LETTER TO DR. FLAX, USAF FROM (Sanitized)CHAIRMAN COMMITTEE ON OVERHEAD RECONNAISSANCE

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79B01709A002000030026-0
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 15, 2016
• Document Release Date: February 24, 2004
• Sequence Number: 26
• Publication Date: November 21, 1966
• Content Type: LETTER

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and has found that in general you have overfulfilled our requirements.
At the same time, our analysis demonstrated that it would be desira-
ble for COMOR to review the existing requirements and to make them
somewhat more realistic in certain respects.
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21 November 1966
During the past year I have been impressed by the efforts of
your staff to increase the effectiveness of photographic satellite
reconnaissance missions in their coverage of targets essential to
the fulfillment of the requirements of the intelligence community.
I have also been pleased with the close collaboration of your staff
with the COMOR Photo Working Group in your efforts to achieve
this improved effectiveness. During this same time period you have
operated the satellite reconnaissance system at a very high rate of
reliability and have introduced new features such as the new pro-
grammer in the CORONA vehicle which have added even more to
your ability to satisfy the intelligence community's requirements.
As you know, COMOR has reviewed in detail the results
achieved by the satellite reconnaissance program in recent months
Under general guidance from the Director of Central Intelli-
gence that he wished the reconnaissance effort to be conducted at the
minimum level consistent with the essential security of the United
States, COMOR has been engaged in reviewing requirements for
reconnaissance. The first step approved by USIB on 8 November
1966 was to restate the requirements for search in the Soviet bloc
and Communist China. The second effort, launched by COMOR
several weeks ago, is to review and revise so-called Tab A which
lists the numbers and frequency of coverage of targets for surveil-
lance purposes. It seems clear that in the circumstance of the
present high effectiveness of the satellite reconnaissance program
and the guidance from the DCI, our requirements can be satisfied
with a considerably reduced launch program. The specific number
of missions required will be influenced to some degree by the
Dr. Alexander H. Flax
Assistant Secretary of the Air Force
for Research and Development
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in acquiring search photography by the CORONA system.
lance requirements and in assessing the effects of the new programmer
remainder of the work to be done by COMOR in reviewing its surveil-
of your assessment of expected reliability, but on.the basis of relia-
bility figures used by your staff in discussion and correspondence with
COMOR, I assume that this requirement level would result in a total
launch program of approximately
for the 18 months of calendar year 1967 and-the first half of 1968.
requirements. You course will have to plan launches on the basis
missions per year to sa is y our 114rw,;
poses a level of seven successful search 25X
I have been directed to inform you that you should use for planning ur-
In the meantime, however, pending completion of these tasks,
I-will advise you immediately if our assessment should indicate a
I am looking forward to your continued support in the COMOR
study of these matters and will keep your staff advised of its progress.
further change in the level of successful missions required.:
,3 Approved Ear; ei a e .I O4/04t1"3`:'ti b Oplro `Agg2000030026-0