TACANA TCT MEETING - 20 NOVEMBER 1975

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Animal Partners
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 06527478
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: September 6, 2019
• Document Release Date: September 12, 2019
• Publication Date: November 20, 1975

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6.2(d)
3.3(h)(2)
TACANA-TCT Meeting - 20 November 1975
1. The first meeting of the TACANA TCT was held on 20
November 1975, with members and observers from SE Division, OTS,
ORD, and the NIO/SA.
2. It was reported by (DDO/OPS Staff) that TRB
approval had been obtained to expend funds for the Project.
Barry Kelly (NIO/SA) advised also that the DC1 had been briefed
on the Project.
' 3. It was agreed that ORD will consult with an independent
expert regarding the expected behavior of birds when transported
to a widely differing environment. At the request of SE/COPS, the
Team agreed to consider a preliminary and limited test of the birds'
adaptability to the Moscow environment as a part of the test pro-
gram, to be run concurrently with planning for the Washington test
scenario, unless the results of ORD's consultations mentioned above
and/or results of early contractor testing are sufficiently con-
clusive as to make this test unnecessary. This decision will be
made by the Team at the earliest possible date, but no later than
mid-February.
4. ORD reiterated that its budgeted allotment of $100,000
would suffice to pay the contractor for training and miscellaneous
expenses involved in the Washington test scenario. ORD further
estimated that, if the Washington test is successful and we proceed
, with the actual operation, the contractor's costs to re-train the
birds for the operation would be in the $50,000 - $75,000 range.
5. There was considerable discussion of the need to improve
the performance of the camera to be used in the operation. ORD
estimated that the cost for optimizing two cameras for the
Washington test would be approximately $30,000, to be funded by
ORD. This includes fitting an improved lens (wider aperture) and
re-engineering the film advance mechanism. Also discussed was
the possibility of using high resolution film (slower speed) and
the resultant need for a faster shutter speed. The bird harness
for the camera, camera attitudes and photo sequence rate will be
determined in conjunction with the bird training phase and in
coordination with the contractor. OTS/VOB AND OTS/VEB will provide
support for the camera work.
6. As soon as possible a sub-test will be run to determine
whether the analysts will have any significant problems with men-
suration of bird photography and relating it to existing photo.'
tography. ORD will work this out with the _contractor.
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7. There was considerable discussion of the limitations that
will be imposed by Soviet realities on our ability to train the
birds to recognize and fly to our ultimate target. It was reiterated
that the training for the actual operation will be done in the U.S.,
using slides and mock-ups. The birds would then be transported to
for several weeks
getting acclimated to the new environment prior to the actual mission.
Accordingly, the Washington test scenario will impose similar re-
strictions to make it as realistic as possible, i.e., the birds will
be trained from slides and mock-ups, will be transported
to the Washington area, and will not be allowed to fly free in the
Washington area ( , before the test
flight. ORD advised that the contractor has two types of pigeons on
hand (homers and Russian high flyers) and has a loft and test
grounds picked out. ORD estimated that the test could take place
in April 1976. Subsequent re-training of the birds for an actual
operational mission could take two tO three months.
8. It was agreed that of SE Division and
of OTS would prepare an operational scenario for the
Washington test. They will seek assistance from DDSU analysts and
other components as necessary. It was decided that henceforth the
team should be a relatively small working group which would pursue
the project, prepare periodic reports on progress and call meetings
of interested components from time to time for consultations. At
the suggestion of SE/COPS, of OTS was named Team Chairman,
and of SE Co-Chairman. The following personnel will
be team members:
ORD: t
OTS/VOB:
OTS/VEB:
SE/TO:
SE/RR:
OWI/PAD:
OSI/NED:
IAS: to
be named
9. Based on discussions at the 20 November meeting and sub-
sequent individual conversatians among team memebers, an outline
of the requirements for the test program has been drawn up by the
team chairman and co-chairman and is attached herewith.
a
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Detailed below is the requirement for a test program to
demonstrate the operational utility of the AVIAN asset. This
test program is to be labeled TACANA/TCT Task #1.
1. TACANA/TCT Task #1 is to develop a valid test program
which will allow a subjective determination by DDO/SE of the
feasibility of utilizing the AVIAN asset to perform photographic
intelligence' collection missions against denied area targets.
2. In order to accomplish Task #1, the TACANA/TCT will
solicit adequate information from SE Divisicn to design a denied
area operational analog in the continental United States which
will simulate an actual operational scenario. For the purposes
of this analog, the contractor facilities in California will be
considered as a safe training area in the United States. For
example, the metropolitan Washington area will correspond to a
denied area capital, an agency building in Washington will simu-
late the safe haven, and the will
represent the actual target area. The actual target must be
defined as a discrete element of the target complex, and should be
a key feature of the target area lending itself to use as a stimulus
for the asset. All representation of the analog target area to the
contractor in his training phase will be made utilizing the same
type information and support which would be realistic for a denied
area. Thus, it will be accepted that there will be no access to the
safe haven or target area for any AVIAN asset prior to the period
of acclimatization during the analog test, nor will the contractor
have access to the target area.
3. To train the AVIAN asset, certain restrictions must be
accepted by the contractor in compliance with the already stated
restrictions to realistic operational conditions. There will be
no full-scale outside models of the target area that would be
recognizable by a photo analyst from overhead photography as a
mock-up of the actual target complex. This should not preclude,
if required, using a limited full-cale outside mock-Up of a finite
portion of the target area as.a target acquisition stimulus, so long
as said mock-up does not violate the stated restriction.
The contractor will be provided photography of the target
area (and safe haven area if required) which will not exceed the
resolution limits of KH-8 photography.
4. A detailed operational scenario for the analog test will
be presented to the contractor no later than 1 January. During the
analog test, this scenario must be followed as precisely as possible,
to maintain the integrity of the test. This shall include the method
of transport of the AVIAN asset to the safe haven, familiarization
period at the safe haven, secure deployment of the asset equipped
with camera in the target area (from a vehicle either stopped or
moving), target acquisition and photographic mission performance of
the asset and subsequent independent return to the safe haven, and,
finally,. transport of the asset back to the controlled training area.
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For purposes of the analog test, the safe haven holding area should
be considered to be approximately 100 by 50 feet, with a 25 foot
ceiling.
5. Within the confines of the TACANA/TCT task #1, the task
will be considered completed a) as soon as a determination is
made by the TCT that the AVIAN asset will be unable to perform the
analog test, or b) when the asset completes the analog test. If the
analog test is completed, then a qualitative determination of the
relative success (or lack of success) of the collection mission will
be made by SE Division. In this consideration, SE should employ
TCT's draft Final Report to evaluate the validity of the test. The
results of the SE evaluation and determination should be reported in
writing to the TCT for incorporation in the TACANA/TCT task #1 Final
Report prior to publication.
6. During the actual conduct of the TCT's work on Task #1, it
will be the responsibility of the TCT members representing SE to
ensure that the restrictions and details of the test scenario con-
form to realistic operational parameters, but not place unrealistic
restrictions which might jeopardize the chances of a favorable out-
come of the test. The ORD TCT representative has the 'responsibility
to keep the TCT informed of the progress of the training of the
asset, so that modifications of the test scenario which do not vio-
late the primary principles can be made in a timely manner.
7. It should be understood that if the TCT must address itself
to any follow-on operational effort utilizing the AVIAN asset, such
work should be the subject of separate tasking. This is necessary
to avoid incorporating unwanted bias to the test.
8. For purposes of fixing some variables, it will be accepted
that the distance to the safe haven to the target is ca 50 miles,
that the distance from the release port to actual target is 2 - 3
miles and that the target resolution required of the. photography
is 1/2".
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