1972-11 to 1973-11 | period of information (DOI)
- 1973-12-20 | date of distribution
- 2026 | approval for release date
organizations
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) | government_agency
- Directorate of Operations | CIA division
people
- [Name redacted] | Recorded Reporting Officer | CIA | classifier
- [Name redacted] | General Declassification Officer | source
locations
- Sary Shagan | weapons testing range in USSR
- USSR | country
- Germany | acquisition location (ACQ)
- V/Ch 03080 | regional headquarters location identifier
- V/Ch 03142 | warhead checkout unit location identifier
observationsUnidentified aerial phenomenon reported in intelligence information
references
- Report No. FIK K-311/0163 | report identifier
- I.O. 11632 | declassification classification
- General Declassification Schedule (E.O. 11652) | declassification authority
- System-75 (SA-2) | missile system
- System-300/Aldan (ABM-1 GALOSH) | missile system
- Warheads | weapons systems referenced
- Laser research (rumored) | weapons development topic
redactions
- Source description partially visible: "former Soviet citizen who served" (remainder redacted)
- Large blank spaces indicate redacted content in summary section
- Specific details of unidentified aerial phenomenon redacted
quotes
- "Approved for Release 2026" | release authority
- "WARNING NOTICE: SENSITIVE INTELLIGENCE SOURCES AND METHODS INVOLVED" | classification warning
- "THIS IS AN INFORMATION REPORT, NOT FINALLY EVALUATED INTELLIGENCE" | disclaimer
- "CONFIDENTIAL" | classification marking
- "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." | report summary
- "Page 1 of" | page designation
Page 2
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doc_typereport
classificationCONFIDENTIAL (WARNING NOTICE: Sensitive Intelligence Sources and Methods Involved)
page_descriptionPage 4 of CIA Intelligence Information Report detailing missile warhead specifications, laser weapon rumors, and beginning of unidentified aerial phenomenon observation.
dates1973, late summer | date of UAP observation
references
- Report No. FIRK-311/01638-77 | document identifier
- System-75 [SA-2] | missile system
- System-300/Aldan | missile system
- ABM-1/GALOSH | missile system designation
- PRO (protivo raketna~a oborona) | antimissile defense system
observations
- Laser weapons experiments supposedly conducted at unknown location at range
- Tests reportedly involved powerful antennas
- On one evening in late summer 1973, Source observed [description cut off - continues on next page]
organizations
- Sary Shagan weapons testing range | military facility
- Site 4 | warhead checkout location
- Site 3 | missile launching location
assessments
- Source stated all work by his department was basically experimental (opytnaya) | source statement
- Source opined that all systems could be equipped with nuclear warheads | source assessment
- Source stated he had no knowledge regarding nuclear warheads | source limitation
referencesAvailable reference material | source documentation
quotes
- "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." | document
- "(Field Comment: Source did not know if Aldan was another name for the System-300 missile, or if they were two similar missiles.)" | field comment
- "The System-300/Aldan warheads after being checked at Site 4 were taken to Site 3 for launching." | document
- "According to rumor, the missile was for antimissile defense (protivo raketna~a oborona - PRO)." | document
- "(Field Comment: Source identified the System-300/Aldan missile in available reference material as the ABM-1/GALOSH.)" | field comment
- "The warhead for the System-300/Aldan missile was about two meters long and 80 to 100 centimeters in diameter." | document
- "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)." | document
- "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." | document
- "(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).)" | field comment
- "According to hearsay, experiments involving laser weapons were being conducted at an unknown location at the range." | document
- "Supposedly, the tests involved powerful antennas (no further details)." | document
- "On one evening in late Summer 1973, Source observed an" | document (cut off)
Page 3
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doc_typereport
classificationCONFIDENTIAL (WARNING NOTICE: Sensitive Intelligence Sources and Methods Involved)
page_descriptionPage 5 of CIA Intelligence Information Report containing detailed account of unidentified aerial phenomenon observed at Sary Shagan Site 7.
dates[Date not specified, but evening during period of observation]
locations
- Site 7 | location of observation at Sary Shagan weapons testing range
- West of Site 7 | direction/location of object sighting
observations
- Unidentified sharp (bright) green circular object or mass in the sky
- Object situated west of the site at angle of sighting of approximately 70 degrees
- Altitude: undeterminable
- Clear sky with no clouds that evening
- Source believed green mass would have been higher than cloud level
- Diameter: could not be estimated
- Duration of observation: 10 to 15 seconds
- Within 10-15 seconds, green circle widened
- Within brief period, several green concentric circles formed around the mass
- Within minutes, coloring disappeared
- No sound associated with phenomenon (no explosion sound)
- Context of observation: witness stepped outside for air while watching sport competition between Canada and USSR on television
assessments
- Source had no opinion as to what the phenomenon was | source statement
- There was no resultant rumors | field observation
- Source could not provide any further details | source limitation
field comments
- 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
- Source had no opinion as to what this phenomenon was
- There was no resultant rumors
- Source could not provide any further details
quotes
- "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." | document
- "The object was situated west of the site at an angle of sighting of approximately 70 degrees." | document
- "The altitude of the object was undeterminable." | document
- "(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.)" | field comment
- "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." | document
- "Within minutes the coloring disappeared." | document
- "There was no sound, such as an explosion, associated with the phenomenon." | document
- "(Field Comment: Source had no opinion as to what this phenomenon was. There was no resultant rumors. Source could not provide any further details.)" | field comment