REQUIREMENTS FOR A SATELLITE SYSTEM

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79B01709A003500040002-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: February 28, 2003
• Sequence Number: 2
• Publication Date: July 29, 1969
• Content Type: MF

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NRO REVIEW COMPLETED
UNITED STATES INTELLIGENCE BOAR D
MEMORANDUM FOR HOLDERS OF USIB-D-46.4/30
SUBJECT Requirements for a Near-Real-Time
Imagery Satellite System
REFERENCE USIB-D-46. 4/ 30 .(COMIREX-D-13. 7/6)
16 July 1969, Limited Distribution
1. In restricted session withl representing the
National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) present, I advised the Board
that the reference report had been fully coordinated by the COMIREX members
and noted that the USIB had heard his briefing on this subject at an earlier
meeting. He said that in addition to providing some background the COMIREX
report addresses itself to those characteristics of the system identified by
NRO as needing clarification.
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2. General McChristian informed the Board that his staff had just
completed a special study on the near.- real-time imagery satellite system and
its implications for the Army in the future. As a result he had three suggestions
for changes in the wording of the report, the first of which was on page 3,
paragraph 3, where he would insert the words "in determining enemy
capabilities and vulnerabilities" in the second sentence of the paragraph after
the word "significantly". The Chairman with Board concurrence accepted
this change. General McChristian then proposed the addition of "East Germany"
after "Moscow area" in the last sentence of paragraph 6. d. on page 5, which
was also accepted by the Board. The third suggested change was in the
first sentence of paragraph 6. f. on page 6 where General Md;Christian
wi;shedto,addthe unified and specified commands and their components and
to permit initial interpretation and exploitation to take place
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in designated overseas locations. expressed concern on this point
and preferred the way this point was already dealt with in the last sentence of
paragraph 6. f. General McChristian pointed out that, while this last sentence
does indicate that further study will be needed to determine the means and
timeliness of dissemination to other locations, he felt that the special Army
study had already justified his suggested change.
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25X1A 3. said that COMIREX recognized the need for the information
in overseas locations and that the wording of the last sentence was intended
to convey the idea. He believed that the methods to be used to meet this
objective required a good deal more study since such overseas distribution
could have quite an impact on NRO resources. General McChristian
emphasized that Army commanders overseas must have the read out of
this proposed system presented and appraised in the. setting of their own
interest and area of responsibility rather than from the point of view of a
Washington-based interpretation.
25X1A 4. I Isaid that he could not visualize that the processing of
the take from this type of a system could be done in a mobile van since it
would be much too difficult and far too costly. He said he doubted that a
processing could be developed at all commands.
5. General Cushman noted that the system being discussed was new and
very complex and will probably require changes in present methods which
cannot be set up as a full system initially but will require study as the report
states.
25X1A 6. listed three ways that the Army objective could possibly
be met but noted that they have not been studied as well as they should:
(a) All data collected would be transmitted to a number of ground stations.
Each station would be very large and complicated, add greatly to the cost and
provide much unnecessary data to most locations. (b) Selection of data as it
returns from the satellite for direct transmission from the satellite to over-
seas locations. This method has not been considered carefully as yet, and
each ground station would still be large and expensive but it might meet the
Army problem. (c) Limited re-transmission where a number of selected
frames would be sent from a central station to locations other than Washington
via communications satellites. There would be some delay in re-transmission
but it appears to be most compatible with General. McChristian? s proposal.
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7. General McChristian said that the read out of selected frames was
really what the Army wanted and that frames of selected targets available on
a real-time basis to a commander overseas would provide him with the
type of read out he needed to meet his responsibilities. He said that he did
not believe that this thought was adequately expressed in the report as
presently drafted.
25X1A 8. again suggested that the thought was not excluded and that
the NRO needed time for further study of the various options because of the
implications regarding cost and complexity. Admiral Harlfinger said that
during a COMIREX discussion Navy had been assured that the intent of the
language in the report was to permit expansion of the use of the data and that
Navy was proceeding to plan for such use to meet its ocean surveillance
responsibility.
9. General McChristian said that as written the report says that all
initial photo interpretation is to be done in Washington. I explained
that Washington is intended as the initial center but that this does not exclude
dissemination to overseas locations for interpretation and the matter is to be
studied and not ruled out.
25X1A 10. said that he did not favor changing the wording since he
did not wish to see the requirement stated before the matter was studied
25X1A more fully. questioned the requirement from a cost point of
view since the Army commanders would not have the capability to look at all
the photography. General McChristian pointed out that the requirement for
read out of selected photography of the commanders' area of interest was the
requirement as he viewed it.
11. Mr. Helms then proposed and the Board agreed to an addition at the
end of the last sentence of paragraph 6. f. stating "keeping in mind. the require-
ments of unified and specified commanders for the timely dissemination of
selected imagery".
25X1A 12. ~ lexpressed concern with the wording in paragraph 6. c.
which he said had been read by some to mean daily access to "all targets".
explained the intended meaning could be restated as "any targets",
and in any case this problem was taken care of by the specified number of
frames per day. He assured the members that both the COMIREX and NRO
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interpreted the system characteristics in this manner. said he
had the same type of problem with "one hour" in paragraph 6. f. when he
wondered if the cost of attainment would be excessive. I said that
he understood from the previous NRO advice that this was feasible, but cost
implications were to be studied by NRO pursuant to Recommendation 7. c.
under which the trade-offs could be identified and excessive cost avoided.
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25X1A 13. tabled a DIA proposal that the Board in approving
the requirements in the COMIREX report recognize that there are other
SIGINT and imagery systems being considered or developed and that each of
these candidate systems could entail significant acquisition costs. Consequently,
he requested that, when these requirements were forwarded for NRO guidance,
it should be indicated that the value of the near-real-time system relative to
the value of current capabilities or to other candidate systems has not been
25X1A determined. also would indicate that, as recommended in the
report, the COMIREX requirements should be viewed as "initial guidance";
they may have to be adjusted as the feasibility and cost implications are
identified and assessed and as a total NRP plan is developed. The Chairman
agreed that he would include a statement along these lines in his transmittal of
the requirements to the NRO.
14. The Board then approved USIB-D-46. 4/ 30 amended as follows:
a. Paragraph 3. , page 3, last sentence, insert after "contribute
significantly" the phrase "in determining enemy capabilities and vulnerabilities
and".
b. Paragraph 6. d. , page 5, insert "East Germany" after "Moscow
area" in last sentence.
c. Paragraph 6. f. , page 6, add to the last sentence, "keeping in
mind the requirements of unified and specified commanders for the timely
dissemination of selected imagery".
15. Attached are revised pages 3, 5 and 6 incorporating the above
changes for substitution in all copies of reference document.
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