MIDAS DEVELOPMENT PLAN

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP66R00546R000200110005-7
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 9, 2000
• Sequence Number: 5
• Publication Date: April 20, 1962
• Content Type: MF

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SECRET,
196z
an Log go. 62-1988
Cc 'y per - 18
IIE)RAnxIt FOR "N ASSISTANT SHCRSiARi OF THE AIR FOJ (R&D)
SUBJWT: MIDAS Develagoent Plan
I am in general agreement with the revised ?S Development Plan
submitted by your memorandum of 10 April. The most important reserntioa
which I have concerns the planning for the "Devoloymaiital Test Series"
(Series 4).
This arises because of the probable lack of capability of the Series
4 payload against low-radiance targets, combined with the increasing
probability that this is the type of target which would coafroat DIMS In
the are of its deployment. A recent measurement on TIM II indicates
radiance of about 200-300kv per steradian in the MIDAS band. Since the
design of the Series 4 payload is based on a ainisra 300 v/steradian
target, it is probable that the MIDAS performance would be only marginal
against advanced ICS! designs.
It is not known precisely that the U.S.S.R. will use low-r dience
fuels on its second generation missile, but indications are that the
fuel has been changed from that used on the first generation missile,
and logic and military utility point to the use of storable propellants,
simiilar to that being used on TITAN II. Solid propellant missiles of
the D17 type would also be poorly detected.
When the schedule in your development plan is exeained, it is noted
that twelve Series 4 launches are planned, beginning in June 1963, and
culminating in December 1964, with six launches in three m ontha to provide
a multi-satellite test. Obviously, this series is being designed as an
operational prototype, similar to the old Series 4a and 4b in the earlier
development program. The Series 5 payload, designed to be effective
against lour-radianci targets, is not scheduled to fly until September 1966.
Although the foregoing concl-;tslons may be modified by future intelli-
g ce reports and test results, it seems dubious at this time that a
deployment decision would be made on the basis of the capability planned
for Series 4 payloads.
Hence, it is important that the : ri e e 4 flights be regarded as, and
treated as, Rii) flights designed to arrive at a capability against low-
radiance targets as soon as possible, and not as a pre-production prototype.
Such a plan vou. d intersperse flights - crying advanced payload components
among those cart-11ng .the presently pl*':ined Series 4_ 4,X __d hi 1w-1khould
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Approved For Release 2001/03/02 : CIA-RDP66R00546R000200110005-7
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- SECRET -2-
Approved For Release 2001/03/02 : CIA-RDP66R00546R000200110005-7