DRAFT AGREEMENT FOR THE NATIONAL RECONNAISSANCE PROGRAM

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP96B01172R000400030007-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 6
• Document Creation Date: December 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: May 19, 2003
• Sequence Number: 7
• Publication Date: January 1, 1974
• Content Type: CONT

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DRAFT
AGREEMENT
FOR THE
NATIONAL RECONNAISSANCE PROGRAM
INTRODUCTION
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Satellite reconnaissance as used herein encompases the
operation of satellites for, the primary purpose of collecting
national intelligence information, although these satellites
may also support the intelligence information requirements
of tactical commanders in addition to their primary missions.
In order to optimize efficiency and cost effectiveness and to
maintain necessary protective security, satellite reconnais-
sance activities should be conducted. under single and direct
management. Therefore, in the interest of national security
and pursuant to the National Security Act of 1947 as amended,
the National Security Council authorizes and directs that satel-
lite reconnaissance activities be carried out as the National
Reconnaissance Program (NRP) of the United States to be conducted
under national leadership as prescribed herein.
RESPONSIBILITIES
The functions of the NRP include the development, manage-
ment, control and operation of all projects, both current and
long.range, for the collection of intelligence information by
spacecraft. Included are all image forming sensors of recon-
naissance quality, non-image forming sensors designed for
reconnaissance purposes and signal and electronic devices.-
In addition, the National Reconnaissance Program will involve
the aggressive development and pursual of advanced technology
for the collection of-intelligence by spacecraft which is fully
responsive to the intelligence needs and objectives of the
United States. .
A National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) will be adminis-
tratively established within the Department of Defense. It
will provide the necessary streamlined management to permit
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accomplishment of an effective satellite reconnaissance
program and will serve as a source of expertise in facilitat-
ing development of requirements for satellite reconnaissance
systems. It will be designated as a highly classified separate
operating agency and will not be subjected to normal review or
oversight.
The Director of the National Reconnaissance Office will
be appointed by the Secretary of Defense in consultation.with
the Director of Central Intelligence. To insure the optimum
common use of space support resources, the Director, NRO will
normally serve also as the full-time Under Secretary of the
Air Force and he will-
- Assure that the Director of Central Intelligence,
the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and other
officials having related responsibilities and interests are
kept appropriately informed of satellite reconnaissance activities.-
Assure that reconnaissance satellite operations
respond to the collection requirements for national intelligence
issued by the Director of Central Intelligence with the advice
of the USIB.
- Assure that SIGINT satellite development, control
and operation are compatible with the SIGINT processing-respon-
sibility of the Director, National Security Agency and that
on-orbit activities are compatible with other national directives
and established organizational relationships.
Assure that satellite system development includes
development of the tasking, processing and training components
so as to be compatible with the requirements, responsibilities
and relationships of the using agencies.
MANAGEMENT
The Secretary of Defense is responsible to the United States
Government for the execution of the NRP and the maintenance of
the NRO.
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The Director of Central Intelligence is responsible to
the United States Government for proper establishment of
requirements to be satisfied through national satellite
reconnaissance, for the balancing of the level of satellite
collection and exploitation in order to optimize intelligence
output, and for the operation of a Special Security Center to
provide security policy gui ance covering the overall NRP area.
The NRP Executive Committee, consisting of the Director
of Central Intelligence and the Assistant Secretary of Defense
(Intelligence) and such additional members as may be agreed
upon by the Secretary of Defense and Director of Central
Intelligence with the advice of the National Security Council,
will formulate, guide and approve resource allocations and
assure the proper balancing of projects within the program.
The Director, NRO will be responsible to the Secretary of
Defense for the execution of the National Reconnaissance Program
and will have the required authority to act for the Secretary
in the discharge of this responsibility. He will be responsive
to the guidance of the Executive Committee in the allocation
of resources. He will manage assignments within the program,
project reviews and studies associated with satellite
reconnaissance. He will initiate, approve and direct research
and development in the pursuance of advanced technology for
satellite reconnaissance. He will sit with the United States
Intelligence Board and other councils as necessary.
The National Reconnaissance Office will be manned by the
three military departments, CIA and NSA. The selection of
personnel from these agencies will be made by the Director,
NRO, in consultation with the heads of these agencies. The
principal sta security advisor to t e D/NRO will be provided
by the CIA. The NRO Staff will have sufficient manning to
provide primary support to the NRP Executive Committee principals
through the Director, NRO. There will be three program offices,
one from the Air Force, one from the CIA, and one from the Navy.
The program offices will be responsive directly to the Director,
NRO for satellite development and operational activities and
projects will be assigned by the Director, NRO to the program
offices in accordance with their capabilities.
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The Director, NRO will furnish necessary budget and program
data to the Executive Committee, the Secretary of Defense,
Congress and other appropriate Government officials. He w .ll
maintain a dedicated comptroller staff to manage the doll-.-
resources allocated to the program.
Secretary of Defense Director, Central Intelligence
OFFICIAL: Assistant to the President
. for National Security Affairs
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primary support to the NRP Executive Committee principals _
three military departments, CIA and NSA. The selection of
personnel m these agencies will be made by the_ Director,
NROs e NRO Staff will have sufficient manning to provide
The Director of Central Intelligence is responsible to
the United States Government for proper establishment of
requirements to be satisfied through national satellite
reconnaissance ).3 for the balancing of the level of satellite
collection and exploitation in order to optimize intelligence
output) / t~ Gvst : mot..-t~?da'cf L;L k.z.3 . _ 4
.~stir.~+.a c.:t ,sry ,q?ititCb -C .2 -9t-~~1e. i// -t K-~si O
The'NS Exe'c,Ihive Committee ?consisting of the Director
of Central Intelligence and the Assistant Secretary'. of Defense
(Intelligence) and such'additional members as may be agreed
upon by,the Secretary of Defense and Director of Central
Intelligence with the advice of the National Security Council,
will formulate, guide and approve resource allocations and
assure the proper balancing of projects within the program.
The Director, NRO will be responsible to the Secretary of
Defense for the execution of the National Reconnaissance Program
and will have the required authority to act for the Secretary
in the discharge of this responsibility. He will be responsive
to the guidance of the Executive Committee in the allocation
of resources. He will manage assignments within the program,
project reviews and studies associated with satellite
reconnaissance. He will initiate, approve and direct research
and development in the pursuance of advanced technology for .
satellite reconnaissance. He will sit with the United States
Intelligence Board and other councils as necessary.
The National Reconnaissance Office will be manned bf the'I'e- -,
through the Director, NRO. There will be three program offtces,
one from the Air Force, one from the CIA, and one from the Navy.
The program offices will be responsive directly to:_the_Director,
NRO for satellite development and operational__activities and
projects? will be assigned by the Director;?NRO to the-program
offices in accordance with their capabilities.
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The Director of Central Intelligence is responsible to
the United States Government for proper establishment of
requirements to be satisfied through national satellite
reconnaissance .an for the balancing of the level of satellite
collection and exploitation in order to optimize intelligence
output /a
The 1PP Ex. c Rive Committee consisting of the Director
of Central Intelligence and the Assistant Secretary. of Defense
(Intelligence) and such'additional members as may be agreed
upon by ',the Secretary of Defense and Director of Central
Intelligence with the advice of the National Security Council,
will formulate, guide and approve resource allocations and
assure the proper balancing of projects within the program.
The Director, NRO will be responsible to the Secretary of
Defense for the execution of the National Reconnaissance Program
and will have the required authority to act for the Secretary
in the discharge of this responsibility. He will be responsive
to the guidance of the Executive Committee in the allocation
of resources. He will manage assignments within the program,
project reviews and studies associated with satellite
reconnaissance. He will initiate, approve and direct research
and development in the pursuance of advanced technology for
satellite reconnaissance. He will sit with the United States
-Intelligence Board and other councils as necessary.
The National Reconnaissance Office will be manned b ~Ithe
three military de rtments, CIA and NSA. The selection of
personnel6m these agencies will be made by the Director,
NRO -'Tl NRO Staff will have sufficient manning to provide
primary support to the NRP Executive Committee principals .
through the Director, NRO. There will be three program off-ices,
one from the Air Force, one from the CIA, and one from.-the Navy.
The program offices will be responsive directly to the Director,
NRO for satellite development and operational activities?and
projects' will be assigned by the Director, NRO to the program
offices in accordance with their capabilities.
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