PROPOSAL

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP33-02415A000100430007-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 6
• Document Creation Date: December 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 30, 1998
• Sequence Number: 7
• Publication Date: January 6, 1955
• Content Type: MISC

Approved `For Release,2001/03/9' f C! , 3-02415Ai 00100430007-5
PROPOSAL
With Air Force assistance, to undertake the procurement of
(a) 20 high altitude aircraft, (b) photo-reconnaissance equipment,
and (c) electronic-reconnaissance equipment, and to prepare for and
conduct extensive overflights of the Soviet Bloc in order to provide
photographic and, secondarily, electronic intelligence. (Project
AQUATONE).
SITUATION
The Lockheed Aircraft Corporation has proposed a very-high-altitude,
jet-powered glider (designated CL-282). The Corporation is willing to
take full responsibility for the design, mock-up, building, secret
testing, and field maintenance of this unorthodox vehicle. It therefore
appears entirely feasible for a CIA task force to undertake a covert
overflight program based upon the CL-282, which will fly at 70,000 feet,
well out of reach of present Russian interception and high enough to
have a good chance of avoiding detection.
Photographic equipment can be developed which will enable extra-
ordinary intelligence content to be obtained with pictures taken from
great altitudes. A single mission in clear weather can photograph
a strip of Russia 200 miles wide and 220 miles long. A spotting camera
will take pictures in -which the individuals in a city street can be
counted from 70,000 feet. Cloud cover will reduce completeness but
is not a serious obstacle because missions can be scheduled for good
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weather and alternate routes for clear weather can be selected in
flight.
Analogously, it is believed that automatic electronic intercept
equipment (ELINT gear) can be developed which will provide from each
overflight essential intelligence data
The opportunity for safe overflight with the best equipment that
can be built at this time will last only a year or so because the
Soviets will develop radar and interceptors or guided missiles effective
for the 70,000-foot region. The CL-282 can be developed and produced
extraordinarily rapidly because it is based on a fighter aircraft already
in production and uses an engine already tested. Moreover, experience
with this aircraft will contribute significantly to the ability of the
United States to maintain a lead in the development of higher altitude
aircraft and thus to maintain a safe overflight capacity.
OBJECTIVES
The following objectives may be attained by this means:
a. Improve estimates of Soviet ability to deliver nuclear
weapons and their capacity to produce them.
b. Appraise Soviet guided missile development through photo-
graphs of testing ranges, etc.
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c. Assess the Soviet order of battle as an early warning
d. Provide adequate locations and analyses of Russian targets.
e. Disclose new developments which might otherwise lead to
technological surprise.
f. Appraise Soviet industrial and economic progress.
The cost of procurement by this Agency under the program here proposed
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is expected to total approximately broken down as follows:
20 airframes, together with maintenance and 25X1 A
testing equipment for the testing
of the first one to be delivered
6 complete sets of photographic equipment, each
set consisting of 3 configurations
12 sets of electronic search equipment to be
used on photographic missions,
together with 3 sets of automatic
FERRET equipment
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Additional field maintenance equipment
The margin of error in these figures probably does not exceed
and it is believed highly unlikely that the total procurement
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the Air Force will furnish as a contribution to the project and without
cost to the Agency (a) technical assistance and supervision, (b) all
equipment regularly furnished as government furnished equipment including
especially 40 engines, and (c) transportation of materiel and personnel
to operational bases. The above figures contain no allowances for
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(a) administrative costs, including especially the cost of developing
photo-intelligence and electronic-intelligence requirements, of mission
planning, and of pilot recruitment and training, (b) the cost of
actually mounting the operation, including pay and subsistence of
personnel, transportation of personnel and materiel and field maintenance,
and (c) the cost of processing photographic film and electronic tape.
ORGANIZATION
It is proposed that this undertaking: be organized as a joint
CIA/Air Force project in which CIA will undertake procurement as indi-
cated above with the assistance of the Air Force in all phases and will
conduct the overflights as a clandestine operation. Within the CIA,
the Special Assistant to the Director for Planning and Coordination
(SA/PC/DCI) will be in charge of the project, with Mr. Herbert Miller
as Executive Officer. He will be supported by other officers temporarily
assigned on a part-time or full-time basis as appropriate. Sub-projects
will be organized initially as components of AQUATONE covering the
performance of all the following functions:
1. Airframe procurement
2. Procurement of photo-reconnaissance equipment
3. Development and procurement of electronic equipment
4. Assembly and formulation of photo-intelligence requirements
5. Assembly and formulation of electronic-intelligence requirements
6. Pilot recruitment and training
At a later stage, other component projects will be organized as required.
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RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended
a. That the project be approved as outlined above.
b. That the Special Assistant to the Director for Planning
and Coordination be designated as the official in charge of the project
and as Approving Officer, subject to the guidance of the Deputy Director
of Central Intelligence and the Director of Central Intelligence.
c. That the procurement of the airframes, photo-reconnaissance
equipment and electronic equipment up to the amounts indicated above be
authorized, subject to the following provisions:
(1) Procurement and contractual arrangements will be
those normally employed by the Agency, with such exemptions and
restrictions designed to achieve maximum security as may be
approved by the Project Officer.
(2) All contractual and procurement documents and
arrangements will be specifically approved by the General Counsel.
(3) All documents which obligate funds in excess of
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will be approved by the Director of Central Intelligence.
(1.) Appropriate documentation will be obtained from the
Air Force and from competent technical advisers in support of
procurement contracts and the specifications and descriptions of
materiel to which they refer.
d. That the Comptroller be authorized to expend funds in the
manner and to the extent approved by the Approving Officer within the
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limitations as to quantity and procedure set forth above.
e. That the recruitment and training of pilots, and all
expenses incidental thereto up to the amount of be authorized,
f. That the Project Officer be authorized to arrange for the
necessary gathering and formulation of intelligence requirements and
the necessary mission planning, in cooperation with the Air Force as
appropriate.
g. That the Project Officer be directed to maintain the
closest possible security over all phases of AQUATONE.
Director of Central Intelligence
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