PROGRAM PROGRESS REPORT

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP75B00285R000300150005-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 13
• Document Creation Date: December 15, 2016
• Document Release Date: January 12, 2004
• Sequence Number: 5
• Publication Date: April 19, 1974
• Content Type: MF

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19 APR '19i4
MEMORANDUM FOR: Director, CIA Reconnaissance Programs
SUBJECT: Program Progress Report
Forwarded herewith are three copies of the IDEALIST
Program Progress Report for the period 1 January 1974 -
31 March 1974.
Brigadier General, AF
Director of Special Ac 4 ities
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4- DDS&T Reg
5 - D/ SA
6- SAS/O/OSA
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8 - IDEA/O/OSA
9 - INTEL/O/OSA
10- D/M/OSA
11 - AMS/OSA
12 - RB / OSA
Distribution"
1 - D/CRP
Z - D/CRP
3 - D/CRP
SAS / O / O SA:
K10 April 1974)
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IDEALIST
OPERATIONAL SUMMARY AND STATUS
(1 January 1974 - 31 March 1974)
OPERATIONAL MISSION SUMMARY
A. Ten IDEALIST TACKLE missions were alerted during this
period.
All missions were planne
to be flown no closer than 25 nautical miles to the China mainland coast.
The following is a summary of the missions flown:
1. Mission C024C was flown in the Taiwan Strait on
The mission employed the T'H" camera system.
All aircraft systems operated normally and there were no known
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threats to the aircraft. programmed targets 25X1
2. Mission C044C was flown in the Taiwan Strait on
The "H"I camera system was employed on
this mission, All aircraft systems operated normally and no
threat emitters were directed against the mission aircraft.
rogrammed targets and 15 bonus targets were
covered during this mission.
B. One mission was flown
to obtain standoff photography of coastal North Vietnam with the "H"
camera system. This mission was planned to approach no closer than
12 nautical miles from the North Vietnam mainland or 4 nautical miles
from selected offshore islands. The following is a summary of this
mission:
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1. Mission S014E was flown The mission
was primarily designed to achieve coverage of the Haiphong Harbor
area and provided the best peripheral imagery to date of coastal
North Vietnam. The mission provided complete coverage of
shipping in the Haiphong Harbor area, new and updated information
on SAM defenses, naval order of battle, and a new naval acquisition
(Suction Dredge) in North Vietnam. The mission was flown as
briefed, although a flameout occurred during the descent phase
prior to recovery. An engine restart was accomplished, and a
normal landing followed.
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A. Detachment L'G" was tasked to
support Ifrom 15 January 1974 through 11 March
1974. This project involved operations located at Edwards AFB, Ca.
During this time period one aircraft was dedicated
to this project along with all necessary support personnel and equipment.
Eighteen missions were actually flown in support of this operation and
an additional nine missions were planned and cancelled due to adverse
weather or equipment malfunction. A total of 135 hours were flown in
support of
B. II COMPASS TRIP - Three sorties were flown over the poppy
field test site at Yuma, Arizona.
C. "B-3L" Camera Test - Nine sorties were flown in support
of the mo i ied 'IB" configuration.
D. h "H" Camera Test - Three sorties were flown for operational
testing o ft e L'HI' camera.
E. I'D'I Camera Test - Two acceptance tests were flown on
the mod' ie DELTA camera,
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F. F-1 IRIS Mission - One sortie was flown
with the IRIS camera.
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PILOT AND AIRCRAFT STATUS (AS OF 31 MARCH 1974)
A. Detachment 'IG" (Edwards AFB - North Base)
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B. Detachment 1AH"
Aircraft
Pilots
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IDEALIST
DEVELOPMENT SUMMARY AND PROGRESS
(1 January 1974 - 31 March 1974)
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U-ZR Flight Test and Operational Training Summary
1. IDEALIST Program accomplishments in U-2R aircraft
since introduction include 13, 045. 5 hours on 4, 003 sorties as of
31 March 1974.
2. Flight test and operational data are depicted beldw:
1
JAN- 31 MA
FLIGHTS
R 1 J
AN- 31 MAR
TIME
1 - 051
49
121. 1
2 - 053
49
117. 1
3 - 054
36
150. 7
4 - 055
43
175. 8
564. 7
A. IIHt' Camera S/N 003 - The high quality of photographic products
to be realized from this camera has been accentuated in official NPIC
evaluations of film acquired in both test and mission activity. These
evaluations indicate that S/N 003 represents a significant improvement
over the old unmodified configuration, and that under optimum conditions,
performance can be expected to exceed contract specifications.
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B. "H" Mirror S/N 002 - As of the end of this quarter the new
mirror was approximately 2 weeks behind schedule due to difficulties
experienced in final polishing. Contract delivery date for this beryllium
mirror is 28 April. Subsequent to delivery, the mirror will be installed
in 1`H" camera S/N 002 and flight tested during May or June.
C. "'B-3" SIN 229 and S/N 230 - Reinitiated flight testing for the
purpose of contract specification verification in late January. However,
NPIC data indicating S/N 230's continued failure to achieve performance
specifications, when subjected to contractor review indicated that the
Article autopilot had not provided a platform stabilized within camera
contractually established limits. After Lockheed and Actron's
participation in an Autopilot Study, S/N 230 resumed flight testing
19 March. These tests were concluded 27 March, and NPIC evaluation
of film products was in progress at the quarter's end. S/N 229 flight
testing has been held in abeyance since 5 February; however, testing
is tentatively scheduled to resume and be concluded during the fourth
quarter.
D. DELTA Research Camera - This configuration underwent
acceptance light testin 9 - 10 January 1974 and commenced employment
in 115 January. The flight segment of this project,
which provided photographic coverage of six selected targets was
successfully completed on 10 March 1974.
A. Autopilot Study - Analysis of "B-3" SIN 230 photographic
resolution data by NPIC indicated that the camera had not achieved
contractually required resolution specifications. Review of the possible
causes for this led to the position that the autopilot was not assuring
required vehicle stability. This position was confirmed after Article 055
was instrumented, and acquired data for comparison with three previous
studies. Subsequent adjustments to the autopilot indicate this system
is again performing within required limits; however, a full contractor
report is expected early in the fourth quarter, and will guide continued
necessary action,
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B. T- 35 Tracker Camera - Light Emitting Diode (L . E. D. )
components required to fabricate a prototype modification to the T-35
tracker camera are expected to be delivered early in April 1974. This
modification will permit time code generator (TCG) time to be exposed
on the tracker film and enhance correlation of T-35 frames with threat
signals and navigation data. Flight testing of this prototype will
commence early in the fourth quarter of FY 1974.
V.I IFY 1975 PLANNING
Pursuant to FY 1975 fiscal guidance, OSA has assisted
Director D's staff in constructing a Fiscal Year 1975 Financial Program
containing IDEALIST requirements for submission to, and funding by
USAF. Funding has been requested in four major categories as follows:
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Category FY 1975 Requirement (in millions
A. Pilot Salaries and Benefits
B. ance
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D. Field Service Support
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2. new Medical Technician at
briefing on emergency procedures for U-2R and rebriefing on
medical aid in aircraft accidents,
spent several days at Edwards AFB in January 1974 for
3. 1
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Flight Surgeon, visited
medical matters.
(Detachment FFGII 25X1
o consult with technicians on 25X1
AMS/OSA Life Support
Officer, has made arran ents with Andrews AFB Altitude
Chamber to qualify three em personnel who are to 25X1
work in military aircraft.
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B. Life Support Activities
1. New Assignment for Life Support Officer -
was assigned to AMS/OSA
29 January 1974 as new Life Su ort Officer.
A price quote of as given to build a protective
microwave integrated circuit for present tested breadboard. On
29 January, briefed Col. William Quinn, Chief, Life
Support, SPO, Wright Patterson AFB, Ohio, on the TADS to see
if the Air Force would be interested in the system. At the present
time it is under consideration by the Air Force who have shown
great interest.
replacedi who was reassigned to the
Surgeon General's Office 14 January 1974.
2. RQ225 Parachute Repack - In an effort to save transportation
charges by periodically sending parachutes from Detachment rrH"
to Detachment "G" for repacking, the Protective Equipment
Technician is now repacking the RQ225 personal parachute at
Detachment ",H" as they become due for repack. The chutes then
are returned to the prime contractor, Lockheed Aircraft
Corporation, for inspection. At the present time only minor
discrepancies have been noted. Further evaluation will be
accomplished to insure proficiency in repacking this unique
parachute.
3. U-ZR Survival Kit Rations - A new type mission ration
for the U-ZR survival kit has been received from Natick Laboratories
in Massachusetts to replace the outdated CD-7 which are no longer
available. Evaluation of the new ration proved it to be almost as
good as the CD-7 and certainly better than anything else in the
inventory.
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4. Automatic Survival Kit - A briefing was given to AMS/OSA
on 11 January and 18 March by ARO Corporation 25X1
Manager of Buffalo Division, Buffalo, New York. The briefing was
a status report on the Terrain Activated Deployment System for the
survival kit.
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5. Shark Deterrent Screen - Prototype shark screens from
the David Clark Company and the Rocket Jet Engineering Company
were evaluated by Dr. C. Scott Johnson, Naval Undersea Warfare
Center, San Diego, California, on 12 January 1974. The bags
constructed by each company were acceptable, however, the one
constructed by David Clark Company was rated superior. At
present time we are waiting for a price quote from each company
on construction of 60 each.
6. Solid Battery Pack for ASR-100A - Survival Radio - New
battery packs have been shipped to field units to replace the pen
light batteries which have been very unsatisfactory.
7. Prototype Helmet S1010 Protective Assembly - At present
time the helmet is still undergoing testing and field evaluation.
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8. Prototype Polycarbonate Helmet - A prototype polycarbonate
helmet was manufactured by Air Lock Incorporated, Milford,
Connecticut, for testing and evaluation. 25X1
AMS/OSA Life Support Officer, as well as and 25X1
of Air Lock Incorporated, conducted tests on
the helmet at the USAF School of Aviation Medicine, Brooks AFB,
Texas. The purpose of these tests was to determine the amount
of residual carbon dioxide (CO2) in the helmet. Tests were conducted
at ground level and simulated altitudes of 8, 000; 18, 000; and 29, 000
feet with no significant changes noted at the various altitudes. As
there was no baseline established for standard pressure suit helmets,
a similar test was conducted on the S1010 full- ressure suit helmet
with almost identical results. also conducted 25X1
a briefing on the helmet for the U-2 pilots at Davis Monthan AFB,
Arizona, and at Edwards AFB, California. The consensus of
opinions was that the new approach is good and would be well
received. However, additional modification would have to be made
before it could be an acceptable flight item.
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9. Life Support Conference - A Life Support Conference was
held in Washington, D.C., 19 - 20 March 1974.
and F7 -1 attended this meeting.
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