COMIREX REVIEW OF IMAGERY RECONNAISSANCE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 1971 NATIONAL RECONNAISSANCE PROGRAM

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78B05703A000700030027-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 10
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: December 8, 2003
• Sequence Number: 27
• Publication Date: January 26, 1970
• Content Type: MF

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DRAFT
26 January 1970
MEMORANDUM FOR: United States Intelligence Board
SUBJECT COMIREX Review of Imagery Reconnaissance
Requirements for the Fiscal Year 1971
National Reconnaissance Program
REFERENCES : a. USIB-D-46. 4/12, 1 March 1968
b. USIB -D- 46. 4/ 31 (COMIREX-D-13.16/ 5)
7 August 1969
c. USIB-D-46. 4/27 (COMIREX-D-13. 16/3)
4 February 1969
d. USIB - D -46. 4/32 (COMIREX -D -15. 2/14N/
10 November 1969
e. USIB-D-46. 4/30 (COMIREX-D-13.746)
16 July 1969 and Memo to Holders,
29 July 1969
COMIREX-D-13. 16/ 5, 11 June 1969
1. In accordance with USIB instructions (reference a),
COMIREX has reviewed standing USIB requirements for imagery
reconnaissance by satellites and has made a comparison of these
with information available to it on the FY 71 launch schedule.
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The COMIREX review is needed as guidance to the NRO in
its preparation of the detailed financial program for FY 71.
The imagery reconnaissance requirements for search, general
surveillance, and high-resolution technical. intelligence coverage
are reviewed in the paragraphs below as well as the use of the
search and surveillance systems in support of mapping, charting,
and geodetic accuracy requirements. Standing USIB requirements
for photographic reconnaissance of special regions, such as Southeast
Asia, North Korea, or Cuba which involve consideration of airborne
reconnaissance as well as satellite, are under review at the present
time and recommendations for their modification as appropriate
will be submitted to USIB during the next several months.
2. Intelligence needs are reviewed in detail prior to
every satellite reconnaissance mission and detailed
provided the NRO which augments that contained in standing require-
ments. During the past year about 25 percent of CORONA collection
was in response to such mission directed requirements and a similar
percentage applies to collection. Because of the dynamic
nature of many intelligence problems the NRO should anticipate
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;:hat it will receive continuing mission-by-mission guidance at
n ' b
about previous levels during FY 71 to assure the highest
possible level of responsiveness to intelligence needs.
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(CORONA)
b. COMIREX will shortly propose that the "built-u,311
and ' andveloped" areas of the Communist countries as deiinea
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amplification (reference d) be utilized by the NRO
as the basis for collection against the CORONA "six-month"
and 1112-month" search requirements. While the net result of
the lelineation is to reduce by 30 percent the area
previously defined as "built-up" and increase by 90 percent the
area defined as "undeveloped", the difficulty of satisfying the
modified requirement is not necessarily directly proportional.
7. The present CORONA launch schedule is extremely
marginal with respect to satisfaction of the search requirement
and it is particularly vulnerable to any mission failure such as
occurred on Mission 1050 in April 1969. During the second half
of 1969 the level of satisfaction of the built-up area search
requi.,.,ent fell below 50 percent for a brief period. This was
the lowest level of accomplishment in several years. Expressed
in another way, the low level of coverage meant that more than
50 percent of the built-up search area had not been photographed
during the preceding six-month period. Such a level of coverage
is clearly unacceptable over an extended period.
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It is anticipated that COMIREX will cor.:inue
to provide guidance prior to each mission which will assist
the NRO in collecting both against standing requirements and
current intelligence needs. As previously noted, on the
average about 25 percent of the film on CORONA missions during
1969 was allocated against such directed search areas as ICBM
complexes, the Sino-Soviet border, the Middle East, and so
north. While collection against these directed areas also satisfies
some portion of standing search requirements, they also at times
compete with the standing requirements. The NRO should
anticipate directed requirements during FY 71 at about the same
level as during CY 69. Continued use of some portion of the
CORONA film for mapping, charting, and geodesy purposes also
should be anticipated using experience during 1969 as a basis for
projection. It is recognized that the initial timing and performance
oft
CORONA proceed successfully on present schedules, a very hi:h
level of coverage should resul-C and it may be possible to forego or
l ill have a major effect on the satisfaction of USIB
search and surveillance requirements. If
reduce launches of the later CORONAs.
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Color Requirements
12, The NRO has e available a new color
film, SO-242, which of .ids color photography with /14/e
$0 "t r r. ID V # AI
orrn jC]ytFradation compared with standard black
and white, SO 404. A limited amount of SO-242 was used on
KH-4 Mission 1108. T? J
o, COMIREX has under way a comprehensive evaluation
of the color photography acquired to date.( A data base on color
photography is being developed and community-wide evaluation
and review of potential requirements for color photography are
being coordinated by COMIREX. The NRO, in parallel, has under
study the technical and processing aspects of the new film. The
over-all value and utility of color photography of the quality of
SO-24' has not yet been evaluated in relation to its cost or i.
reation to other operational or exploitation factors. It is not
anticipated that a comprehensive review? which would be the basis
for formulation of national requirements for color, if any, can
be completed before the second half of FY 71. The NRO however
s houid take into account in its planning at least a limited increase
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in the acquisition, processing, and exploitation of color film
during FY 71. It should not make major resource commitments
in this area until the USIB has had the opportunity to evaluate
color requirements on a comprehensive basis.
Recommendation
13. It is recommended that the Board note this
paper and approve its transmittal to the NRO as guidance for
FY 71 planning.
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