QUARTERLY REVIEW OF OXCART CONCEPT OF OPERATIONS FY 1967

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP68B00724R000100090022-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 8
• Document Creation Date: December 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 29, 2003
• Sequence Number: 22
• Publication Date: October 31, 1966
• Content Type: MF

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OXC 11228-66 Series B
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31 October 1966
25X1A
MEMORANDUM FOR: Deputy for Operations, OSA
SUBJECT: Quarterly Review of OXCART Concept of
Operations FY 1967
REFERENCE: A:
2212-66 dated 4 Feb 66; Subj:
Operations Concepts
B: OSA 3932-66 dated 4 Oct 66; Subj:
Quarterly Review of Contract Require-
ments
1. OXCART Division has reviewed the OXCART Operational Con-
cept contained in Attachment 2 to Reference A and as a result the fol-
lowing changes are recommended to FY 67 Concept of Operations. As
appropriate, recommended changes to FY 69 through FY 77 programs
will be submitted along with the FY 68 Budget Call:
a. Ref para 6a, add the following sentence:
25X1A
25X1A
25XIA
"During this period and until full operational capability
is attained operational missions against Soviet and Soviet
Bloc targets will be planned to re- strik 11 and ost-
strike forward e. g. pre- strik post- strike 25X1 A
with maximum of four (4) air refuel-
ings enroute. "
b. Ref para 6b, change the second last sentence to read:
"A maximum of four (4) air refuelings enroute will be
planned."
OXCART
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c. Ref para 6c, delete the existing paragraph and substitute
the following:
"In maintaining operational readiness for both contingency
plans, Far East (Black Shield) and Cuba (Skylark), it is
planned to conduct operational missions during each contin-
gency requirement as follows:
25X1A
In Flight Test - 2* instead of 1"
Coverage
Far East
Cuba
Estimated Successful
d. Ref para 7c, recommend the anticipated utilization of
OXCART Aircraft from 1 Jan 67 through the end of forecast period
be changed as follows:
e. Ref para 7d, recommend the third sentence be changed as
follows:
"First priority consideration should be given to con-
version of Tagboard Aircraft to the OXCART Configura-
tion; if required, further replacements could be obtained
by modification of SR- 71 / YF-12A Aircraft to meet opera-
tional needs. "
f. Ref para 7, recommend the following subparagraphs e and
f be added to comment on OXCART Aircraft accident/ attrition rate:
"e. An A-12 Aircraft attrition rate has been developed
based on all A-12 flying in the OXCART program since
inception of flying in April 1962 through 30 September 1966.
During this period 3296 A-12 flying hours have been accom-
plished with the loss of 3 aircraft. This equates to a rate of
9. 2 accidents/aircraft losses per 10, 000 flying hours. Based
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on present flying hour programs, it is projected that the
next aircraft accident (which may occur in an aircraft loss),
may occur in the first quarter of FY 1968. It
"f. As the aircrew experience /proficiency level con-
tinues to increase, as maintenance procedures and methods
continue to streamline and improve, and as overall "know-
how" in the relatively new Mach 3 environment continues to
build up, it is reasonable to expect that the accident/loss rate
per 10, 000 flying hours will decrease."
g. Ref para 8, recommend deletion of the entire present para-
graph and the following substituted:
"8. Flying Hours
a. A projection of sorties and flying hours avail-.
able versus sorties/flying hours required is attached.
The presenti aintenance capability provides
for a sortie rate capability of 6.2 sorties/month/avail-
able aircraft. Present average sortie length is 2.5
hours/sortie. It is anticipated that beginning 1 Jan 67
maintenance capability should provide for 7. 2 sorties/
month/available aircraft with average sortie length
continuing at Z. 5 hours/sortie. ? It is estimated that
beginning in early FY 68, average sortie length should
increase to 3 hours/sortie and the sorties/month/avail-
able aircraft should increase to 7. 5.
b. Flying hours accomplished on operational mis-
sions are creditable against projected pilot requirements.
All flying time in the attachments pertains to J-58 equipped
aircraft. Y
c. Following is the desired and minimum J-58
equipped sortie rate per month for each operationally
ready project pilot:
OXCART
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Desired
Sorties /Month 6
Average Sortie Length 2+30
Minimum
Acceptable
NOTE: As required, operational pilot sortie flying hour
requirements to be augmented by a minimum of
two sorties per month in the dual seat J-75 equip-
ped trainer.
d. The dual seat J-75 equipped trainer aircraft will be
used for checkout training of new pilots and for additional
proficiency training for operationally ready pilots. A mini-
mum of 16 sorties/month will be required of this aircraft
with average sortie length one hour and thirty minutes dura-
tion for a total trainer flying hour requirement of 24 hours
per month.
h. Ref Attachment I consolidated flying time. Change FY 1967
flying time as follows:
"FY 1967
1 July 1966 - 30 June 1967
Required
Projected
1338 1341
2. Ref Attachment II, flying time for FY 67 broken down into 6 month
increments. Delete the existing Attachment II in entirety and substitute
the attached Projected versus Required Flying time for FY 67.
t. Colonel, USAF
Chief, OXCART Division, Operations, OSA
OXC/O/OSA/I kch
Distribution:
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ATTACHMENT II
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1. Adequate flying hours are available.
2. Above figures projected based on one (1) operational aircraft
in periodic at all times and only one (1) flight test aircraft available
(#122 in modification for entire period. )
3. One standardization/ staff pilot to fly minimum of one sortie
per month. Operational pilot flying to be reduced accordingly. Addi-
tional staff/ standardization flying to be accomplished as required in
two-seat trainer.
4. Operational pilot strength has increased to with recruit
OXC 11228-66
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ATTACHMENT II
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1. Adequate flying hours are available, (within 3 hours).
2. Above figures projected based on one operational aircraft in
periodic at all times.
3. Operational pilot strength has increased to with recruit-.
ment ofF--] additional pilots in early calendar 67.
4. One standardization/ staff pilot to fly, minimum of one sortie per
month. Operational pilot flying to be reduced accordingly. Additional
staff/ standardization flying to be accomplished as required in two-seat
trainer.
OXCART
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