MANAGEMENT AND DIRECTION OF OVERHEAD RECONNAISSANCE ACTIVITIES

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80B01676R002900090004-0
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 6
• Document Creation Date: December 16, 2016
• Document Release Date: January 6, 2005
• Sequence Number: 4
• Publication Date: May 21, 1962
• Content Type: MF

Approved For Releas
FICE OF
THE DIRECTOR OF CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE
WASHINGTON 25, D. C.
1676R002900090004-0
21 May 1.962
RADIX FOR: Director, National Security Agency
Management and Direction of Overhead Reconnaissance
Activities
The Director of Central Intelligence recently asked this staff
to examine the arrangements between the Department of Defense and the
Central Intelligence Agency regarding the National Reconnaissance Office.
In connection with this examination, selected members of the Coordination
Staff have received a helpful briefing by members of your agency. We
have now arrived at certain tentative conclusions and recommendations
which are contained in the attached paper.
2. Nefore forwarding these conclusions and recommendations to the
Director of Central Intelligence, we would appreciate any comments or
suggestions that you may have concerning them.
25X1 3 I am asking of my staff personally to convey this
0 you, in view of its sensitivity. lie familiar with
a on this problem, and is available for consultation with you
your staff.
At.tqchment
NSA, DIA and NRO review(s) completed.
NGA Review Completed.
Assistant f
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ATTfiCIMT
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MANAGEMENTAt DIRECTION OF OVERR CAI8SC itITIg8
1. The memorandum to the Director of Central Intelligence (DCI)
from the Secretary of Defense dated 6 September 1961 formalized a
working arrangement between Defenae and CIA which came into being in
the early stages of developing a satellite intelligence collection
capability. It is clear that this arrangement eh/eh placed authority
for the conduct of research, development and operations at a high
level in each agency, and which recognized the need for coordination
of effort and full use of each agency's capabilities, was essential
to the success of the initial program. If erraagemeets of this
nature are to be continued, they Should be modified in the light
Of the intelligence experience which has been gained to date with
the, program.
2. In retrospect, it can be seen that the progran has not
yet produced the fullest intelligence benefits of which it in
capable in the fields of CONINT and RUNT.
I The National Security Agency is specifi-
cally charged with responsibility for providing at the national
level unified organisation and control of COMMIT and BUNT resources
and activities of the U. S. Government. Thus, because guidance and
assistance were not Obtained from NSA, the COMINT/BUNT satellite
reconnaissance efforts to date have not been as productive as might
herwise have been the case.
3. Although the memorandum of the Secretary of Defense formalizing
NRC) states that it will be responsive to, and only to, the photographic
and electronic signal collection requirements and priorities as
established by the Malted States Intelligence Board (MIR), it Is
clear that this responsiveness has been effective only with respect
to certain photographic requirements for which the Committee on
Overhead Reconnaissance (COM)R) supports U8IB.
4. In the COMINT/ELINT field, the existence of many other
collection capabilities under the control or subject to the technical
direction of the Director, NSA, necessitates careful consideration
of the precise contribution which satellite collection can make in
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relation to these other capabilities. For other typee of COM/NT/
ELM collection, NSA is responsible for determining the most
effective use which can be made of each collection capability to
meet total requirements, and for tasking the resources involved.
Aparticularly Pertinent and important example of NSA 's function in
*gar is
This activity if and when completed voula possess a unique
collection capability under NSA technical direction Which, if
employed to complement satellite collection under unified coherent
guidance: would ensure maxim= benefit from both collection means.
In order to Obtain maximum advantage and economical use of satellite
commiran collection, NSA must exercise its normal responsibilities
with respect to this means as it does for all other means of COMM
ELINT collection. These normal responsibilities include determination
of which COMINT/ELINT requirements can best be met by satellite
collection and their priority; determining technical feasibility of
satellite collection to meet such requirements; planning end
prOgramming the research, development and fabrication of the
neceasary collection packages in conformance with the character-
istics of the vehicle; and developing the necessary processing and
analysis program.
With respect to mapping and geodesy, there are apparently
ng view among the interested elements of the Department
involving queatione as to the most effective techniques
to be employed in overhead reconnaissance for these
purposes. The memorandum of the Secretary of Defenee dated 17 Mareh
1962 placing responsibility in the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA)
for developing a plan for management of Department of Defense mapping
end geodetic activities should result in a resolution of this conflict
and place DTA in a position to provide guidance as to the needs and
optimum techniques for satellite mapping and geodesy.
6. Means therefore exist for determining requirements and
priorities within each of the principal collection functions of
satellites. For photograTble collection, COMM is an increasingly
effective instrument. In the coo* of mapping and geodesy, DIA should
in the near future be capable of making these determinations. In
the COM/NT/XL/MT field, NSA, with the support of that SIGINT Committee,
can accomplish theme determinations with respect to satellite collection
as it is now accomplishing for all other types of CON1NT/EL/NT
collection.
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7. A major remaining Problem is that of furnishing final USD
guidance as to priorities among the various collection functions
of a satellite. It weld ar that, under Director of Central
Intelligence Directive CDCID 2/70 responsibility for developing
and reeommending such gultlence is assigned to camp. It aught be
argued, hovever, that COMM ought net coordinate photographic
reqairements as sueh, and additionelle. be responsible for developing
and recommending priorities among its own photograPhic requirements,
and other requirements (MINT, mapping and wifely) for satellite
collection. However, in light of COMOR's demonstrate& capability
in the photographic requirement field, and in view of the functions
assigned to the Committee in MID 2/7, it is eensiderea that for
the present this would be the best arrangement. Some alterations
in CONON membership maybe required to enable the Committee to
discharge this additional responsibility.
8. Considerable difficulty has also been experienced in the poet
mad can be anticipatea in the future in the photographic field with
respect to the lack of an analytical capability commensurate with
the volume of material obtained from overhead reconnaissance. It is
therefore essential that organisations responsible for processing
the material obtained from overhead reconnaissance be kept apprised
of planned and programmed collection activities, in order to make
the necessary preparations.
=mum
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9. It is essential that arrangements betveen Defense and CIA
for the overhead reconnaissance progrmn continue for the present to
provide for opecific authority at a high level in each agency for the
operational and policy aspects of the program. Additionally
procedures should be established to furnish these authorities on
a regular and continuing basis with guidance and advice from the
intelligence tonnunity as a whole as to intelligence objectives,
requirements and priorities) specifically in the field of CWT/
ELINT provision should be made for NSA to furnish guidance and
advice consonant with its responsibilities end eapabilities. This
guidance end advice should encompass both the direction end emphasis
to be taken in research and development of overhead reconnaissance
techniques and pay load capabilities for intelligence purposes, and
the employment of existing capabilities for intelligence collection.,
It is imperative that this intelligence guidance and advice be adhered
to in the conduct of the program, unless there are overriding policy
and operational considerations.
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10. edures to develop and fUrnish this guidance and advice
should. make fullest possible use of arrangements and capabilities
now existing within the community for providing overall intelligence
guidance to collectors and to research and development activities.
11. The seneitivity of satellite reconnaissance operations
justifies some degree of apecial security comartmentation. However,
the ecurity ccmpartmentation factor should be exercised on a
realistic need-to.knov basis Which would ensure that times elements
of the intelligence community which can contribute productively to
research and development, collection or analysis phsaes of the
Program, are brought fully into the overall progrem. Speelal security
compartmentation should not operate to the detriment of the basic
purpose for Which these operations are conducted, namely, to improve
the intelligence product.
12. Arrangements for Defense/CIA management of the overhead
reconnaissance program should be expanded to include provision for
the following:
a. Guidance end advice free NSA with respect to research
and development mad employment of existing capabilities for
CONINT/BLINT collection.
b. Guidance and advice from DIA with respect to require-
ments for research and development and with respect to employ-
ment of capabilities for mapping and geodetic collection.
e. Advice and assistance from the National Photographic
Interpretation Center (WIC) with respect to requirements for
research and development to increase photographic collection
capability.
d. Guidance from camoR with respect to the employment of
photegraptic eollection
e. Guidance and advice from USIB (taking late consideration
COMOR recommendations) as to overall intelligence priorities
for research and development and utilization of overhead recoil.
naleaance capabilities for collection purposes.
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f. En uring that organizations responsible for processing
analysis of the products of overhead reconnaissance programa
are adequately advised in advance to permit timely preparation
for their respective task'''.
13. Adstailed proposal for implementation of the above recom-
mendations Should be developed in consultation vith appropriate
representatives of theDeputy Director of Central Intelligence, the
Director, NSA, the Director, mu, and the Undersecretary of the Air
?ore*, for gOroval by the Director of Contrail Intelligence and the
Secretary Of Defense.
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