A PROGRAM FOR PROVIDING HIGH-RESOLUTION OBLIQUE PHOTOGRAPHY OVER DENIED AREA

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Animal Partners
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 06527331
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 20
• Document Creation Date: September 6, 2019
• Document Release Date: September 12, 2019
• Publication Date: September 7, 1976

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A PROGRAM FOR PROVIDING
HIGH-RESOLUTION OBLIQUE PHOTOGRAPHY
OVER DENIED AREA:
September 7, 1976
3.3(h)(2)
6.2(d)
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1. This system offers several unique photographic capabilities.
High resolution of about one inch, combined with short range oblique
� target Coverage, provide excellent target interpretability. Mensura-
tion can-be-accompli'sbect to an accuracy less-.than-onetenth5.of an- inch.
given a large object of known dimensions (from KH-8) in the field of
view.
The TACANA
system can be clandestinely employed at times when there are no US
photo satellites overhead; moreover, the system can be used at a time
which optimizes lighting conditions for a particular target. The system
is not susceptible to usual cloud cover conditions and can operate well
under the low light/low sun angle conditions encountered at typical high
latitude Soviet targets.
2. The attached figures illustrate the TACANA system's' photo capability
in terms of target coverage and resolution relative to existing satellite
systems. TACANA's two and one-half mile strip of photography consists of
at least ontiguous or overlapping frames each measuring about 70 feet in
.ekc
track and 90 to 130 feet cross track as shown below:
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AVIAN PROGRAM BACKGROUND INFORMATION
For several years, the Office of Research and Development
has carried out various endeavors to attempt to train diferent
species of birds in the task of carrying out intelligence
collection for support missions. The work and types of
birds employed were diverse and ranged from attempts to train
hawks to fly to specifically recognizable targets over
flight paths encompassing dozens of miles to the training
of ravens to deliver small packages. A clandestine opera-
tion was carried out some time in the past in Europe in
which an audio eavesdropping device was delivered by a bird
to a designated outside window sill. This operation was
not successful because the audio device would not pick up
a conversation from the desired target. The bird delivery
portion of the project was successful. From this background
research endeavor it has been learned that the homing
pigeon is the best avaian species to work with.
Within the past year, the program efforts have involved
experiments with homing pigeons to determine if they could
be trained to overfly to an otherwise inaccessible target
location after release. An important factor in this training
was the requirement for the target location to be away from
the normal homing flight path so that the pigeon would
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purposely have to locate the target area and fly over it
prior to taking a course to its home loft. Special light-
weight cameras were successfully developed which permitted
the obtainment of excellent high resolution photography
,(1" to 2" resolution). While the feasibility of this type
of targeting and the utilization of homing pigeons for this
intelligence collection application (designated as A-B-C
flight) was established, certain problems in its utilization
became evident. Specifically, it was determined that the
length of training required to make the homing pigeons per
form in flying from their release point A to their target
B, prior to heading to home C, was excessive, making it
operationally unattractive. Secondly, the reliability of
the birds carrying out the A-B-C mission upon release was
rather low, perhaps in the 25% region.
It was determined, after investigation by analysts, that
a number of cases exist in which direct overflight for a
homing pigeon in an A-C mission, that is, released from
point A and fly directly home, would result in a high
probability of overflight over an important target area
from which valuable high resolution photography would have
a significant impact. The feasibility and performance
of the lightweight bird cameras having been established,
when coupled with the natural homing instinct of select
and trained homing pigeions will result in a capability to
carry out missions of the A-C type with high probability
of success.
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The balance of this paper addresses the program
direction, manpower, and costs that would be required to
bring the program to a level of demonstrable operational
capability by the Spring of 1977. The effort to reach this
desired state of capability would invo'lve participation of
ORD, OTS, NPIC, OWI, OSI, and other Agency support comple-
ments. A funding level of $105,000 will be required to
bring the program to the proposed Washington demonstration in
the Spring of 1977.
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PROGRAM OUTLINE
It is well known that homing pigeons will fly many
hundreds of miles, Often under adverse weather conditions,
to return to their home lofts. Recent research by ORD has
demonstrated the homing pigeon's ability to carry a sophis-
ticated 16mm camera capable of taking high-resolution
oblique photography. The purpose- of the effort described
here is to provide a scientific program for:
a. Selection of high-quality pigeons;
b. Training and documentation;
c. Testing of performance and flight path prediction
accuracy;
d. Involvement and training of potential user;
e. Simulated missions in the Washington, D.C., area.
As seen in Figure 1, suppliers will provide birds to
These will be high-quality birds selected
homing, trapping and weight-carrying ability. At
extensive training and flight path accuracy
for
tests will be conducted with user involvement and evaluation.
Selected birds will then be by the user to
Washington, D.C., to undergo simulated mission tests prior
to being taken to operational sites. It is also seen in
Figure 1 that a test at Anchorage, Alaska, is planned in
order to measure performance at extreme northern latitudes.
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Figure 1: Program Outline
Sept.-Nov.
Sept.-Jan. Homing
Oct.-Feb.
Trapping
Weights
Feb.-March
Alaska
Relocation
Culling/Data
Flight Path Accuracy
Launch Point Experiments
Accuracy/Launch Point Adjustments
to Washington, DC
Feb.-April
Relocation/Culling
k
Overflight Adcuracy Tests
[Operational Sites
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As seen in Figure 2, there are three basic suppliers
with controlled lofts
The suppliers will obtain birds from various locations from
Florida to Alaska, and some relocation testing will be
conducted by trading birds between the controlled lofts
prior to shipment to
of miles arounc
Figure 3 shows the scale
Overflight accuracy tests
will be conducted using small DF transmitters on the birds
and DF receivers located at various points along the flight
path home. A light aircraft will also be fitted with a DF
receiver to assist in flight path measurements. Bird-
carried cameras will also be used to establish flight paths
in some cases. Figure 4 shows the loft location at
A command post on top of the lab tower will provide
communication for coordinating the field tests.
Table 1 shows the expected transitional quarter costs
($78,000), and Table 2 shows the expected costs for FY-77 as
($105,000) of which $70,000 is for ORD and $35,000 is for
OTS. Neither office has currently budgeted for these FY-77
costs.
During the T.Q.
constructed at
OTS SUPPORT
a pigeon loft and facilities will be
($3,000), and ORD will provide
basic training for handlers and interested parties at both
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Figure 2: Suppliers
Sept.-Nov.
Se t. -Nov.
West Coast
Alaska
1
1
1
V
Se t.-Jan.
Relocation
Culling
Oct -F b
Accuracy Tests
Feb.-A ril
Washington, DC
17;perational
*Controlled �Lofts
-7-
Sept.-Nov.
Florida
1
1
1
SePt.-Jan.
Feb.-March
Alaska
Test
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TABLE 1
ORD T.Q. CONTRACT COSTS
CONTRACTOR
ITEM SUB RUNNING
COST $ TOTAL TOTAL
�
Materials & Supplies
(Bird Lofts/Training)
Purchase of Birds
Labor
Travel and Field Support
500
3,000
3,000
3,500
10,090
� i0,000
10,000
5 Cameras at $2,000 each
Purchase of Birds
3,000
Labor and Repair
7,000
Travel and Fi.eld Support
5,000
25,000
35,000
3,300
4 DF Receivers at $825 each
Eight 1-gr. Transmitters at
$50 each 400
Three 6-gr. Transmitters at
$65 each
200
Comma Equipment for Field
Tests
3,000
Refit of Aircraft
1,600
Labor
4,500
Travel
3,000
16,000
51,000
(Continued)
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TABLE I (CONTINUED)
ORD T.Q. CONTRACT COSTS
CONTRACTOR
ITEM SUB RUNNING
COSTS TOTAL TOTAL
4,000
Drawings & Doc.
(New Camera)
Purchase Birds
4 West
Coast)
4,000
Labor
7,000
Travel
5,000
20,000
71,000
4,000
4,000
75,000
QRC Support
2,300
Building Supplies
Labor
700
3,000
78,000
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TABLE 2 A
ORD FY-77 CONTRACT COSTS
CONTRACTOR
ITEM SUB RUNNING
COST TOTAL TOTAL
500'
500
Building Supplies
Feed
Two Bird Handlers
21,000
Transport, 'Shipping,
Misc.
1,000
Labor
1,000
Boat Rental
1,000
25,000
25,000
38,000
38,000
63,000
QRC Support
ELMENDORF AFB (ALASKA)
Building Supplies
1,000
Labor
4,000
Gen. Support
.2,000
7,000
70,000
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TABLE 2 B
OTS FY-77 ESTIMATED COSTS
CONTRACTOR
ITEM SUB RUNNING
COST $ . ..TOTAL TOTAL
15 Cameras ($2,000 each) 30,000
Construction of Lofts and
D.C. Test Support 5,000
30,000
5,000
30,000
5,000
TOTAL ORD AND OTS FY-77 COSTS = 105,000
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For FY-77, the first birds
in early October and will
will arrive at
continue to arrive through February 1977.
must
provide feeding and exercising of the birds twice daily on a
seven-day-a-week basis plus homing flight training at least
three times a week. Complete records must also be kept. It
is felt that the number of birds at any one time could be as
large as 100, and that handlers will be required to perform
this service and to assist in flight path accuracy tests to
measure performance. ThE
7.Y.-77 costs, including
the salary for handlers is estimated at $25,000.
OTS operations personnel, concerned with operational
missions, will receive preliminary training
(about one week)
mission tests at
receive training in handling and loading of the camera
equipment. Five prototype cameras will be provided by ORD
for design verification and initial tests in
It is felt that OTS should provide 15
cameras (at an estimated cost of $30,000) to support the
and Washington, D.C.
at
majority of tests al
OTS will assess the
and provide
operational quality of tests at
: to the Washington,
D.C., area. OTS will be responsible for conducting all
�
tests in the Washington, D.C., area as well as the handling
of birds and the maintenance of cameras. ORD will provide
assistance, consultation, and analysis upon request. It is
and participate in (or direct) simulated
These personnel will also
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suggested that OTS will wish to participate in (or direct)
the test at Elmendorf AFB in Anchorage, Alaska, to verify
performance at extreme northern latitudes.
Two OTS officers now at
have been identified as hdving previous ex-
perience in handling birds.
PROGRAM MANAGEMENT
During the previous feasibility stage of this program,
the voluntary involvement of 'NPIC. provided technical eval-
uation and experimental direction which Considerably improved
the photographic product. It is strongly felt that this
final phase of development will require the involvement of
OSI, OWI, and SE as well as that of OTS, ORD and NPIC in
order to ensure a product of maximum intelligence value. It
is recommended that the Technical Collection Team (TCT
TACANA) be continued, and include (NPIC),
to properly advise and assess the efforts of the program
manager (Dr. Charles Adkins) and the OTS team member during
the course of this program. Figure 5 shows the recommended
program management structure.
As a matter of policy, humane disposition of all culled
birds will be observed at each of the controlled lofts.
However,
for the bird loft at
and the use of birds in the tests at Elmendorf
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Figure 5: Program Management Structure
TCT
OTS - ORD - NPIC
OSI - OWI - SE
TCT/ORD
Program
Manager
(Adkins)
Bird
Suppliers
TCT/OTS
(Kerr)
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Ops Tech
Officers
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AFB in Anchorage, Alaska.
will be required for the initial contact,
ments with Elmendorf AFB.
OSR SUPPORT
rr
i Cr,
is expected that some assistance
and arrange-
A computer search was performed by the personnel office
to locate Agency employees
familiar with homing pigeons. A
was found who
works
in the publications
Branch of OSR. His
supervisor
is
Chief, Publications
Staff.
was
interviewed,
with
permission, and was found to be quite know-
ledgeable in the raising and training of homing pigeons. A
summary of his experience is enclosed.
was quite
enthusiastic about participating in the program on a full-
time basis. I suggest that Mr. Noel E. Firth,. Director,
OSR, be approached to consider the temporary reassignment of
to ORD for the period of one year.
could be responsible for the loft designs, the training of
bird handlers and operational personnel,, and could supervise
the selection and training of birds. I believe that
contribution to this program will be invaluable.
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