REPORT ON ACTIVITIES OF TECHNICAL PANELS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: Library of Congress
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): LOC-HAK-54-5-13-2
• Release Decision: RIFLIM
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 9
• Document Creation Date: January 11, 2017
• Document Release Date: July 27, 2010
• Sequence Number: 13
• Publication Date: November 8, 1974
• Content Type: MEMO

No Objection to Declassification in Full 2010/07/27: LOC-HAK-54-5-13-2
November 8, 1974
GORDON O. MOE
DAVID ELLIOTT
BRENT SCOWCROFT
Report on Activities of.
Technical Panels
MEMORANDUM w
'technical panels. As you suggest, I would appreciate periodic
status reports of this nature.
Thank you for your recent memo on the activities of the
OSD, Navy Reviews Completed. Pgs 3-9
ONLY.
ON-FILE NSC RELEASE INSTRUCTIONS
APPLY
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NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL
o Objection to Declassification in Full 2010/07/27: LOC-HAK-54-5-13-2
FROM: Jeanne W. Davi
TO: GENERAL SCOWCROFT
request to David Elliott for a status
report on NSC Technical Panel activities
following our conversation last week.
The attached is in response to my
it to acknowledge the report and accept
your signature (Tab 2) if you wish to use
I have prepared a thank-you note for
the offer to provide such reports monthly.
RECOMMENDATION:
That you initial the acknowledgment at
Tab 2.
Attachments
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MEMORANDUM
Ilk
NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL `
SECRET
MEMORANDUM FOR:
FROM:
THROUGH:
SUBJECT:
INFORMATION
November 4, 1974
GENERAL SCOWCROFT
GORDON O. MO
DAVID ELLIOTT
Technical Consultants' Activities
This is in response to your request for a more frequent up-date on
status and plans of NSC Technical Panel activities. I will, unless
advised otherwise, generally plan to up-date this on a monthly basis.
Attachment I summarizes the purpose and membership of each Panel.
PAST PANELS
. NATO Panel
5242
? Report completed March 1974, transmitted to Secretary Schlesinger
for comment in June 1974. Specific improvements in anti-armor,
naval resupply, air defense, and defense suppression capabilities
were recommended.
? Some difficulty was experienced in establishing the mechanism by
which DoD would respond to these studies, but with Secretary
Schlesinger's and General Wickham's personal assistance, follow-
up actions are now under active consideration.
? A report on DoD plans for follow-up actions should be ready for
Secretary Schlesinger's review during November, and should be
forwarded to NSC during December.
SECRET. XGDS (3) Classified by: Gordon O. Moe
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SECRET
2. Laser Panel
? Report completed April 1974, transmitted to Secretary Schlesinger
for comment in June 1974. The study concluded that the DoD effort
was "about right, " and described the status and probable near term
directions of this technology in both military and energy areas.
? Response received from Secretary Clements in June 1974.
? This study was primarily intended to be an informative technical
assessment, and as such recommendations were not stressed.
However, the study was instrumental in (a) insuring that funds
added to the DoD laser program at President Nixon's request
were assigned to basic device technology instead of demonstration
programs, (b) reorienting the Army's Mobile Test Unit (MTU)
somewhat, although not to the extent envisioned by the Panel,
(c) reducing classification on laser fusion technology, and (d)
assisting OMB in budgetary decisions regarding prudent funding
and timing of major laser fusion installations and laser isotope
operation capabilities.
? No additional activity planned. The Panel Report is utilized by
many as a reference.
3. Night-All Weather Panel
? Report completed August 1974, transmitted to Secretary Schlesinger
for comment and reaction October 1974. Serious deficiencies in our
European night-all weather air attack capabilities are described,
major OSD/JCS planning efforts are recommended to correct the
situation, and advanced technology capable of providing substantial
improvement is identified.
? This report has just begun to be reviewed by the DoD but the activity
has already had an impact by focusing the attention of the Services
and OSD in this specific area through Panel briefing requests.
There are encouraging indications that follow-up will be active,
especially if NSC interest remains high.
? The President has read an abbreviated summary of this report.
SECRET
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SECRET V
face ships is very impressive, and that capabilities are likely to
grow rapidly in the sub-surface area. Specific R&D efforts to
better understand ASW technology are recommended, as are
steps to counter the surface surveillance capability and to stay
ahead of future Soviet ASW advances.
Navy for classification check and initial informal comments.
Results indicate that aggregate Soviet capability versus US sur-
Preliminary draft completed October 1974, transmitted to the
Draft Report will be circulated to other appropriate agencies
for informal comment and revised into a final draft for Secre-
tary Kissinger by late November or December.
Strategic Qualitative Improvements Panel
Panel still involved in briefings, discussions, and deliberations.
There is a possibility of a first preliminary draft report (for
circulation for informal comment) by November, but December
is more likely. Panel hopes to further definitize the impact of
potential Soviet qualitative improvements on US strategic forces,
indicate relative technical advantages /disadvantages of alternative
US strategic improvements, and point out any technical implica-
tions of these findings for SALT Il.
. Tactical Intelligence Panel
s The Panel has about completed the process of briefings, discus-
sions and deliberations, and is beginning preparation of a report
A preliminary draft report should be available by December.
e It appears that the Panel will be in a very good position to elaborate
on the additional tactical support uses national reconnaissance systems
could provide; to recommend actions to realize these capabilities;
and to indicate potential impact on US capabilities.
SECRET
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SECRET ,
4. Wheelon Pa
1 (Communications Security)
? This Panel is being very helpful to me in evaluating proposed
technical measures and raising technical questions. It will be
of most use in evaluating long term technical solutions to be sub-
mitted by January 1.
POSSIBLE FUTURE PANELS
r I am presently considering alternatives for future Panel topics
which might be considered by NSC. I have not yet reached any
firm conclusions on. what my recommendations would be, but
I should have alternatives for your consideration prepared during
November. A broad satellite vulnerability study and an NCA/
WWMCCS interface C'I study are two possibilities.
I hope that this, together with the reports and report summaries which
have been provided to you and Secretary Kissinger, will meet the need
you have expressed for more frequent up-dates. In order to stay in
closer touch with your and Secretary Kissinger's interests and guidance
on these activities and to provide any further detail you might like,
I would very much like to meet personally with you and Dr. Elliott
for 20-30 minutes on a monthly basis at the time these written sum-
maries are submitted.
Attachment a/s
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Attachment 1 .
PURPOSE AND MEMBERSHIP
OF
NSC AD HOC TECHNICAL PANELS
NATO Panel
Purpose: To review technological alternatives for significantly
up-grading NATO conventional defense capabilities.
Membership: Dr. Charles P. Slichter, Chairman; Mr. Burton
P. Brown; Dr. Solomon J. Buchsbaum; Dr. Ivan A.
Getting; Mr. Terrell E. Greene; Dr. Lawrence Hafstad;
Mr. Frank W. Lehan; and Dr. Vincent V. McRae.
Laser Panel
Purpose: To assess the siatus and potential significance of
advanced laser technology for military applications
and energy applications.
Membership: Dr. Solomon J. Buchsbaum, Chairman; Dr.
Lewis Branscomb; Dr. Theodore Cairns; Dr. Robert
E. LeLevier; Mr. Louis H. Roddis, Jr.; Dr. Albert
D. Wheelon; and Dr. Fredrik Zachariasen.
(Assisted by Dr. Murray Gell-Mann; Dr. Elliott
Montroll; and Dr. Alvin M. Weinberg, FEO Consultants
on Energy Application Report.)
Night-All Weather Report
Purpose: To review quality of current and planned night-all
weather air attack capabilities; to identify major
deficiencies; and to recQmmend significant tech-
nological improvements.
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Membership: Dr. Charles M. Herzfeld, Chairman; Dr..Harold
Agnew; Mr. Burton P. Brown; General David A.
Burchinal, USAF (Ret); Dr. Edward E. David, Jr.;
Dr. William G. McMillan;; Dr. Vincent V. McRae;
and Dr. Leonard S. Sheingold.
Ocean Surveillance Panel
Purpose: To assess Soviet surface and sub-surface ocean
surveillance capabilities, and their potential technical
impact on US naval operations.
Membership: Mr. Louis H. Roddis, Chairman; Mr. Burton P.
Brown; Dr. Lawrence Hafstad; Dr. Hubert Heffner;
Mr. Frank W. Lehan; Dr. Vincent V. McRae; Dr.
Albert D. Wheelon; and Dr. James Fletcher.
ua.iitative Tray ro eiments _ Panel.
Purpose: To assess the technical implications of Soviet strategic
forces qualitative improvements with respect to US
deterrent posture; and to review technical aspects of
alternatives for qualitative improvements to US stra-
tegic forces.
Membership: Dr. Edward E. David, Jr., Chairman; Dr. Solomon
J. Buchsbaum; Dr. Ivan A. Getting; Dr. Robert E.
LeLevier; Dr. Michael May, Mr. Philip Odeen; Dr.
Gerald F. Tape, Dr. Kenneth M. Watson; and Dr.
Fredrik Zachariasen.
Tactical Intelligence Panel
Purpose: To review the extent to which further tactical applica-
tions of national reconnaissance assets can be achieved,
and the technical and procedural steps which would have
to be implemented to realize such additional benefits.
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Membership; Dr. Charles P. Slichter,. Chairman; Dr. Charles
M. Herzfeld; Mr. Burton P. Brown; Mr. Terrell E.
Greene; Mr. Frank W. Lehan; Dr. Byron Leonard;
and Dr. Vincent V. McRae.
Wheelon Panel
Purpose: To provide technical backup and overview of DoD
actions in response to NSDM 266.
Membership: Dr. AlbertD. Wheelon,. Chairman; Dr. Charles
M. Herzfeld; and Mr. Frank W. Lehan.
SECRET
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