AQUILINE

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Aquiline
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 03035179
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 6
• Document Creation Date: July 16, 2020
• Document Release Date: July 30, 2020

Approved for Release: 2020/02/11 C03035179
TOP CRET
3.5(c)
3.3(h)(2)
CATEGORY: Co11ection of Intelligence
SUB CATEGORY: Imagery
ELEMENT: Other
PROJECT:
1. PROGRESS TOWARD CURRENT OBJECTIVES:
BYE-9322-68
During the period Nov 67 through Dec 68, the OSA worked directly
with ORD in the development program of Project AQUILINE. OSA is
integrated into the development program so that as the program begins
to produce operational capability, OSA will have had the training and
experience required for a smooth transition.
2. OBJECTIVES:
To provide imagery, both IR and photography, and to provide an
advanced emplacement capability for collection of intelligence.
a. Method of Approach
FY 1970: During fiscal year 1970, OSA will continue to
participate with ORD in the development program. The schedule
now envisioned indicates that the flight test of the AQUILINE
Vehicle and its associated systems will be conducted by ORD
during the latter part of FY 1970. OSA will continue to '
participate through this phase of the AQUILINE development
program. A facility will be required for flight test of the
vehicle by ORD and for the subsequent training and operatibn
to be conducted by OSA. Area 51 is an ideal facility for such
activity. OSA will require 1 position in excess of its
presently authorized ceiling plus .S not in the FY 1970
budgetLfgr_�..uppyt_of these operations. The ORD Budget
contains sufficierit fund S to cover this deficit.
FY 1971: The flight test program conducted by ORD will
continue into early FY 1971. ORD is preposing to have 7 Vehicles
for the flight test program. At the conclusion of the flight
test program, 1ORD has proposed that the remaining flight test
vehicles be rehabilitated and turned over to OSA for use in training,
testing and refinement of operational concepts. Anticipating a
_high attrition rate among flight test vehicles, it is assumed
that only three vehicles will be available from ORD for these
purposes. It is therefore proposed that 4 additional vehicles
be procured during FY 1971 to insure the capability of OSA to
attain an initial marginal operational posture by the end of
FY 1971. Additionally, in FY 1971 the mobile ground control
unit required fbr precise navigation of the vehicle will have
� been completely developed and will be ready for production. It
�is proposed to buy 1 of these ground control units for opera-
� tional Use by'OSA. Seventeen additional positions will be
required to support the training, testing, development of
operational, concepts and possible deployment. These positions
are: 1 Detachment Commander, 3 flight planners (Operators),
2 Admin, 2 support, 2 security, 5 automation technicians,
, 1 weather, and 1 medical technician. Funding requested is
sufficient to support this program at Area 51 on an austere
basis plus coverage of deployment contingencies.
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BYE-9322-68
.FY 1972: It is proposed that an additional ground control
unit and associated equipment and manpower be provided. This
will enable a dual deployment plus training and testing of new
or improved aircraft systems and sensors, etc., when not
deployed. It is planned to procure 8 operational vehicles to,
be used for Up to 16 operational missions, plus test and train-
ing. Added to the total of 15 positions in FY 1971, 7 positions
will be required for increased operation These are: 2 flight
planners, 1 clerk, 1 security officer, and 3 automation
technicians.
FY 1973: It is proposed to procure 12 vehicles to be used
for Up to 24 operational missions and to continue training and
payload testing. No additional positions will be required
above those indicated in 1972.
FY 1974 & FY 1975:- No further personnel increases are planned
for this period. It is planned to procure 12 vehicles per year
to be used for flying up to 24 operational missions each year
and to continue testing of improved systems and sensors and
refinement of operational concepts and procedures.'
b.
Coordination, Joint Planning and Requirements
. Coordination is now being effected with.ORD for joint planning
during the remaining development phase.. Joint planning will be
established as necessary with other components of CIA to insure
support for this program. Joint planning *ill also be established,
if deemed necessary, with such other members of the intelligence
community as appear interested in such a program.
.The AQUILINE Vehicle will satisfy specific future requirements
of the intelligence community for collection of information in
normally denied areas. As opposition defenses increase in capa-
bility, the present vehicles will lose much of their utility in
obtaining information over these areas.. As we lose our edge in
speed and altitude and as we lose foreign real estate, our Capa-
bility for collection of intelligence will diminish in direct
proportion. The AQUILINE Vehicle, will, if developed as
projected, enable an almost completely Surreptitious penetration.'
It is also planned to attain a capability, combined with
potentially available satellite relay systems, to satisfy require-
ments for real time. intelligence, precise emplacement capability,
etc.
C. Risk and Uncertainties
The obvious risk is loss of an unmanned aircraft over 'denied
territory and the resulting political implications therefrom.
The risk in this case is minimized by the fact that the aircraft
is much less provocative than any other, being very small and
having no armament. This. constitutes a low risk capability with
an extremely high information gathering potential,
d. Alternatives Considered
Four alternative levels of* effort were considered for FY 1970)
and beyond through FY 1975. The first consideration was attain-
ment of an operational capability at the earliest possible date:
FY 1970. The development program as outlined by ORD indicated
that a relatively sophisticated operational capability could be
attained during FY 1970, provided a major expenditure of FY 1969
funds took place. The assets could be acquired to meet such a
capability in the most highly desirable form, i.e., a fixed base
plus two mobile units capable of simultaneous de lo ment This
would envision an aircraft with a range of Over
computerized flight, and television and,IR sensors. pera ion
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INV
BYE-9322-68
at these ranges with the requirements for precise navigation and
precise position control of the aircraft can possibly be achieved
by taking advantage of potentially available satellite relay
systems, highly sophisticated ground control equipment and data
quality transmission equipment. The cost of establishing such a
system would be approximately $18 million. This was considered
to be impractical for numerous reasons among which are:
1. At this point in the development it can not be said
for certain that the equipment in the configuration required
for this type of operation would be available within the
specified time period.
2. Obtaining the personnel required to man such a
capability would have had to start early in FY 1969.
3. The impracticability of obtaining FY 1969 money
in the amount specified indicated a.different approach.
Alternative two considered was the establishment during FY 1970
of. a less ambitious capability consisting of two mobile units with
less sophisticated navigation and control equipment but, still
requiring relay' systems for control of the aircraft at the extreme
ranges. Equipment for this alternative would cost in the neigh-
borhood of $13 million for the. first year's operation. To
establish this capability in FY 1970 would require expenditure of
approximately $13 million of FY 1969 money. This was deemed
impractical.. Additionally as indicated above, it was uncertain
as to whether the equipment would be developed to the extent
necessary to insure reliable production systems.
Alternative three considered establishing one mobile unit
during FY 1970. This unit would be considered capable of operating
at ranges up to 1200 miles, which still require rather sophisti-
cated relay systems and control and navigation equipment, which
may or may not be available in the time required.
Alternative four is to rehabilitate 3 aircraft left over
from the ORD test program, procure 4 additional aircraft,
use the ground control available from ORD test program for
training, testing and developing operational deployment
concepts. This would provide a testing capability for systems
and sensors for range extension and for improved aircraft
performance. By late FY 1971, the transportable control unit
being procured during this fiscal year would become available.
This will provide, by late FY 71, an initial operational
capability.
From these alternatives it is recommended that alternative
four be Selected for FY 1971. This will allow an orderly transition
from development phase to operational phase, and assure develop-
ment of sophisticated equipment necessary for attainment of
additional capabilities prior to major expenditures for production..
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BYE-9322-68
e. Resources Required
Funding ($ Thousands)
FY 68 FY 69 FY 70 FY 71 FY 72 FY 73 FY 74
Pers. Svs.
Contract
Other*
*Other:
Travel
Payloads
Vehicles
Re-Hab 3
Buy New
Contract Support
O&M and Training
Computer Systems
Positions;
Ceiling
Non-Ceiling
20 ,
20 27 �27 27
OM!
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FY 75
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TOSRET ,tior
BYE-9322-68
The third alternative considered establishing one mobile unit
during FY 70 capable of operating at ranges up to This
would still require the sophisticated relay systems and control equip-
ment which may or may not be available within the time required.
The fourth alternative which is recommended and funding for which
is indicated in the assets required section of this call, is to estab-
lish a capability during FY 71, to concentrate on training, testing,
and development of operational employment concepts. The equipment
would be used to control the AQUILINE vehicle and will enable its
recovery. This approach further will allow for a steady development
program and an orderly transition from devplopment over theyyears
covered by this call.
e. Resources Required
. Funding ($ Thousands)
FY 68 FY 69_ FY 70, FY 71 FY 72 FY 73 FY 74 FY 75
Pers. Svc
Contracts
Other
Total
� Other
Travel
.Control Equip
Leases
Cont Support
Ground Cont Sys -
Navigation Term -
2 ea.
Sat Relay Sys
Sat Down-Link
Sup Commo Equip -
Staff Circuit
Total
*Futding for a satellite system may not be required if negotiations
presently conducted by ORD succeed in agreements for common use of a
compatible system presently in synchronous orbit.. '
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Staff
Contract
Positions
The following positions are required to support this activity
FY 68 FY 69 FY 70 FY 71 FY 72 FY 73
P 1 22- 22-
Total
17
22
Commo Ops
1
2
2
Technical
4
8
9
Radio Operator
1
2
3
Cryptographer
2
5
8
8
. 17
22
FY 74
FY 75
22
22�
22
22
2
2
9
9
3
3
8
8
22
22
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