CHANGE IN OLYMPIC FIRE AIRBORNE IMAGERY COLLECTION PLATFORM

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79B01709A001900030003-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 15, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 15, 2003
• Sequence Number: 3
• Publication Date: January 31, 1973
• Content Type: MF

Approved For Relf ase 2003/1(V61G DP79B01709A001900030003-77
COMMITTEE ON IMAGERY REQUIREMENTS AND EXPLOITATION
See background with copy in COMIREX-D-24. Series Folder
31 January 1973
MEMORANDUM FOR: DIA Member, COMIREX
SUBJECT . Change in OLYMPIC FIRE Airborne
Imagery Collection Platform
REFERENCE : USIB-D-46.4/35 (COMIREX-D-24. 3/1)
20 March 1970
1. This memorandum responds to your 24 January 1973
request for my views concerning the proposed use of SR-71
photographic reconnaissance aircraft over Cuba in place of the
long-employed U-ZR aircraft.
2. The main point of concern for the intelligence
community is that its basic needs for overhead photographic
reconnaissance coverage of Cuba--as set forth in the USIB's
statement of standing requirements (reference)--be met. These
include periodic coverage at specified quality, the maintenance of
airborne reconnaissance presence, and provision for quick reaction
standby capabilities to meet special needs as they arise. Within
this general framework the type of airborne collection platform
employed in achieving these ends is largely a matter of discretion,
based on optimum balance of all factors involved- -operational
and political as well as intelligence.
3. I-believe the political implications and possible
repercussions with regard to Cuba that may be involved in the
shift to SR-71's for the OLYMPIC FIRE program are important--
and perhaps, determining--factors in assessing this proposal. I
urge they be given very careful consideration and thorough
coordination before any final decision is reached.
Classified by
31 December 1981
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4. From the more immediate and local perspective of
the intelligence consumer, I believe the SR-71 product would meet
minimum needs, although somewhat less well than the U-2R product.
Long experience shows us that the quality of Cuba coverage returned
by the present OLYMPIC FIRE collection platform--the U-2R,
equipped with the IRIS-II camera--is generally superior to that
obtained from the SR-71 using the standard OOC camera or even
the Optical Bar Camera, should the latter become available. The
U-2R, of course, provides a broader operational flexibility in
responding to needs for limited objective, special target coverage
as called for under paragraph 9c of reference, but that presumably
could be balanced by other factors.
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