(UNTITLED)

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP62B00844R000200110071-3
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 15, 2016
• Document Release Date: April 18, 2002
• Sequence Number: 71
• Publication Date: November 15, 1958
• Content Type: MF

Approved For Release 2003/12/23 : CIA-RDP62600844R000200110071-3
NRO REVIEW COMPLETED
IS November 195S
MEMORANDUM FOR: Dr. James R. Kil ian
An advisory group composed of the undersigned, together with the
Assistant Secretaries for Research & Development of the Air Force and the
Navy have considered over the past several months the technical. features
which must be achieved in order to provide an adequate successor to the
presently operational special reconnaissance aircraft. Thee. features are:
Substantial increase in operational ceiling and probably also
in speed to avoid interception;
Low susceptibility to detection by radar and other modes of
observation;
No sacrifice in operational range;
Minimum use and weight.
The group has evaluated a number of proposed special reconnaissance
aircraft concepts. These various concepts have included the use of unique
engines, special fuels, launching by rocketry or mother aircraft, new
structural material, and design methods, unusual design configurations and
other features. The advisory group has had access. it is understood, to att
design proposals that have been made to the Military Services that might be
of interest in the reconnaissance application and have considered the techni-
cat characteristics of certain aircraft now under military development.
It is our conclusion that the molt satisfactory design approach is one
based upon a new, small and reasonably lightweight aircraft carried aloft
to supersonic speed by the B-511 as a mother aircraft. The special recon-
MtileilliC411 aircraft would cruise by itself at substantially higher altitudes
but over the same distances as now achieved and would be powered by dual
ram-jet engines *sing conventional fuel. By reason of it. high supersonic
speed cruise altitude, and design features, this aircraft would be much less
sueceptible to radar detection and tracking than current aircraft. There
appear to be no unusually difficult problems in term. of facilities or techniques
in the development of this aircraft and its engines except perhaps those of
aerodynamic heating and of achieving satisfactory ram recovery with a com-
plex air inlet to buried engines.
,4-4.0t170 tif
Approved For Release 20c3/1 /23 : CIA-RDP621300844R00026oft0iV3
Approved For Release 2003/12/23 CIA-RDP62600844R000200110071-3
d and technicallytest des ble choice is a
s *nobly lightweight aircraft capable of ens masted take
-
at the same high altitudes but at slightly eli supersonic speed, and over
about three.fourthe the desired rang* when using conventional fasts. This
maternal* design would be powered by twin ram-jets suits similar to the
preceding case in addition to a pair of currently developmental smelt turbo.
jets adapted to supersonic speed. This alternate design could achieve Mt
range by either retooling at supersonic speed or by use of epeeist fuel'
suspected of posing certain operational problems. This alternate dosages, would
be more susceptible to detection and tracking by radar. The development of
the alternate aircraft ?woutd pose somewhat less of a problem in aerodynamic
heating but the flight performance is predicated on extremely close control
of ail -weights including somewhat reduced payload. White this alternate
design may be available sooner than the other. the ram.jet development
could be a governing factor in either case.
We recommend that the development of taken
at once on a highly expedited and sensitive beets in order to retain our ability
to conduct special reconnaissance. Vie recommend further that the former
proposal utilising the D.53 to launch a newly designed reconnidssance vehicle
be selected for this purpose since this aircraft appears to best meet all of the
desired technical feature'. Although a more detailed comparison may reveal
that the latter proposal could be developed at somewhat less cost, this upstaged
system does not appear able to meet all et the desired teehnicat features with
the lame success. In ease the system we recommend is not acceptable, we
would wish to review other alternatives before recommending firmly a second
choice,
dim az . Puree
. Purcell
? Guyford Stever
y ard Stevir
41 Al Len P. Donovan
Allen P. Donovan
Approved For Release 2003i12i2i : CIA-RDP62600844R000200110071-3