REVISED AQUILINE PROGRAM

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Aquiline
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 02777858
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 6
• Document Creation Date: July 16, 2020
• Document Release Date: July 30, 2020
• Publication Date: April 16, 1968

3.5(c)
3.3(h)(2)
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1 DD/S&T# (p (a
AQUILINE
Raectutive Registry
1)4) 11/1 - I
MEMORANDUM FOR: Executive Director-Comptroller
SUBJECT
I�
Revised AQUILINE Program
This memorandum contains recommendations for
concurrence. The recommendations are contained in
paragraph IV.
II. Program Review
A. A comprehensive review and evaluation
of the AQUILINE program objectives, accomplishments
to date, current status, and future prospects has
been conducted by the Directorate of Science and
Technology. This review has included extensive
consultations with the Science and Technology Panel.
As a direct result of this activity, a redirection
of the program appears highly desirable in order to
achieve significantly earlier availability of a truly
operational system. An outline of the recommended
program revision, together with the supporting
rationale, will be developed in this memorandum.
B. Program History Summary. The program was
initiated in FY 1966 with a 96K study effort to
analyze system requirements, vehicle performance
requirements, and provide preliminary designs.
1. During 1967 this development program
was hardened and broken into three phases:
a. Phase 1 (target date August 1968).
Design, fabricate and test a small vehicle
with two cycle engine to verify concept
feasibility.
r
AQUILINE frzta Etri,ilti
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b. Phase II (target date
December 1969). Design, fabricate
and test a small airplane with
improved subsystems and a four-cycle
engine. Phase II was to demonstrate
a limited operational capability to
c. Phase III (target date
mid-FY 1972). Design, fabricate
and test a small bird configured
aircraft with full operational
capability.to
III. The Revised Program
A. In Phase I four test flights with vehicle #1
verified launch, recovery and general handling
feasibility. Vehicle #2 crashed on initial flight in
January 1968. A wiring error was established as the
cause. A thorough program review was then conducted
both in the Directorate and with the S&T Panel to
review concept feasibility and intelligence value
against current and projected requirements. The Panel
was enthusiastic but saw no advantage in proceeding
with Phase II, The Directorate review established a
series of intelligence requirements which could not
be provided by other programs.
1. The Panel concluded that base
technology gave assurance there was no
technical reason not to start immediately
on Phase III.
2. Phase II would not have produced a
bird-like vehicle and would therefore have had
a significantly lower order of penetration
survivability.
3. Proceeding directly to Phase III
would, by establishing a single well-defined
goal, be more efficient from a cost standpoint.
B. The recommended revised development pro ram will
produce the ultimate vehicle. Initial range of
AQUILINE
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Minima
Maxima
will be extended to simply by microminiaturizing
proven subsystems. The airframe would not need redesign
1. The target flight of the first
bird-like vehicle with the ultimate degree
of penetration survivability and
range extending as payload weight is
would be scheduled for April 1970 --
two years ahead of the previous target date0
reduced
more than
C. Program Milestones. In addition to technical
milestones, two others have been incorporated to
facilitate over-all management decision:
1. Six months from program start there
will be a Preliminary Design Requirements
Document permitting a stop-go decision on the
basis of capabilities firmly predicted and
specified in this document.
2. There is a design release nine months
from start after which the remaining program
could go for competitive bids if desirable.
D. Revised Costs.
1. 1.3M of the FY 1968 2.6M will be
redirected to the air-bird system.
2. 1.2M of the FY 1969 old Phase II
flight testing and support would be
similarly redirected.
3. Proforma cost schedule for
bird-like vehicle capability:
(In Millions)
FY 66 FY 67 FY 68 FY 69 FY 70 Total
These figures include:
a. Basic vehicle and subsystem
development costs.
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b. Ground Control Station
prototype (limited operational)
development costs.
c. Payload development costs
for those items in paragraph above.
4. It is anticipated that expenditures will
peak in FY 1969 beyond that year's previously
established budget level of It will
then be required to increase funds in that year with
a corresponding reduction in funds required in FY
1970 in order to meet cash flow requirements. Total
costs through FY 1970 would remain as shown. A
Management option that is available would be tgr,slip
the first flight milestone from 1 April 1970 t'r
approximately 1 July 1970 in order to allow to 1
application of FY 1970 funds to the first flight:1
milestone.
'
IV. Recommendations
t-sw
A. The following actions are recommended as soon A
7;9
possible in order to start the recommended AQUILINE
Operational System development:
1. Authorize FY 1968 prime contract
reprogramming.
2. Authorize four-cycle engine development.
3. Authorize Loran navigation receiver
development.
4. Authorize 5 mc video recorder
development continuation.
5. Approve FY 1967 McDonnell/Douglas
overrun.
B. It is noted that the Executive Director-
Comptroller has approved 4 and 5 above.
CONCUR:
Executive Director omptroller
CARL E. DUOKETT
Deputy Director
Xcp
As,.ignc0Etnd Te'dhnology
Jo I,.
;Z
AQUILINE
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TRANSMITTAL SLIP
DATE
22 April 1968
TO:
DD/ S&T
ROOM NO.
BUILDING
HQ
REMARKS:
Carl:
Please see DDCI' comment.
The stop-go decisio to which he
refers should be ade by DDCI or
DCI. Please k p this in mind and
arrange a bri mg at the appropriate
time.
LKW
-
FROM:
Executive Director -Comptroller
ROOM NO.
BUILDING
EXTENSION
HQ
6767
FORM NO .0A 1 REPLACES FORM 36-8
1 FEB 55 LI" WHICH MAY BE USED.
MEMORANDUM FOR: Exec. Dir.
DDCI comment:
(47)
Paragraph III C. 1. also provides
for one more backward glance. By that time
the CCPC and Wood studies should provide
additional basis for consideration.
I say let's go ahead with the revised
program and look once more at six months
from program start as suggested.
/s/ T
22 Apr 68
(DATE)
FORM NO. 0 REPLACES FORM 10-101
1 AUG 54 WHICH MAY BE USED. -
( 47
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MEMORANDUM FOR: Admiral Taylor
The attached memorandum was prepared at
my request following our briefing of last week on
Project AQUILINE. I am inclined to authorize
Carl to proceed along the lines he recommends
if you agree that this is the right course of action.
I think we should not be too cencerned at this
point in time about the cash flow requirements
mentioned in paragraph III. D. 4. We can cross
this bridge when we come to it.
L. K. White
19 April 1968
(DATE)
FORM NO.
10 1 REPLACES FORM 10-101
1 AUG 54 WHICH MAY BE USED.
(47) 3
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