OSA RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM (AGENCY FUNDED) FOR FISCAL YEAR 1969

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP33-02415A000800290011-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: December 15, 2016
• Document Release Date: December 11, 2003
• Sequence Number: 11
• Content Type: MF

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MEMORANDUM FOR: Director of Central Intelligence
SUBJECT: OSA Research and Development Program
(Agency Funded) for Fiscal Year 1969
1. This memorandum contains a recommendation for
approval of the Director of Central Intelligence. Such
recommendation is contained in paragraph 6.
2. Prior to the establishment of the NRO, the Office
of Special Activities had a sizeable independent Agency funded
research and development program oriented toward overhead
reconnaissance systems, which produced, among other things,
the IDEALIST (U-2) and OXCART (A-12) vehicles. With the
advent of the NRO, funding of this activity was transferred
to the NRO. In the ensuing years primary R&D responsibility
of the Office of Special Activities has been directed toward
the further development and operation of the OXCART and
IDEALIST programs, with limited investigations having been
performed on other reconnaissance systems. One of these was
the ISINGLASS program, the preliminary studies of which were
completely funded by the McDonnell Aircraft Company, with
NRO review(s)
completed.
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I
age
no Government money invested. In recent years our research
and development effort has been subjected to increasing
01 fiNEM(f'O,
funding restrictions even when directly related to the
OXCART and IDEALIST Programs.
3. Both the Air Force and the Navy carry on research
and development activities generally associated with systems
applicable to the National Reconnaissance Program. As such
developments reach appropriate stages, they provide a
rational basis for the initiation of new programs under
either the NRO or their service programs. However, the
CIA does not have a comparable independent Agency-oriented
research and development program at this time, which precludes
presentation of a well-founded program proposal to the NRO
for funding. We must depend on Air Force and Navy research
and development for the early stages of work or, as in the
case of ISINGLASS, depend on efforts by potential contractors.
4. Air Force and Navy research and development programs
are generally oriented toward the requirements of their
respective services and do not necessarily fulfill the require-
ments for intelligence collection by the CIA. Contractor-
funded studies are also very poor practice in that, as in the
Air Force and Navy programs, the CIA has little, if any, real
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rage
control over the direction of the studies; neither does
it derive the benefits of a competitive program.
(Coordination of Research Development and
Engineering) states in part:
"Research, development, and engineering (RD&E) of
new techniques and equipment for collecting processing
and evaluating intelligence data is vital to CIA,
as is the contribution research and engineering can
make to communications and security of intelligence
activities. It is essential that RD&E efforts be
responsive to the total needs ofCIA and that scientific
and engineering advances be promptly exploited to
maintain and improve technical advantages wherever
possible."
In keeping with these objectives it is important that
the Office of Special Activities maintain a capability,
independent of outside agencies) for the development of
new systems, components, sensors, etc*., to support tiTr
tration,,, carrying electronic, photographic
Agency-wide requirements for collection of information. In
order to accomplish this, moderate funding controlled by
the Agency itself is required. R&D studies will include
aircraft systems designed for short and long-range pene-
plus developments in sensor systems
and components necessary for these missions. We would also
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We would still expect
to coordinate with and take full advantage of R&D programs
of other agencies, and, as in the past, to share any
significant developments with them. Specifically exempted
from our programs would be efforts in the field of satellite
systems development and in the interpretation and the
analysis of the imagery therefrom.
6. It is recommended that A Research and Development
Funding in the amount ofI Ibe allocated to OSA in
FY-1969 and that OSA be delegated the specific authority
to conduct necessary research and development programs in
the general field of reconnaissance.
1 -1
AguTing Deputy Director
for
Science and Technology
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SIGNATURE RECOMMENDED:
birec o o pecia Activities Date
The recommendation contained in
paragraph 6 is approved
irec or o en ra n e igence Date
Approved For Relea -
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BPD/COMPT/OSA' (date)
Distribution:
#1 - BPD/COMPT/OSA
#2 - ER
#3 - DDCI
#4 - DD/S&T Chrono
#5 - DD/S&T Registry
#6 - DD/S&T Registry
#7 - D/SA
#8 - COMPT/OSA
#9 - D/R&D/OSA
#10 - remaining OSA distribution
# RB/OSA
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