Adolf Tolkachev
Encyclopedia
Adolf Georgievich Tolkachev Адольф Георгиевич Толкачёв (1927, Aktyubinsk, Kazakhstan
– 1986) was a Soviet Union
electronics engineer who provided key documents to the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency
(CIA) over the years between 1979 and 1985. Working at the Soviet radar
design house Phazotron
as one of the chief designers, Tolkachev gave the CIA complete information about such projects as the R-23
, R-24, R-33
, R-27, and R-60
, S-300; fighter-interceptor aircraft radars used on the MiG-29, MiG-31, and Su-27; and other avionics
. The United States
considered the most advanced airborne radar among the systems Tolkachev compromised was the passive phased array
radar used by the MiG-31 Foxhound fighter. He was executed as a spy in 1986.
His distrust of the communist government seemed to spring from persecution his wife's parents had suffered under Joseph Stalin
. He told the CIA he was inspired by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn
and Andrei Sakharov
.
Tolkachev attempted five times from January 1977 to February 1978 to approach cars with U.S. diplomatic license plates in Moscow, coincidentally approaching the CIA Moscow bureau chief at a gas station, but the CIA was wary of counterintelligence operations by the KGB. On his fifth attempt the CIA assigned a Russian-speaking officer named John I. Guilsher to make contact with him. Eventually Tolkachev established his bona fides with intelligence data that proved to be of "incalculable" usefulness to US experts. The U.S. Air Force
completely reversed direction on a $70 million dollar electronics package for the F-15 Eagle
as a result of Tolkachev's intelligence.
Because Tolkachev resisted the use of traditional CIA methods including dead drop
s, preferring personal meetings, he was able to transfer a much larger volume of classified data, much of it collected using various matchbox-sized cameras. The need for these meetings necessitated several innovations in CIA tradecraft
such as signals and concealment. Although he demanded money for his cooperation, he seemed to insist that he only wanted payment as proof of the value of his effort and risk. He was eventually paid a salary "equivalent" to the U.S. President
, at the time $200,000 annually, most of which was to be held in escrow until he defected.
At some point in 1985, Tolkachev was compromised. While attempting to meet him, a CIA officer was arrested and questioned at the Lubyanka
KGB headquarters and prison, and incriminating materials including spy equipment such as cameras was seized from him, but he was soon released into US custody and later ejected from the USSR. The source of the exposure is believed to have been Edward Lee Howard
, an ex-CIA officer who fled to Moscow
to avoid treason
charges. Aldrich Ames
apparently also passed his name to the Soviets.
Though Tolkachev was executed, he had carefully compartmentalized his spy work and his family, so they were not punished. His son Oleg Tolkachev is now said to be a prominent architect.
The case was discussed at a 1999 post-war intellignece conference. KGB General Oleg Kalugin said that Tolkachev's wife worked with him and was put in prison, but later released under Gorbachev or Yeltsin. When she tried to contact a US embassy, Kalugin says she was ignored. Panelist Paul Redmond doubted this story, and said that the CIA had gone to "incredible lengths to find the son, to get money to him and help him out."
Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan , officially the Republic of Kazakhstan, is a transcontinental country in Central Asia and Eastern Europe. Ranked as the ninth largest country in the world, it is also the world's largest landlocked country; its territory of is greater than Western Europe...
– 1986) was a Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
electronics engineer who provided key documents to the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency
Central Intelligence Agency
The Central Intelligence Agency is a civilian intelligence agency of the United States government. It is an executive agency and reports directly to the Director of National Intelligence, responsible for providing national security intelligence assessment to senior United States policymakers...
(CIA) over the years between 1979 and 1985. Working at the Soviet radar
Radar
Radar is an object-detection system which uses radio waves to determine the range, altitude, direction, or speed of objects. It can be used to detect aircraft, ships, spacecraft, guided missiles, motor vehicles, weather formations, and terrain. The radar dish or antenna transmits pulses of radio...
design house Phazotron
Phazotron
JSC Phazotron , is Russia's largest developer of military radars and avionics. Named after one of the major projects and the most important one it was involved in, the first cosmotron in the former-USSR, it was first formed in 1917 to produce aviation instruments...
as one of the chief designers, Tolkachev gave the CIA complete information about such projects as the R-23
Vympel R-23
The Vympel R-23 is a medium-range air-to-air missile developed by the Soviet Union for fighter aircraft. An updated version with greater range, the R-24, replaced it in service...
, R-24, R-33
Vympel R-33
The Vympel R-33 is a long-range air-to-air missile developed by the Soviet Union. It is the primary armament of the MiG-31 interceptor, intended to attack large high-speed targets such as the SR-71 Blackbird, the B-1 Lancer bomber, and the B-52 Stratofortress....
, R-27, and R-60
Molniya R-60
The Molniya R-60 is a lightweight air-to-air missile designed for use by Soviet fighter aircraft. It has been widely exported, and remains in service with the CIS and many other nations....
, S-300; fighter-interceptor aircraft radars used on the MiG-29, MiG-31, and Su-27; and other avionics
Avionics
Avionics are electronic systems used on aircraft, artificial satellites and spacecraft.Avionic systems include communications, navigation, the display and management of multiple systems and the hundreds of systems that are fitted to aircraft to meet individual roles...
. The United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
considered the most advanced airborne radar among the systems Tolkachev compromised was the passive phased array
Phased array
In wave theory, a phased array is an array of antennas in which the relative phases of the respective signals feeding the antennas are varied in such a way that the effective radiation pattern of the array is reinforced in a desired direction and suppressed in undesired directions.An antenna array...
radar used by the MiG-31 Foxhound fighter. He was executed as a spy in 1986.
His distrust of the communist government seemed to spring from persecution his wife's parents had suffered under Joseph Stalin
Joseph Stalin
Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin was the Premier of the Soviet Union from 6 May 1941 to 5 March 1953. He was among the Bolshevik revolutionaries who brought about the October Revolution and had held the position of first General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union's Central Committee...
. He told the CIA he was inspired by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn
Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn
Aleksandr Isayevich Solzhenitsyn was aRussian and Soviet novelist, dramatist, and historian. Through his often-suppressed writings, he helped to raise global awareness of the Gulag, the Soviet Union's forced labor camp system – particularly in The Gulag Archipelago and One Day in the Life of...
and Andrei Sakharov
Andrei Sakharov
Andrei Dmitrievich Sakharov was a Soviet nuclear physicist, dissident and human rights activist. He earned renown as the designer of the Soviet Union's Third Idea, a codename for Soviet development of thermonuclear weapons. Sakharov was an advocate of civil liberties and civil reforms in the...
.
Tolkachev attempted five times from January 1977 to February 1978 to approach cars with U.S. diplomatic license plates in Moscow, coincidentally approaching the CIA Moscow bureau chief at a gas station, but the CIA was wary of counterintelligence operations by the KGB. On his fifth attempt the CIA assigned a Russian-speaking officer named John I. Guilsher to make contact with him. Eventually Tolkachev established his bona fides with intelligence data that proved to be of "incalculable" usefulness to US experts. The U.S. Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
completely reversed direction on a $70 million dollar electronics package for the F-15 Eagle
F-15 Eagle
The McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle is a twin-engine, all-weather tactical fighter designed by McDonnell Douglas to gain and maintain air superiority in aerial combat. It is considered among the most successful modern fighters with over 100 aerial combat victories with no losses in dogfights...
as a result of Tolkachev's intelligence.
Because Tolkachev resisted the use of traditional CIA methods including dead drop
Dead drop
A dead drop or dead letter box is a method of espionage tradecraft used to pass items between two individuals by using a secret location and thus does not require them to meet directly. Using a dead drop permits a Case Officer and his Agent to exchange objects and information while maintaining...
s, preferring personal meetings, he was able to transfer a much larger volume of classified data, much of it collected using various matchbox-sized cameras. The need for these meetings necessitated several innovations in CIA tradecraft
Tradecraft
Tradecraft is a general term that denotes a skill acquired through experience in a trade.The term is also used within the intelligence community as a collective word for the techniques used in modern espionage...
such as signals and concealment. Although he demanded money for his cooperation, he seemed to insist that he only wanted payment as proof of the value of his effort and risk. He was eventually paid a salary "equivalent" to the U.S. President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
, at the time $200,000 annually, most of which was to be held in escrow until he defected.
At some point in 1985, Tolkachev was compromised. While attempting to meet him, a CIA officer was arrested and questioned at the Lubyanka
Lubyanka (KGB)
The Lubyanka is the popular name for the headquarters of the KGB and affiliated prison on Lubyanka Square in Moscow. It is a large building with a facade of yellow brick, designed by Alexander V...
KGB headquarters and prison, and incriminating materials including spy equipment such as cameras was seized from him, but he was soon released into US custody and later ejected from the USSR. The source of the exposure is believed to have been Edward Lee Howard
Edward Lee Howard
Edward Lee Victor Howard was a CIA case officer who defected to the Soviet Union....
, an ex-CIA officer who fled to Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
to avoid treason
Treason
In law, treason is the crime that covers some of the more extreme acts against one's sovereign or nation. Historically, treason also covered the murder of specific social superiors, such as the murder of a husband by his wife. Treason against the king was known as high treason and treason against a...
charges. Aldrich Ames
Aldrich Ames
Aldrich Hazen Ames is a former Central Intelligence Agency counter-intelligence officer and analyst, who, in 1994, was convicted of spying for the Soviet Union and Russia...
apparently also passed his name to the Soviets.
Though Tolkachev was executed, he had carefully compartmentalized his spy work and his family, so they were not punished. His son Oleg Tolkachev is now said to be a prominent architect.
The case was discussed at a 1999 post-war intellignece conference. KGB General Oleg Kalugin said that Tolkachev's wife worked with him and was put in prison, but later released under Gorbachev or Yeltsin. When she tried to contact a US embassy, Kalugin says she was ignored. Panelist Paul Redmond doubted this story, and said that the CIA had gone to "incredible lengths to find the son, to get money to him and help him out."