COINS EXPERIMENT

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80B01139A000100020012-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 16, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 29, 2005
• Sequence Number: 12
• Publication Date: April 17, 1969
• Content Type: MF

Approvedpr Release cQS1IRDP80B0r89A000100020012-8
THE DIRECTOR OF CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE
WASHINGTON, D. C. 20505
17 April 1969
MEMORANDUM FOR: Director, National Security Agency
SUBJECT: COINS Experiment
REFERENCES:
1. The Director has asked me to reply to your memorandum
of 3 April 1969, Reference (a). I will also address other related
subjects.
2. The reasons for the additional time necessary for the
COINS Experiment are understood. During the testing of such a
complex system, deficiencies must be anticipated. It is requested,
however, that every effort be made to carry out the test and
analysis phase of the Experiment as expeditiously as possible.
Your consideration of a COINS follow-on system should be secondary
to the completion of the experimental phase.
3. During this period of system modification and operational
test, it is desirable to continue the type of network tests which
have uncovered system shortcomings contributing to the delay. Test
and analysis data should be collected during this period in prepara-
tion for the formal test and analysis phase. During this period
also it is important to inform, indoctrinate, train, and assist the
eventual user/analyst since the evaluation of the success of COINS
will be influenced largely by the degree to which the analyst uses
the system and :Finds it satisfactory.
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 Approved For Release 2005/08/03 : CIA-RDP80B01139A000100020012-8
CONFIDENTIAL
4. The Intelligence Information Handling Committee (IHC)
was tasked in Reference (b) to produce a plan and schedule for
the evaluation of COINS. The lack of an approved set of objectives
for the COINS Experiment is hampering the.development of such a
plan. In your memorandum of 5 December 1968, Reference (c), you
noted efforts were under way to resolve differences pertaining to
COINS objectives. The success you have experienced in this regard
is of interest since the set of objectives set forth in the COINS
Master Plan appear dependent to some extent on projects and
activities beyond the period of the COINS Experiment. The
objectives should be realizable, demonstrable, and measurable
within the revised time frame of the present Experiment. It is
requested that the total set of objectives be forwarded to the
DCI for his approval as soon as feasible.
5. Your request for the members of the community to
identify additional files for COINS has been brought to the
attention of the IHC. During the Experiment changes to COINS
files may be made in accordance with the Reference (d). The
problem of files for a follow-on system is under continuing
consideration in the IHC.
FOR THE DIRECTOR OF CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE:
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AD/DC I/N E
CONFIDENTIAL
Approved For Release 2005/08/03 : CIA-RDP80B01139A000100020012-8