8th independent Engineering & Test Unit

8-я отдельная инженерно-испытательная часть

Military Unit: 01349

Activated 25.2.65 in Plesetsk, Arkhangelsk Oblast, under the Plesetsk Test Center (53rd NIIP).

The unit would test stationary solid-propellant missile systems and control centers.

From 18.3.66 under the 4th Test Department, and from 1998 the Test Center for stationary and mobile missile systems.

A launch group with 10 RT-2 (SS-13) missile silos went on limited alert duty 20.12.71, but were removed from their silos in 1979. The first test launch had taken place 4.11.66.

The RT-20P (SS-15) missiles were tested from mobile launchers, but were abandoned after several failures.

The RT-23 (SS-24) missile (silo version) were tested from 26.10.82. At least five silos were equipped with the missile (some sources say 8 silos). When Ukraine became independent (the RT-23 was built in Ukraine), it was decided to re-equip the silos with the new RT-2PM2 (SS-27) missile- this took place 1994-1996.

The first RT-2PM2 launch took place 20.12.94 (Area "Yuzhnaya-1"), whit two more launches 5.9.95 and 25.7.96.

The unit is still equipped with 5 RT-2PM2 (SS-27) missile today.

Plesetsk Test Center - RT-2 (SS-13) missile launch group (10 Type IIIE silos):

• Launch site 11: 62 57 33N, 41 26 43E - dual silo complex (Site "Zarya")

• Launch site 12: 62 58 06N, 41 32 39E - control center only

• Launch site 14: 62 58 13N, 41 33 35E - single silo (Site "Yasnoye")

• Launch site 17: 62 54 47N, 41 24 12E - single silo

• Launch site 18: 62 57 55N, 41 39 11E - single silo

• Launch site 19: 62 55 59N, 41 36 23E - single silo

• Launch site 20: 62 55 09N, 41 41 18E - single silo

• Launch site 22: 62 52 55N, 41 44 50E - single silo

• Launch site 23: 63 00 27N, 41 32 55E - single silo

• Launch site 24: 63 00 31N, 41 33 17E - single silo

• Support site: 62 56 38N, 41 26 12E

Plesetsk Test Center - RT-20P (8K99) (SS-15) missile complex (Area 157):

• Launch site 15: 62 58 26N, 41 24 19E - 3 type III silos (Site "Tsvetochnaya") - never completed, as silo version was abandoned

• Launch site 21: 62 57 59N, 41 23 40E - 2 type II pads (Site "Tokovische") - construction began 4.66, and was tested 18.8.67 to 13.9.67, 1st launch 27.9.67 and last launch 7.8.69 - several failures, abandoned

Plesetsk Test Center - RT-23 (SS-24) silo launch complex:

• Site "Yuzhnaya-1": 62 52 47N, 41 44 53E - dual silo complex (operational 1986)

• Site "Yuzhnaya-2": 62 52 11N, 41 46 45E - single silo (operational 1986)

• Site "Svetlaya-1": 00 00 00N, 00 00 00E - single silo, no missile, used for silo & complex tests

• Site "Svetlaya-2": 62 52 59N, 41 48 02E - single silo (operational 1987)

• Site "Serebryanka": 00 00 00N, 00 00 00E - single silo (operational 1988) (later renamed Site "Yubileynaya")

Plesetsk Test Center - RT-2PM2 (SS-27) silo launch complex:

• Site "Yuzhnaya-1": 62 52 47N, 41 44 53E - dual silo complex (operational autumn 1994)

• Site "Yuzhnaya-2": 62 52 11N, 41 46 45E - single silo (operational autumn 1994)

• Site "Svetlaya-1": 00 00 00N, 00 00 00E - single silo, no missile, used for silo & complex tests

• Site "Svetlaya-2": 62 52 59N, 41 48 02E - single silo (operational 1995)

• Site "Yubileynaya": 00 00 00N, 00 00 00E - single silo (operational 1996)