REQUEST FOR APPROVAL TO EXPAND (SANITIZED)ROM FY 1970 FUNDS FOR A GROUND ORDER OF BATTLE RESOLUTION STUDY CONTRACT (SANITIZED)

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79B00873A001600040010-3
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 7
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 22, 2012
• Sequence Number: 10
• Publication Date: April 23, 1970
• Content Type: MEMO

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 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/08/22 : CIA-RDP79B00873AO01600040010-3GX1
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MEMORANDUM FOR: Director, National Photographic Interpretation Center
Request for Approval to Expend from FY-1970 Funds 25X1
for a Ground Order-of-Battle-Resolution-Study Contract,
--for-a contract.- The specific - request is contained in paragraph 7.
2. Image quality requirements for satellite reconnaissance-systems-.
--exert a major influence on the costs of such systems., The more stringent
the specifications, the higher the development and production costs.. Pho-
tographic ground resolution is a primary` image quality variable-affecting
intelligence extraction from reconnaissance exploitation. Empirical' de=
termination of information yield as a function of improving image resolu-
-tion can provide a critical input to objective acquisition system design.
Through the use of controlled imagery, simulating potential optical system
capabilities, resolution break points may be established-.for specific tar-.-
gets. These cutoffs, beyond which no further useful intelligence informa-
tion can be extracted from photography, act as guidelines. to collection-
planners who are thus able to--compareintelligence-requ?irements on-one-
hand with attendant system par-ame-ter-s- and--costs on-the other.-_ Conver-se.ly..,..-
once the parameters. of a -new._reconnaiss . ance-system. have-been designated,`.
those requirements that the:system..can be expected to.fulfill.may be com-.
piled objectively by empirical investigations of PI output as a function
of .antic?ipated,image--quality...Results of such studies must be target
.specific, since interpretation of targets consisting of large components
usually can be accomplished with=poorer =ground.-resolution than that re-
.quired for targets containingsmall components. Furthermore-usable re--
suits must be specific to particular.Pl-functions. Mere target identifi-
cation as the interpreter's goal can generally be?achieved with poorer
image duality than that needed for detailed-technical' anal-Vs1s -of .the -same
"`"...a U.Ctis? 1
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U
SUBJECT: Request for Approval to Expend from FY-1970 Funds
for a Ground Order-of-Battle Resolution Study Contract
will treat ground order-of-battle (GOB) targets. This
ed study to be conducte~
object category is of high priority in the Intelligence Community in terms
of both current denied area assessment via satellite reconnaissance and
future SALT environment inspection capabilities. Previous investigations,
of intelligence extraction as a function of photographic ground resolution
have been conducted for such targets as aircraft, ICBM sites, and mobile
'radars. The results of these studies have proven to be of great interest
and assistance to Community planners. Each study has produced results
unique to the specific target under consideration. The radar investigation
resulted indication of the most stringent ground resolution require-
ment because of the many small electronic components included in
the a. g . hoto interpretation requirements in the GOB category are
becoming increasingly more detailed. It may very well be that future
analysis requirements can be met only by ground resolutions even finer
than those presently indicated for the electronics targets.
4. Developing data on intelligence extraction in the particular
area of ground order-of-battle equipment--as a function of photographic
ground resolution--will enable NPIC to respond with greater precision to
-----the--needs--of -collection-system--designers--and- resource-planners. Such
responses, giving proven technical data about the degree and quality of
intelligence which could be obtained relevant to various design resolutions,
enable better judgments to be made concerning value versus costs of alter-
native designs and objectives.
5. The primary objective of the proposed project will be to
consider,GOB tar et information contained within.the photographic reso-
lution-range re resenting a hypothetical optimum system, to
represen ing rendition at approximately 400 obliquity.
The imagery utilized will simulate as closely as practicable the modulation
transfer function and scale as well as the resolution of present and
proposed acquisition systems. The study will employ NPIC photo inter-
preters and/or external PI's performing similar-GOB analysis functions.
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SUBJECT: Request for Approval to Expend~ from FY-1970 Funds
for a Ground Order-of-Battle Resolution Study.Contract
Final results of the investigation should be available to the Community
several months in advance of the impact upon the Center, thus
enabling Center management to ma. e a practica of GOB readout
functional assignments and capabilities in th environment.
The study's results will also depict those GOB requirements, if any, which
can be satisfied only with a ground resolution better than that expected
from the improved The proposed project will consist of two major
phases, data collection and data analysis. A final technical report will
be prepared upon completion of the study. D is currently under a
separate contract to prepare for the study by executing an experimental
design, by coordinating the acquisition and processing of domestic GOB
imagery and ground truth data, and formatting the required experimental
materials.
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6.I has been chosen to perform the proposed project because of 25X1
the contractor's experience gained and competence demonstrated on similar
previous efforts for NPIC. It is deemed inadvisable at this time to re-
quest open bids-on such a project due to the absence of any other cleared
contractor well-versed in the extremely specialized nature of the research
involved. Estimated price of the work to be done under this contract is
under a separate Time and Materials contract 25X1
to NPIC, is.assisting
proposed herein, under both FY-70 & FY-71 funds. Eastman Kodak is
ing the image processing portion of this program for approximately 25X1
under PAR 255 of Domestic, high resolution photo coverage 25X1
of GOB is being flown by an OSA/DDS&T aircraft covered by approxi-
mately 77of miscellaneous services funds transferred from NPIC. 25X1
7. Successful completion of this contract could lead to further image
quality requirements studies to contribute to NPIC's imagery exploitation
planning. However, additional investigations of photographic ground reso-
as a critical variable probably will not be required. Similar studies
lution
employing the simulated products of unconventional sensor systems, such as
line-scan, side-looking radar, or infra-red, are likely future requirements.
several tasks in the current contract. It 25X1
is anticipated that will continue its support role to the effort 25X1
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 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/08/22 : CIA-RDP79B00873AO01600040010-3
SUBJECT: Request for Approval to Expend from FY-1970 Funds
for a Ground Order-of-Battle Resolution Study Contract
.9. It is requested that the negotiation with'
Incorporated, for a contract to conduct the program described at a cost
not to exceed ~~ be approved.
Chief, Technical Services & Support Group,
NPIC
Attachments:
1. Proposal
2. Form 2420
APPROVED:
ARTHUR C. LUNDAHL
Director
National Photographic Interpretation Center
Distribution:
Copy l.- NPIC/TSSG/SC&PS
2 - NPIC/ODir
3 & 4 - NPIC/TSSG
5 - NPIC/TSSG/RED
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~EQUEST TO PROCUREMENT D!VISIO0 R SERVICES
Ig
(other than property or building maintenance and repairs)
OFFICE/DIY/BR REQUEST NO DATE OF REQUEST I CERTIF 25X1
NPIC/TSSG/RED/ATB ~~D(~- 4~d AMOUNT D
AVAILABL
PROJECT TITLE PRO SIGNATURE OF BUDGET OFFICER 25X1
Ground Order of
BatedResoluti
ti 7
CONTRACTOR (if known) PROPOSAL NO. AND DATE CONTRACT & TASK ORDER NO. (if ;no--I
24 Feb. 1970 New Contract (CPAF) 25X1
TYPE OF SERVICE REQUESTED
APPLICABLE ONLY TO REPAIRS- AND MODIFICATIONS
TECHNICAL INSPECTION IS REQUIRED BY
X
RESEARCH/DEV
TRANSFER OF FUNDS TO
OTHER GOVT
AGENCY
O'RECE IYING DEPOT T & I TECHNICAL MONITOR
GRANT
.
(specify if applicable)
ITEMS TO BE PICKED UP OR O SERVICES PERFORMED AT
REPAIR
:
MAINTENANCE
ITEMS TO BE REDELIVERED TO:
MODIFICATION
STERILITY
CONTRACT CLASSIFICATION
WORK CLASSIFICATION
HARDWARE CLASSIFICATION
REPORTS CLASSIFICATInti
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S
TS
--
S
SHORT SUBSTANTIVE TITLE AND/OR DESCRIPTION OF SERVICE TO BE PERFORMED
An investigation to define photographic ground resolution. requirements for
the interpretation of ground order of battle targets on the imagery from various
present and proposed reconnaissance.
(See reverse for specific informa
re
i
d
&
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ou
re
on R
D requests.)
DESIGNATION
DATE
23 APR 1970
PROCUREMENT DIVISION USE
DATE RECEIVED IN PD
RECORDED BY
SECTION ASSIGNED TO
NEGOTIATOR
3067 2420 2REPLCES FORMS
420A AND 2416 UNCLASSIFIED
WHICH MAY BE
CONFIDENTIAL ? SECRET Q (specify)
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 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/08/22 : CIA-RDP79B00873AO01600040010-3 peclry)
~... .11151'IIICAI'ION FOR SOURCE CT I ON
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Bi
- -----X _OF__C.O P IES --K]-MONTHLY
*(3)
.__ IARDWARE-(state type and.number
SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS'--
QUARTERLY Q FINAL
*(25)
UNCLASSIFIED LJ CONFIDENTIAL ? SECRET (specify)
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/08/22 : CIA-RDP79B00873AO01600040010-3
Follow-on to Contract