TAGBOARD MISSIONS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP75B00159R000100160023-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: December 19, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 21, 2006
• Sequence Number: 23
• Publication Date: March 20, 1970
• Content Type: MF

25X1.
Approved r Release 2006
1 75959R0001.001 23-9
VE S
NATIONAL RECONNAISSANCE OFFICE
WASHINGTON, D.C.
March 20, 1970
MEMORANDUM FOR Assistant to the President for National
Security Affairs
Attorney General
Deputy Secretary of Defense
Under Secretary of State (Political Affairs)
Director of Central Intelligence
Executive Secretary, 40 Committee
SUBJECT: TAGBOARD Missions
TAGBOARD flew its-first limited operational mission 5J"Y,,
over South China on November 10, 1969. Launch.and early
flight were successful as the drone obtained the programmed
altitude of 84,000 feet and a cruise mach of 3.27. During
the terminal phase of the flight the drone was not acquired
(visually or electronically) and the payload was not recovered.
NSA reported no SIGINT that could be correlated with
the mission. The drone's position was fixed at only 50 miles
off the Island of Hainan and 80 miles from the China mainland,
just prior to the drone's telemetry being turned off on the
inbound track well within range of coastal air defense radars.
The drone's operating altitude, speed and small radar cross
section (.2 sq meter frontal area with a 150 depression
angle) give it a high probability of survival.
Investigations and laboratory simulations now indicate
that computational errors in the drone's inertial navigation
system (INS) prevented the drone from flying the programmed
T 25X1 CONTROL NO
25X1 1 ~ SEC ~~ S copy-icLoc J
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Following is a brief summary of the November 10, 1969
operational mission and the February 20, 1970 test mission.
A summary of all flights to date is attached.
25X1
NRO review(s) completed.
 v~` 'S( ~c Sc~c'x Sc x x
Approved or Release 2006/08/21 : CIA-RDP75E4P 59R00010 b023-9
TOP SECRET
route. Self destruction probably occurred after fuel exhaus- 25X1
tion upon descent at the pre-set altitude of
Software changes have since been made and tested to correc
the computational errors, and a "fail safe" feature has been
incorporated in the INS that will provide positive control of
the drone's flight path.
On February 20, 1970, TAGBOARD flew a completely success-
ful test mission to valisj.ate the software and "fail safe" 25X1
changes to the INS program.
The TAGBOARD system is now ready for another operational
test mission. Drones are located at Beale AFB and are ready
for flight.
1 Attachment
Summary of Flights
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Approve r Release 2006/08/21 : CIA-RDP75O159R000100160023-9
TOP SECRET
SUMMARY OF TAGBOARD B-52 LAUNCHES
November 6, 1967. Drone #507. PMR. (PACIFIC MISSILE RANGE)
Launch and boost were successful. Drone attained a mach
Cruise flight was not sustained
due to low inlet recovery; deformed inlet cone primary
suspect. Drone travelled 134 miles down range and the
hatch was not recovered.
December 2, 1967. Drone #509. PMR.
Launch and boo t were successful. Free flight continued
on course for
feet less than normal). Flight terminated premature y
after failure of the hydraulic system and subsequent loss
of control. The hatch was not recovered.
January 19, 1968. Drone #508. PMR.
Launch and boost were successful. The drone travelled
550 miles down range, then the flight terminated prematurely
when the drone began a pitch down and roll to the left.
Telemetry was lost. Most probable cause of failure was
electrical malfunction. The hatch was not recovered.
April 30, 1968. Drone #511. PMR. -
Launch and boost were successful. Following booster
ejection, the drone was unable to sustain cruise and lost
altitude and speed due to low thrust from the engine (in-
let not started). Drone travelled 150 miles down range
and was destroyed. Hatch not recovered.
June 16, 1968. Drone #512. PMR.
The hatch was air-recovered by JC-130 aircra t.
CONTROL NO
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 July 1, 1968. Drone #514. PMR.
During pushover at the top of boost phase, the drone
became laterally unstable due to insufficient autopilot
gains. At separation, the booster struck the drone,
rupturing the drone's fuel tank. The hatch ejected upon
command and was recovered from the water in good condition.
Approver Release 2006/08/21 : CIA-RDP75E159R0001001P3-9
TOP SECRET
August 28, 1968. Drone #516. PMR.
Launch and boost were successful. However, the drone's
engine remained at minimum power and cruise altitude
was not maintained. The hatch ejected at an excessive
speed on descent and was not recovered. 25x1
December 15, 1968. Drone #515. PMR.
I?This was the tirst mission
to test the total system with the camera aboard. The
hatch was air-recovered by JC-130.
February 11, 1969. Drone #518. PMR.
Launch and boost successful. Apparent shift in autopilot
control at excessive mach caused the drone to descend
resulting in the inlet remaining only partially started
with attendant loss in thrust. Severe-oseillations
resulted. Drone believed to have structurally destroyed
itself. Hatch was not recovered. 25x1
Successful test flight./
May 10, 1969. Drone #519. PMR.
Successful test flight.
F Hatch was air recovered by JC-130.
July 10, 1969. Drone #520. PMR.
Successful test flight.
Hatch was air-recovered by JC-130.
CONTROL NO
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 Approved it Release 2006/08/21 : CIA-RDP75EW59R0001001@9923-9
TOP SEC l,ET
November 10, 1969. Drone #517. First operational mission.
Launch and boost successful. Computational errors in the
drone's Inertial Navigation System prevented drone from
flying the programmed route. Self-destruct believed to
have occurred upon descent at 0 feet. Hatch was
not recovered.
25X1
February 20, 1970.-, Drone-#521. PMR. -
Successful test fli ht.
Changes to INS program validated.
Hatch was air-recovered by JC-130.
COMP"' MO
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