CONTINUED CLASSIFICATION OF THE AQUILINE PROGRAM

Document Type: 
Collection: 
Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 
02378390
Release Decision: 
RIPPUB
Original Classification: 
U
Document Page Count: 
2
Document Creation Date: 
July 16, 2020
Document Release Date: 
July 30, 2020
Sequence Number: 
Case Number: 
Publication Date: 
September 11, 1973
File: 
Body: 
Approved for Release: 2019/11/05 CO2378390 S E T MEMORANDUM FOR: SUBJECT: OSA-2022/9/73 11 September 1973 Office of Research and Development, DD/SkT Continued Classification of the AQUILINE Program � 1. In response to your request regarding thoughts on the continued classification of Project AQUILINE, it is my contention that for the next year or so the program should be kept at the Secret level. The rationale for this is that we are continuing to store, in tact, major pr gram assets on the possibility (albeit slim) that they might be needed for the post cease 7, fire monitoring of the Indochina Area. Z. In this regard we have briefed Mr. George Carver. SAVA, on the AQUILINE Program's unique capabilities for use against the cease fire monitoring problem of Indochina. Mr. Carver, at that briefing, indicated that if the program were active it would most likely be used. However. Mr. Carver went on to say that since the program was inactive, and would be fairly costly (time and money wise) to bring it Up to operational capability, he thought it would be difficult to get approval for its use at this time. He went on to say that if the SEA problems became more difficult to solve, there could be a possibility that the AQUILINE Program might be called upon to help out in one form or another. 3. For your information, we have briefed (at the Secret level) ARPA. Army, Navy, Marines and Air Force on this program. They all indicated a high degree of interest in the technology; however, no one indicated any interest in picking the entire program up, primarily because it was too SE-ET 1111Poar az_ evike" Approved for Release: 2019/11/05 CO2378390 Approved for Release: 2019/11/05 CO2378390 SEET OSA-2022/9/73 Page Z sophisticated for their drone type operational requirements. It is my contention, after briefing all these people, that the AQUILINE Program is still two to three years in advance of the efforts being conducted by the various Services. This in itself is further verification for rnakwytining the program at the Secret level. EO/SA Distribution: Orig - ORD 1 - EO/SA 1 - RS/OSA (11 Sept 73) SE Executive Office:- Office of Special Activities ET Approved for Release: 2019/11/05 CO2378390