MEMORANDUM FOR: GENERAL MARSHALL S. CARTER FROM JOHN A. MCCONE

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Collection: 
Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 
CIA-RDP80B01676R001300020001-7
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RIPPUB
Original Classification: 
T
Document Page Count: 
8
Document Creation Date: 
December 16, 2016
Document Release Date: 
July 22, 2004
Sequence Number: 
1
Case Number: 
Publication Date: 
April 11, 1963
Content Type: 
MF
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PDF icon CIA-RDP80B01676R001300020001-7.pdf249.28 KB
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Approved For Release 2004/00A. ;": CJA-RbP8)JB01676R001300020001-7 11 April 1963 MEMORANDUM FOR: General Marshall S. Carter 1. Attached is a copy of a confidential memorandum that I have written on the Future Reconnaissance Operations. 2. The reasons for my raising the questions posed in this memorandum and establishing a requirement for a study as pro- posed are outlined in the closing paragraphs of the memorandum. 3. I would like your recommendations concerning the membership of the panel and the time required for such a study and report. This latter question will be controlled to some extent by work which has been done to date in this area, all of which can be made available to the panel. 4. It is my opinion that the panel should be chaired by someone outside of government, that members should be drawn from CIA, Department of Defense, NPIC and NASA and from the outside as well. Appropriate facilities and staff support should be provided principally by CIA, but by the other agencies as well. 5. If you have views to the contrary with respect to the composition of the panel, I hope you will discuss your views with me immediately. Frankly I am afraid that if this panel is chaired by CIA, parallel studies might be initiated in DOD. 6. It is my intention to discuss this matter with Secretaries McNamara and Gilpatric at the first opportunity. NRO review(s) completed. This document may be downgraded to SECRET when detached from attachment. Approved For Release 2004/t % i FIa0B01676R00130002000Y4- " III 2 ? J~ Approved For Release 2004/08/16 : CIA-RDP80B01676R001300020001-7 11 April 1963 FUTURE RECONNAISSANCE OPERATIONS We are on the threshold of bringing into being developments which will provide substantial improvements in our reconnaissance capability in the following areas: a. Manned aircraft -- the A-12 or OXCART will be a vast improvement over the U-2 with respect to speed and altitude capabilities. Camera improvement insures resulting photography of higher resolution than U-2 photography. b. Drones: One type of drone capable of carrying a U-2 type of camera is now in existence and operational. A new drone to be launched from an A-12 and with flight characteristics similar to the A-12 is under active development and will be available in about 18 months. Approved For Release 2004/08/16 : CIA-RDP80B01676R001300020001-7 Approved For Release 2004/08/16 : CIA-RDP80B01676R001300020001-7 c. Satellites: The CORONA operates satisfactorily; resolution of the photography leaves much to be desired. The LANYARD is operational and should produce photography mid-way between CORONA photography and U-2 photography. / It is to be noted that the LANYARD - while ready - has not been flown successfully. I Nevertheless, the outlook for substantial improvements in satellite photography are sufficiently promising to raise the following questions in my mind: 1. Will the improved photographic satellites produce reconnaissance photography adequate to meet our needs ? 25X1 25X1 Approved For Release 2004/08/16 : CIA-RDP80B01676R001300020001-7 Approved For Release 2004/08/16 : CIA-RDP80BO1676R001300020001-7 2. What further developments are considered feasible and should be undertaken in the interests of developing a system which would be an improvement over both the LANYARD 3. What is the vulnerability of the satellite and what steps are being taken to protect it? 4. What are the applications of A-12 drones, what quality photography is expected from them, and would their operating characteristics be such as to provide useful coverage in areas important to the security of the United States? 25X1 Approved For Release 2004/08/16 : CIA-RDP80BO1676R001300020001-7 Approved For Release 2004Q$/f6 *-(N F 80B01676R001300020001-7 These questions are raised because of doubt in the minds of some as to the political realities of A-12 manned aircraft flights over the Soviet Union. It is apparent now that such flights would be detected; they would create international incidents of such serious consequences, they might be vulnerable to ground interception, and most certainly would be vulnerable to malfunctioning while over enemy territory. There is a strong possibility that international political consideration would militate against the use of the OXCART over the Soviet Union and this raises the question of alternative means of securing photographic intelligence, the principal source of which would be improved satellite photography. Because of understandable policy questions relating to the use of the A-12 over Soviet territory I, as Director of Central Intelligence, must seek a considered answer to the above questions Approved For Release 2004/08/16 : CIA-RDP80;B01676R001300020001-7 Approved For Release 2004 O J 6 e; I OB01 676RO01 300020001-7 i , and to do this wish to empanel a small group of the most knowledgeable people both from within the government and from the outside, who are versed in the disciplines which control the answers to the above questions and to seek from them a report on the feasibility of improving the quality and resolution of satellite photography, the immediate steps that we should take to reach the ultimate goal, and finally the security of our satellites against interception by the Soviets. An important part of this study will be a judgment as to just what resolution of photography is necessary to provide meaningful intelligence and a precise determination of the resolution now attained in the U-2 photography, the expected resolution from the A-l2 and the probable resolution obtainable from presently programmed satellite photography, and finally from feasible improvements in satellite photography. Approved For Release 2004/08/16 ciA-RDP80B01676R001300020001-7 I M UNCLASSIFIED CONFIDENTIAL SECRET CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY OFFICIAL ROUTING SLIP TO NAME AND ADDRESS DATE INITIALS 2 y 04 3 - 4 7 6 ACTION DIRECT REPLY PREPARE REPLY APPROVAL DISPATCH RECOMMENDATION COMMENT FILE RETURN CONCURRENCE INFORMATION SIGNATURE Remarks : Lxj, FOLD HERE TO RETURN TO SENDER NAME. ADDRESS AND PHONE NO. FROM: DATE AA S E FORM NO. 237 Use previous editions (40) 2 _61 U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1961 0-587282 25X1 . . Fj gg y. fl l?l V SI. J 1 _ 'SECRET 25X1 paw 9 cilC aNWPB0801676R001300020001 7 to SECRET when n4K - CONTROL AND COVER SHEET FOR TOP SECRET DOCUMENT Y DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION CIA CO SOURCE 7 DCI IVED DATE D .NO. DOC A 1963 DOC. DATE 11 Apr 3 1 LOGGED BY COPY NO. lb /er NUMBER OF PAGES 1 t NUMBER OF ATTACHMENTS ATTENTION: This form will be placed on top of and attached to each Top Secret document received by the Central Intelligence Agency d to the document until such time as it is downgraded, destroyed, or h tt e ac or classified Top Secret within the CIA and will remain a cret matter is limited to Top Secret Control personnel and those individuals whose official S e transmitted outside of CIA. Access to Top t Control Officers who receive and/or release the attached Top Secret material will sign this form duties relate to the matter. Top Secre riod of custody in the left-hand columns provided. Each individual who sees the Top Secret document will sign and i t e pe ca and ind indicate the date of handling in the right-hand columns. REFERRED TO RECEIVED RELEASED SEEN BY OFFICE/DIV. DATE OFFICE SIGNATURE DATE TIME DATE TIME SIGNATURE ER 4/25 ! 4 25 y Elder ER detached from Top Secret material it shall be completed in the appropriate spaces below i s NOTICE OF DETACHMENT: When this form and transmitted to Central Top Secret Control for record. DESTROYED DISPATCHED (OUTSIDE CIA) DOWNGRADED By (Signature) TO TO WITNESSED BY (Signature) BY (Signature) BY (Signature) DATE OFFICE DATE A OFFICE Approv d For Releas 2004/08/16: CIA-RD 80B01676R0 - FORM ?~_D 26 USE TOP SECRET SS 'IED TOPS CR wen a#ticbeTto'T`op ecret"Document - Au omatically downgraded