PROJECT OXCART OPERATIONAL CONCEPT FOR FY-1964 TO FY-1965

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP81B00879R001000100182-3
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 6
• Document Creation Date: December 15, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 9, 2004
• Sequence Number: 182
• Content Type: REQ

PROJECT OXCART OPERATIONAL
CONCEPT FOR FY-1964 TO FY-1965
1. MISSION:
a. To develop, attain, and maintain an operational
capability which will permit immediate ar. successful
completion of aerial reconnaissance missions of denied
areas at the earliest possible. date.
b. To conduct covert aerial reconnaissance missions
of denied areas, as directed by Project Headquarters, which
will provide high resolution photographic intelligence..
2. DEFINITIONS:
a. PRE-OPERATIONAL PERIOD: (Prior to 1 September 1963)
The period preceding operational readiness to
accomplish the primary mission.
b. OPERATIONAL PERIOD: (Subsequent to 1 September 1963)
(1) Emergency Capability: (1 September 1963 to
31 December 1963)
The capability to perform two (2) overflight
missions per month on a "calculated risk" basis
should be achieved by 1 September 1963. Lack of
experience at design operational profile with full
operational configuration will be the limiting
factors during this period.
(2) Design Capability: (1 January 1964 on)
The capability to perform four (4) operational
missions per month. A high degree of systems
reliability and operational readiness will have
been demonstrated prior to attaining this capability.
ALITH: HR 70-2
f"ATE: K_"~ REVIEWER:
DOCUMENT NO. /-4;6-
NO, CHANGE IN CLASS. G7
U DECLASSIFIED
CLA3`,.CHANGiED1-0: TS
NEXT REVIEW DATE:
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3. TASKS AND OBJECTIVES:
a. PRE-OPERATIONAL PERIOD:
During this period the primary emphasis wi11 be'
directed toward the accomplishment of the following
major tasks;
(1) The development and procurement of new
equipment and systems which will comprise the A-12
reconnaissance wea;)ons system, allied systems and
supporting equipme~it and systems.
(2)
The mpletion of construction and readying
i
d
a
r
rome and supporting facilities.
(3) The completion of construction and readying
of facilities at designated supporting airbases.
(See Attachment #2)
(4) The logistical build-up required to support
the Pre-Operational Period and the continued build=up
in logistical capability to support the Operational
Period.
(5) The planning, programming and coordination
required to be ready to implement the Operational
Period programs to include environmental studies.
(6) The completion of specialized communications
facilities required for the coordination and control
of tactical and support aircraft movements.
(7) The training and familiarization of personnel
with new systems and equipment preparatory to the
commencement of A-12 operational missions.
(8) The training of selected operational pilots
and Detachment personnel and the continued testing of
the A-12'reconnaissance weapons system to an operational
readiness status.
(9) The development and feasibility testing of
air tactics and operational employment and control
procedures.
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b. OPERATIONAL PERIOD:
During this period the following major tasks will
be accomplished:
(1) The execution of aerial reconnaissance
missions of denied areas as directed.
(2) The continued testing of equipment, systems,
and procedures in -der to improve the operational
capability :_eliability.
(3) The continued proficiency training of opera-
tional pilots and Detachment personnel.
TRCRAFT UTILIZATION AND CONTTROL:
a. A-12 AIRCRAFT:
(1) A-12 aircraft which are instrumented as flight
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test beds will be under the control of
Flight Test Center until their requirement as instrumented
test beds no longer exists. At such time, to be
determined by Project Headquarters, these aircraft
.will be transferred to the operational control of the
Detachment Commander to be utilized as directed.
Other A-12 aircraft will be under the control
of Flight Test Center until their air-
worthiness has been proven; at which time they will be
released to the operational control of the Detachment
Commander for use in the flying training program.
Aircraft acceptance procedures will be established by
Project Headquarters.
(3) A-12 aircraft which are engaged in directed
missions will be under the operational direction of
Project Headquarters.
(4) See Attachment #1 for A-12 Flying Hour
Projection.
b. F-101 AIRCRAFT:
These aircraft will be used for training and pro-
ficiency flying of the Detachment operational pilots
and supervisory personnel under the operational control
of the Detachment Commander. Thirty-five (35) flying
hours/aircraft/month will be required.
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c. T-33 AND U -3B AIRCRAFT:
These aircraft will be undez the operational
control of the Detachment Commander to~be used as
required for the following:
(1) Training and proficiency flights for
Detachment rated personnel.
(2) The accomplishment of minimum annual flying
requirements as prescribed in APR 60-3.
(3) Airlift, liaison, and other flying required
to support the mission.
(~) Forty (40) flying hours/aircraft/month will
be required.
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d. H-43 AIRCRAFT:
This aircraft will be used for search and rescue
in the event of lost or downed Project aircraft in the
immediate vicinity This aircraft is pro-
grammed to fly thirty (30) hours/month under the
operational control of the Detachment Commander to
include training flights.
e. C-130 AIRCRAFT:
This aircraft will be under the operational control
of the Detachment Commander to be used for the following:
(1) Recovery aircraft to airlift necessary
personnel and
l
d
--
an
ing or accident away from
(4) Ninety (90) flying hours/month will be required.
5. CONCEPT OF OPERATIONS:
a. PRE-OPERATIONAL PERIOD:
(1) The flying training and flight test programs
q - .
(3) Fulfill air evacuation requirements
(2) Airlift of engines and other equipment as
re aired
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must he integr4ted to the fullest possible extent so
that the maximum utilization of flying hours available
is realized. The immediate objective will be to train
two pilots to operational readiness at the earliest
possible date whereby operational missions can be
executed once the reconnaissance weapons system has
demonstrated an acceptable level of capability and
reliability.
(2) The A-12 flying training program must provide
for c,.' ea in :".g a high 2 +"C o 1 ti: 3= envy 1 L2C.~ r-
liability in all operational phases of the primary
mission profile. This will include day and night
transition flying, instrument flying, aerial refueling,
navigation, photographic flight line flying, systems
operations, and emergency procedures.
(3) Air tactics must be developed and procedures
for mission implementation and control established
and exercised. This will include training deployments
of KC-135 aircraft to designated forward bases (Eielson
AFB, Alaska to support
simulated operations missions prior to attaining
operational readiness.
(a) Prestrike and poststrike
b. OPERATIONAL PERIOD:
(1) Operational missions will be planned, directed
and controlled by Project Headquarters against approved
targets received from the COMOR. Project Headquarters
will be responsible for attaining political approvals
and arranging for necessary mission support.
(2) Operational missions will be planned as re-
quired against the following concepts:
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at either Eielson AF , as a 25X1
or Kadena AFB, Okinawa.
(c) Prestrike and poststrik from Eielson
AFB, Alaska or Kadena AFB, 25X1
Okinawa, using e ast-move cept for single
operational missions.
(3) An airborne spare A-12 will be required for
each operational mission.
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(b) Prestrike and ost
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6. SURVIVABILITY STUDIES:
a. The probability of detection and intercept of
the A-12 vehicle during operational missions must be
thoroughly studied and evaluated.
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b. FTD, OSI arid' other technical assessment centers
should be enrolled to conduct these studies on a continuing
basis. Procedures must be established for the prompt dis-
semination of survivability estimates to Project Headquarters.
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OSA/OD/OXC
Attachments - 2
As noted above
Distribution:
#1 -
AD/OSA
#2-3
OSA/C/FIN
#4
OSA/C/MD
#5
OSA/C/COMMO
#6
OSA/C/DD
#7
OSA/C/ADMIN
#8
OSA/C/OD
.#9-10
OSA/OD/OXC
#11
OSA/RB
(21 Mar 63)
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