PROJECT: AQUILINE

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Aquiline
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 05646611
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: July 16, 2020
• Document Release Date: July 30, 2020

Approved for Release: 2020/02/11 C05646611
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3.5(c)
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BYE-6396-69
� e. Sub-category: Other
1) Element: Multi-sensor
PROJECT: AQUILINE
Objectives: To provide a multi-sensor co1lect'n and advanced
emplacement capability for collection of intelligence.
Program Plan:
Method of Approach: FY 1970 - During fiscal year 1970,
OSA will continue to ',Participate with OED in the development
program.. During FY 1970, ORD will be developing and operating
the prototype air-ground control station. This will be in conjunction
with the development and flight test of the AQUILINE vehicle. The
schedule now envisioned indicates that system and sensor tests
will start in the first quarter of FY 1970 and the actual flight
test of the vehicle carrying its associated systems and nayloads
will occur:during the later part of that fiscal year. OSA will.
continue to participate through this phase of the development
program. Three key personnel for AQUILINE will be required by
OSA during fiscal year 1970 to enable adequate participation in
the cap Test Program. These people will be: a:Field Program
Director; a Manager, Flight Systems; and a Manager, System Support.
It is imperative that these positions be filled at the earliest
possible date, as these individuals will be the nucleus of the
AQUILINE Operational Detachment- and will be responsible for
effecting an orderly transition of AQUILINE from RS4D to operationally
ready status. The three positions indicated are in excess of the
presently authorized fiscal year 1970 ceiling. OSA will also
recuire $ not included in the fiscal year 1970 Budget for
support of these operations.
Present plans call for AQUILINE to be conducted as a
unilateral U.S. project entirely funded by CIA. There is no need
for foreign participation inasmuch as the vehicle is unmanned
and it is not expected that foreign-controlled bases will be
required. The characteristics of the vehicle are such that it
can be launched either by catapult or rocket-assisted take off
from U.S. vessels or from any small U.S. base abroad. It is
probable that foreign-based launchings can be made without detection
or at least without identification. � An important element in the
security of the vehicle's operation is that its existence,
configurations and unique operating characteristics not be known.
Thus, every effort is being made to avoid any publicity or know-
ledge of the vehicle. To this end, � flight tests are to be made
only at Area 51, and all activities will be conducted as "NOFORN".
FY 1971 -.The Flight Test Program conducted by OFD will
continue into early FY 1971. The procurement of the second air-
ground control system during this period Will be the pacing item
in attainment of an early operational capability. 3RD is proposing
to :have 7 vehicles for its flight :test program. At the conclusion
of the flight test. nrogrl ORD:nas proposed that the remaining
flie: test vehicles be rehabilitated and tl=ed over to OSA for
us,ein training, testing and refinement of operational concets.
a migl attrition rate among flight test vehicles,
it assmned that only 3 yohicies will be available iron oap at
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Control ystela Jointly
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the conclusion of their test period.
It is planned to rehabilitate the. 3 aircraft left over
from the ORD test program, to procure 4 additional aircraft and
to use the air-ground control system available from the ORD-test
program for training, testing and development of Operational
deployment concepts. During this phase of the OSA operation,
it is proposed that an airborne relay system be utilized for
confirmation of systems effectiveness; guidance reliability, etc.
It must be realized that the maximum range attainable from use
of an airborne relay system will be only about
of which, in an operational environment, only
could be over denied territory. Necessarily, the relay aircraft
must remain outside of denied territory, and the size of components
in the operational vehicle is suchsthat.only UHF communications
are available for its control and:navigation. Thus to enable
employment of the AQUILINE aircraft to its maximum design capability,
it will be necessary to employ satellite relays for communications,
Control, and data feed-back. If relay systems can be incorporated
into satellites being used for other programs, it may be possible
to set up a satellite relay system without procurement of.a
dedicated satellite. If however, a dedicated satellite must be
-procured, it is estimated this will cost in the neighborhood of
In order to acquire an operational capability by late
fiscal year 1971, it will therefore be necessary to procure, in
-addition to the AQUILINE aircraft, a second transportable air-
ground control system, a satellite data link, 2 navigation
terminals, and terminal control ecuipment. If a dedicated satellite
is necessary, this also should be procured during fiscal year 1971
in order to establish an operational deployment capability in
that fiscal year. Twelve additional people will be required to
support the training, testing and development of operational concepts
and to support possible deployment Funding requested is sufficient
to support this program wherever based, on an austere basis plus
minimal coverage for deployment contingencies.
FY 1972 - It is pla/Ined to fly a minimum of 12 operational
missions, This will necessitate procurement of 6 AQUILINE vehicles,
associated systems and payloads, 1 additional ground navigation
teriainal, and 1 additional satellite data link during this fiscal
year. The missions will be controlled from one of two air-ground
systems; either the ORB procured prototype or the later, OSA
procured, highly mobile system This will enable one deployment
to be conducted, plus training and testing of new or improved
aircraft systems and sensors, etc, It will further give marginal
dual deployment capability if operations are not conducted at the
home base. To maintain a deployment capability plus a home base
op.arating capability will require 8 additional positions.
FY 1973, FY 1974, FY 1975 - No further personnel increases
are planned for this period. It is propesed to procure -3 vehicles
in each fiscal year to enable accomplishment of up to 12 oPerational
missions per fiscal year, and to continue testing of improved
sytems and sensors, and refinement of operational concepts and
procedures.
.Coordination, Joint � Planning, Requirements: Coordination
aew being effected within �DDS&T for joint -planinc, during the
BYE-6396-69
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Control 'ystems Jointly
Approved for Release: 2020/02/11 C05646611
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BYE-6396-69
remaining remaining development phase. Joint planning will, be established.
as .necessary with other components of CIA to insure support for .
this program. Joint planning will also: be established, .if deemed
necessary, with other members of the intelligence community.
There is no requirement for coordination outside the intelligence
community or with foreign services.
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 capability, the present vehicles may lose some of
their utility in obtaining information over these areas. The
AQUILINE vehicle will, if developed as projected, enable an almost
completely surreptitious penetration. It is planned to attain a
capability, combined with satellite relay systems, to satisfy
requirements for real time intelligence, precise emplacement
capability, etc.
Risks: 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 th47act 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.
Alternatives: Four alternative levels of effort were
considered for FY 1970, and beyond through FY 1975. The first
consideration was attainment of an operational capability at the �
earliest possible date. 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 1939 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 deployment.
This would envision an aircraft with a range of over
computerized flight, Operation
at these ranges with the requirements for precise navigation and
precise position control of the aircraft can only 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 * , This was considered to be
impractical for numerous reasons among which are:
1. At this point in the development it cannot 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 8-tart early in FY 1969.
3. The impracticability of obtaining FY 1969 money in
the amount indicated.
The Second alternative considered. was the establishment
during FY 1970. of a less aMbitious.capability consisting of two
mobile units with less sophisticated navigation and control
Ha : -1 a
BYE,IAN�L\LENT�I-C-=.3L-f�C'OMINT
Control Systoms Jointly
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equipment but still requiring satellite relay systems for control
of the aircraft at the extreme ranges.- Equipment for this alternative
would cost in the neighborhood of $13 million for the first year's
operation. To establish this capability in FY 1970 would require
expenditure of approximately $ 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.
� The third alternative considered establishing one mobile
unit during FY 1970. This unit would be considered capable of
operating at ranges up to , which still require satellite
relay systems and sophisticated control and navigation equipment,
which may or may not be available in the time required.
The fourth alternative is to rehabilitate 3 aircraft
left ,over from the OR:1D 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
fiscal year 1971; the transportable air-ground control system
being Procured during this year will become available. Since
the AQUILINE System must have 'available a satellite relay to
enable employment to design capability, it may be necessary
during this fiscal year to procure a dedicated satellite. If
this is necessary, such a system, procured in FY 1971, also will
be available by late in that fiscal year. This will provide, by
late FY 1971, an initial operational deployment capability.
Resources Required:
Unfunded Requirements and Over-ceiling Positions, FY 1970:
Funding: ($thousand)
FY 70
Pers Svc.
Con'zracts
,Other
-Travel
:Trans
Supplies
Equip.
Positions:
FY 70
Ceiling
3
Non-Ceiling
Field Prog. Dir.
1
Mgr. Flt. Sys,
1
Mgr. Sys. Sup.
1
Handle Via
BYEMAN-TALEYT-HEYHOLE-COMINT
Control Systems Jointly
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BYE-6396-69
Requirements FY 1971 - 1975:
Funding: ($thousand)
FY68 FY69 FY70 FY71 FY72 FY73 FY74 FY75
Pers Svc.
Contracts
Other
Travel
Trans
Contract
Aircraft -
41111�0
����
=NO
ONO
Computers
O&M&Tng
Supplies
Equip.
Total
* Includes
Positions:
ONO
in FY 1971 for dedicated
Ceiling
Non
Total
FY68
-ceiling
FY69
FY70
FY71
19
FY72
27
FY73
27
FY74
27
FY75
27
111M,
19
27
27
27
27
Field Prog. Dir.
1
1
1
1
1
Manager Flt. Sys.
1
1
1
1
1
Manager Sys. Sup.
1
1
1
1
1
Security
.0�11,
2
2
2
2
2
Clerical
111��
3
3
3
3
3
Operations
2
4
4
4
4
2
4
4
4
4
2
4
4
4
4
2
4
4
4,
4
System
Logistics
Log. Spec. -
1
1
1
1
1
Whse. Spec.
1
1
1
1
1
Prop. Acc.
�����
1
1
1
1
1
Total
19
27
27
27
27
TO SECRET
Handle Via
BYEMAN-TALENT-KEYHOLE-COMINT
Control Systems Jointly
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