OXCART AND SR-71 OPERATION

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP71B00399R000600060014-3
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 8
• Document Creation Date: December 16, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 9, 2004
• Sequence Number: 14
• Publication Date: January 3, 1968
• Content Type: MF

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CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
Copy "? of 1103
3 January 1968
MEMORANDUM FOR: Director, National Reconnaissance Office
SUBJECT: OXCART and SR-71 Operation
1. Per your request, the attached comments on the five
options of OXCART/SR-71 operation are forwarded for your
information.
2. It is recognized that some of the comments on
additional requirements may be minor in nature, but are listed
for identification and information purposes.
3. No specific mention is made herein of costs or lead
time factors. These were informally discussed at the JRC
working level meeting held at the Pentagon, 30 December 1967,
and are included in the minutes of that meeting.
4. The information contained in the attachments has boon
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CARS, E . DUC TT
Director, CIA Reconnaissance Programs
Attachments
As stated
NRO and USAF review(s) completed.
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SIGNATURE RECOMMENDED:
Director of Special Activities
SA S /0 /O SA
Distribution:
1&2-D/NRO
3-D/CIA/R ono
4-SA/DCI
5-AFRDR
6-DD/S&T Registry
7-DD/S&T Registry
8-D/SA
9-D/O/OSA
10-RB /OSA (w/o atts)
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Jan 68)
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OPTION A: UPDATE OF CURRENT PLAN FOR PHASE-IN OF THE SR-71,
NO OVERLAP WITH THE A-12.
1. The Ground Support Equipment, Test and Shop Equipment
that is to remain in place for SR-71 support has already
been identified and tagged. Supply spares and hardware
also tagged. Items to be returned to 0 after
re-deployment have been identified.
2. SAC has already surveyed assets at Kadena for SR-71
operations permitting facile transition from OXCART to
SR-71 operation.
3. Housing now used by OXCART will be available for SR-71
personnel based on scheduled OXCART withdrawal.
?4. Kadena Air Base support now geared to accept influx of
SR-71 program per previously co-ordinated plan.
5. No additional major construction roquirod. SR-71 would
use current OXCART facilities.
6. Orderly OXCART re-deployment and SR-71 deployment plan
with necessary supporting plans are published and being
kept current.
7.' No problems from a security standpoint which have not
been previously considered and for which provisions have
been made.
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8. Possibility exists of intelligence collection gap between
dates of OXCART operational cessation and actual reconnaissance
operation date of SR-71.
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Attachment II to
OPTION B: JOINT OPERATION OF BOTH AIRCRAFT FROM KADENA,
USING WHERE POSSIBLE, COMMON FACILITIES AND
RESOURCES.
1. Space throughout the Kadena AB complex would be most
critical both for personnel and equipment, due to lack
of commonality of OXCART/SR-71 systems and maintenance
concepts. (SR-71 uses "Field Maintenance" concept, i.e.,
work orders, materiel control, etc., versus OXCART
contractor maintenance concept). Additional shop space
would be required to support the SR-71 project.
2. Power facilities in shops and hangar are peculiar to
OXCART. Must be reworked to SR-71 requirements.
3. Additional POL storage requirement (OXCART requirement
plus 80% of OXCART requirement for SR-71) necessary for
concurrent operation of both fleets.
4. Additional housing, messing facilities and transportation
for SR-71 personnel would have to be provided.
5. Additional SR-71 operational command, control, and flight
planning space is necessary.
6. Physiological Equipment area would have to be increased to
support 6-10 additional SAC flight crew personal equipment.
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T. Security restrictions dictate that SAC personnel (approxi-
mately 1200 (3 TDY teams of 400 each) be 0-3 cleared.
8. Co-mingling of the two aircraft could degrade the cover
story and cause possible political problems.
9. No,additional tankers would be necessary based on assumption
that only single operational mission (OXCART or SR-71) would
be flown on a single day..
10. There would be a definite benefit gained by the SR-71 project
having immediate access to OXCART experience and know-how.
11. This option-would provide OXCART backup of the SR-71 insur-
ing against'any reconnaissance intelligence gap.
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Attachment III to
OPTION C: SIMULTANEOUS OPERATION OF THE A-12 AND SR-71
FROM KADENA WITHOUT USE OF COMMON FACILITIES
AND RESOURCES EXCEPT ON A NON-INTERFERRENCE
BASIS.
1. This option would require use of and minor modification
to the two corrosion control hangars presently at Kadena
to provide shop and hangar space.
2: Additional POL storage space (80% increase over current
OXCART requirement) would be necessary.
3. Additional housing, messing and transportation facilities
as well as an enlarged Physiological Equipment area would
be necessary.
4. Space for SR-71 operational command, control, and flight
planning would have to be provided.
5. Co-mingling of the two aircraft could cause cover story
and political problems.
6. Based on a single mission per day (OXCART or SR-71), no
additional tankers would be necessary.
7.. The SR-71 project would have a definite benefit in the
immediate access to OXCART experience and know-how.
8. Both SR-71 and OXCART on Kadena would insure against any
gap in reconnaissance intelligence collection.
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Attachment IV to
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OPTION D: OPERATION OF THE SR-71 FROM ANOTHER BASE IN
THE FAR EAST WITH THE A-12 REMAINING AT KADENA
FOR A PERIOD OF UP TO THREE MONTHS AFTER THE
START OF SR-71 OPERATIONS.
The cost and lead time necessary for this option
were discussed at the JRC working group meeting at the
Pentagon on 30 December 1967. No further comment in this
paper is felt necessary.
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OPTION E: OPERATION OF BOTH AIRCRAFT FROM THE SAME BASE
UTILIZING COMMON FACILITIES AND/OR OPERATING
SEPARATELY. OVERLAP PHASING OF AIRCRAFT WILL
BE CONSIDERED IN THIS OPTION.
shop and hangar space.
1. This option would require minor modification and utiliza-
tion of the two corrosion control hangars at Kadena for
2. Additional requirements include
POL storage space.
b. Expanded Physiological Equipment area for additional
crew equipment.
c. Housing, messing and transportation facilities.
experience and know-how.
d. Space for SR-71 command, control and flight
. planning.
3. Where possible, common items of supply would be utilized.
4. Use of present OXCART communication facilities on a non-
interference basis would be possible. Additional communica-
tions facilities might be necessary.
5: OXCART backup of-the SR-71 will insure against any
intelligence gap.
6. The SR-71 project will benefit from on-the-spot OXCART
7. This option will provide for orderly transition of the
SR-71 to assume the military mission of North Vietnam
reconnaissance without serious degradation of the OXCART
capability.
8. Use of the OXCART against other possible Southeast Asia
reconnaissance requirements would be possible under this
option.
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