PROCUREMENT OF C TRIPLE PRIME CAMERA SYSTEMS FOR PROJECT IDEALIST

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP33-02415A000100390117-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 12, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 13, 2001
• Sequence Number: 117
• Publication Date: October 19, 1963
• Content Type: MF

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NRO
25X1A
Copy Q- of 9
19 October 1963
NRO DECLASSIFICATION/RELEASE INSTRUCTIONS ON FILE
MEMOAANDU-tot FOR Deputy Director (Science and Technology)
SUBJECT ?rocure r;?zent of C Triple Prime Camera Systems for
Project IDEALIST
1. Now that a certain amount of the dust ha.s settled on the confusion
of the past week with regard to the status of, and procurement intentions for,
the C Triple Prime system, I think we should tell you briefly where we stand
and what course we are .pursuing.
2. As you know, the prototype camera installed in vehicle No. 342
gives us a swath width of some 17. 3 nau.icalx ilea, it does not. however,
offer stereo convergence, which is ertae~y the photo Interpreter to be ani
invaluable tool in uaximizinrg the yield from the photography. This single
prototype installation remains a eying breadboard" in the sense that we do
not at the moment have spare parts back-up and support equipment to sustain
an operational camera program. It can,, however, be used with moderation,
although its Installation in an aircraft other than .No. 34Z does require a cer-
tain amount of rewiring, bracket installation, ate., taking several days and
costing in the neighborhood of $4, 000 per change-over to another aircraft.
3. Our intention all along has been that once the resolution limits of
the camera were established through flight tests and operation. we 'could move
toward a dual camera configuration which we hoped would provide consve rge:st
o in a much broader swath width. Up until late this week we had hoped
to be able to nearly double the 17. 3MM figure. It turns out, however, that this
is not as simple as we had haiie d. and that one of the principal limitations in
achieving our goal is the size of the equipment bay on the aircraft, which does
not permit tilting of the camera in such a manner as to achieve the opti muawl- we
had anticipated. This is not to say that it could not be donee ultimately, but I
am told that this would require a uzew development program with considerable
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investment of time and money to achieve. Such a program vac uld also have one
disadvantage, and that is that the system ultimately developed would not be
susceptible to retrofitting into any system we can buy today.
4. What we come up with then I. the following proposal:
a. Ae are proposing to procure a total of four dual
camera systems furnishing 17. 3MM swath width with 30 degrees
convergent stereo, 70 degrees lateral coverage, two to one con-
trast, target specifications calling for better than 10 inches
ground resolution with 3, 000 plus NM linear coverage. The
delivery of the first system is targeted for four months after an
equipment bay mock up meeting with Lockheed which we will
press for within the next week.
b. The cost of this proposal if $1. 136M as a budget
figure. Contract negotiation may well be able to come below
this target, since we will argue that having paid for the basic
R&D can the camera under the CORONA Program, we should
achieve a price break not only on this item, but on the ground
support equipment involved. The first camera system will can
for $4351, the second $301K. and the last two $ZOO K each. This
includes two sets of GS E, which when combined with four camera
systems should enable us to deploy an operational capability to
two theaters of operation at once. This, of course, is the basic
premise of our staging concept.
c. If we simply wanted carbon copies of the prototype
system now in Article 342, these could be procured at $168K
each with delivery in three :mouths. We are not recommending
this -move.
NRO
5. I have not yet been able to determine the extent of independent NRO
USAF-SAC negotiations with Itek to procure the C Tri ?le Prime system. I 25X1A
did learn 18 October. however, that of Colonel Geary's
25X1A office,, has been in touch Itek requesting an unspecified
a for SAC U-21 s. In this regard he may simply be
jumping the gun, since I had pian*ed to formally advise D/N O of our
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25X1A
ogee
procurement plans and to invite USAF-SAC through him to participate with us
in whatever procurement he and the JRC regarded as appropriate. This
of course, give us a modest price break with. Itek beyond our present
expectations. Despite the reported action by Air Force, I will press to
see, if we cannot engineer Joint procurement during the next few days. I should
mention finally that our aim remains to avoid limiting ourselves to the C
Triple Prime as a result of this procurement. The aircraft will be capable of
flying with the B configuration an one day and C Triple Prime a day or two
later. This requirement for interchangeability to what necessitates an equip-
ment bay mock up session, among other things. with Lockheed.
25X1A9A
JAMS A. CU hT(ai A M, JR.
Acting Assistant Director
(Special Activities)
I - DD/S
2 - DAD/OSA
3 - AD/O A
4 - L)/ ,t,ECR/C
5 - D/FA/OSA
6 - OD/OSA
7 - B K.A l OSA
9 - P5/OA
9 - KB/OA
AaADIOSA:JACunningham, Jr. h= n
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