COLOR - IMAGERY IN AIRBORNE PROGRAMS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79B01709A000200050027-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 8
• Document Creation Date: December 15, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 29, 2004
• Sequence Number: 27
• Publication Date: May 1, 1971
• Content Type: CABLE

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IN 73799
NRO, USAF and DIA review(s) completed.
DE #0018 1201749
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DC-5C 04218 APR 71.
AFSSO USAF FOR AFINYMA
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SUBJ: COLtRprfWjgfR5fR1WaAq?
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Be DIADC-5C MSG 15527 DTG 201328Z NOV 70.
Co CINCPAC MSG DTG 122335Z DEC 70.
D. DIADC-5C MSG 02803 DTG 2315382 MAR 71.
E. SAC MSG DIG 081455Z APR 71.
to THE POSSIBLE USE OF COLOR FILMS IN THE NATIONAL RECONNAISSANCE
PROGRAM (NRP) HAS BEEN CONSIDERED AND INVESTIGATED FOR SEVERAL
YEARS, IT IS GENERALLY AGREED THAT COLOR OFFERS THE POTENTIAL
FOR PROVIDING ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IN A PHOTOGRAPH THAT IS
NOT FOUND IN BLACK AND WHITE IMAGES, THIS OCCURS PRIMARILY AS A
RESULT OF ADDING /SPECTRAL" RESOLUTION, OR DIFFERENCES IN OBJECTS
DUE TO THEIR DIFFERENT "COLORS", TO THAT OF "SPARTIAL" RESOLUTION.
UNFORTUNATELY, THE "SPARTIAL" RESOLUTION OF PREVIOUSLY AVAILABLE
COLOR FILMS, SUCH AS SO-121, WAS SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER THAN THAT
25X1D OF THE I I BLACK AND WHITE MATERIAL, EVEN SO, ZHE
IDEA PERSISTED THAT COLOR MIGHT PROVIDE AN ADDITIONAL DIMENSION
TO INTELLIGENCE COLLECTION CAPABILITIES. THIS ULTIMATELY RESULTED
25X1 D
IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF
IN COLOR FILMS ARE EXPECTED IN THE NEAR FUTURE,
2, AS INDICATED IN REFERENCE A, THE IMPROVEMENTS ALHEDY iADE IN
COLOR MATERIALS HAVE BEEN SUFFICIENTLY GREAT THAT THE NATIO JAL
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RECONNAISSANCE OFFICE (NRO) ESTABLISHED A COLOR TASK FORCE (CTF)
TO INVESTIGATE THE POTENTIAL USES OF THESE NEW FILMS IN THE NRP
AND TO DETERMINE THE IMPACT THIS MIGHT HAVE ON THE INTELLIGENCE
25X1DCOMMUNITY. THE CTF IS ATTEMPTING TO BUILD A BASE OF IMAGERY AND
TO THIS
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INFORMATION WHICH CAN BE USED TO MAKE THESE JUDGEMENTS.
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3. THE POTENTIAL VALUE OF USING THESE NEW COLOR FILMS IN HIGH
ALTITUDE AIRBORNE PROGRAMS, AS WELL AS IN KH MISSIONS, ALSO NEEDS
25X1CTO BE INVESTIGATED. WHILEI COVERAGE CAN PROVIDE SOME
DATA TO SUPPORT THIS STUDY, THE ACQUISITION OF OPERATIONAL IMAGERY
WOULD OBVIOUSLY PROVIDE THE BEST SOURCE OF INFORMATION. THE
25X1DPOSSIBILITY OF INCLUDING COLOR FILMS IN GIANT
SCALE MISSIONS OPERATING IN SOUTHEAST ASIA WAS PROPOSED IN REFERENCE
B. THE CINCPAC RESPONSE (REFERENCE C.) INDICATED NO OBJECTION TO
THE USE OF COLOR FILMS IN THE
SINCE THE IMPACT ON THE COLLECTION/PROCESSING/EXPLOITATION CYCLE
WOULD BE MINIMAL COMPARED TO THE PRIMARY GS CAMERA SYSTEMS IN
THE EVENT CINCPAC WAS UNABLE TO PROCESS COLOR FILMS, DIA AUTHORIZED,
BY REFERENCE D, THE USE OF
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BLACK AND WHITE 25X1D
25X11YILMS IN THE SEA GIANT SCALE MISSIONS, AT THE DISCRETION
OF SAC, AS THE FIRST STEP IN OBTAINING OPERATIONAL IMAGERY FROM
THIS PROGRAM. REPRESENATIVES OF THE MC&G COMMUNITY HAVE ALREADY
25X1DF:XPRESSED INTEREST IN EVALUATING I IMAGERY FROM TH :SE
MISSIONS FOR THEIR PURPOSES. HOWEVER, DUE TO THE NATURE OF THIS
25X1NAMERA SYSTEM, IMAGERY IS NOT REPRESENTATIVE OF THE PRIMARY
25X1 D
GS CAPABILITY. THEREFORE, THE USE OF COLOR FILMS IN THE
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CAMERA SYSTEMS MUST BE
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CONSIDERED. THE COMPATABILITY OF [ WITH THE F-]HAS BEEN
DEMONSTRATED BY SAC THROUGH DOMESTIC TEST FLIGHTS. THUS, IT WOULD
BE DESIRABLE TO FLY OPERATIONAL GS MISSIONS IN SEA USING
WHITE IMAGERY ACQUIRED UNDER SIMILAR CONDITIONS. IF THE
THE PRIMARY CONSIDERATION ON EACH GS MISSION, A SUITABLE MIX OF
COLOR AND BLACK AND WHITE FILMS MUST BE ESTABLISHED. SUCH A MIX
WOULD ALSO ALLOW COMPARISON OF THE VALUE OF COLOR VS BLACK AND
IN AT LEAST ONE = SINCE COLLECTION REQUIREMENTS REMAIN
'ALSO PROVES TO BE COMPATIBLE WITH A SIMILAR SERIES OF GS
MISSIONS SHOULD BE FLOWN USING THIS COMBINATION,
4. THE EVALUATION OF IN SEVERAL GIANT NAIL MISSIONS IS
5X1 ALSO DESIRABLE. TEST FLIGHTS WITH THE U-2/IRIS II/
SHOW REASONABLY GOOD RESULTS EVEN THOUGH THE LENS IS NOT
FULLY COLOR CORRECTED. SEVERAL FRAMES FROM ONE OF THESE FLIGHTS
HAVE BEEN FORWARDED FOR YOUR REVIEW.
5. THE POSSIBILITY OF USING GIANT SCALE EMR MISSIONS TO OBTAIN
OPERATIONAL COLOR IMAGERY (DNZ AREA) HAS ALSO BEEN SUGGESTED. BY
REFERENCE E., SAC FORWARDED TO DIA (FOR ACTION) AM RnnC RE
QUEST
25X1D FOR COLOR IMAGERY
I I TO BE ACQUIRED ALOJG THE DtZ
AREA OF NORTH KOREA AND FORWARDED TO RADC FOR THEIR EVfLUATIO?J.
6. IN ATTEMPTING TO ACQUIRE A BASE OF OPERATIONAL COLOR IMAGERY
BY THE MEANS INDICATED ABOVE, IT IS DESIRED THAT THE IMPACT ON THE
PRIMARY COL1 EC
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BE MINIMIZED. A REVIEW OF COLLECTION REQUIREMENTS IN THE IROL, AS
OF 31 MARCH 1971, INDICATES A TOTAL OF 1021 TARGETS (INDIVIDUAL TARGETS/
ROUTE SEGMENTS) IN SOUTHEAST ASIA (342/LAOS, 383/NVN, 296/CAMBODIA)
FOR WHICH COLOR COVERAGE IS DESIRED ON AN ANNUAL BASIS. IT MIGHT
BE THAT THE PROPOSED COLOR GS/GA MISSIONS COULD BE USED TO SATISFY
SOME OF THESE REQUIREMENTS AS WELL AS THE RADC REQUEST. DIA ANALYSTS
HAVE ALSO RECENTLY SUBMITTED A REQUEST FOR COVERAGE OF U.S. POW CAMPS
IN NVN WHICH INCLUDED A NEED T O ANSWER SOME COLOR-RELATED QUESTIONS WHICH
GIANT SCALE MISSIONS MIGHT BE ABLE TO SATISFY IN PART. IN ADDITION TO
CONSIDERING THE IMPACT ON COLLECTION REQUIREMENTS, THE EXPLOITATION
OF COLOR IMAGERY SHOULD BE ACCOMPLISHED USING THE SAME PROCEDURES,
AS NEARLY AS POSSIBLE, AS WHEN HANDLING THE USUAL BLACK AND WHITE
MISSIONS. THUS, THE PROCESSING, DUPLICATION, AND READOUT OF COLOR
GS AND GA MATERIALS SHOULD BE ACCOMPLISHED BY THE
REALIZING BOTH AND ADDED UNSCHEDULED COSTS WHICH EVEN A FEW COLOR
MISSIONS WOULD INCUR AND AT THE SAME TIME UNDERSTANDING THE VALUE
OF SUCH A COLLECTION EFFORT IN SUPPORTING THE CURRENT STUDY OF
COLOR MATERIALS, THE NRO HAS INDICATED CONCURRENCE IN PROVIDING
THE NECESSARY COLLECTION/DUPLICATING FILMS, CHEMISTRY, PROCESSING
INSTRUCTIONS, AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOR A LIMITED NUMBER OF
GIANT/SCALE/GIANT NAIL COLOR MISSIONS. THE NUMBER OF SUCH MISSIONS
WHICH CAN BE SUPPORTED WOULD BE DETERMINED BY THE NRO AFTER REVIEW
OF THE SCOPE OF THE PROPOSED REQUEST. THE EFFORT COULD BE MINIMIZED
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TO SOME EXTENT BY PROVIDING ONLY SELECTED RECIPIENTS OF GS/GA
MATERIALS WITH COLOR DUPLICATES, WITH THE REMAINING CUSTOMERS
RECEIVING BLACK AND WHITE COPIES FROM THE "GREEN" RECORD.
7. TO SUMMARIZE, AN INVESTIGATION IS BEING CONDUCTED TO DETERMINE
WHETHER THE RECENTLY IMPROVED COLOR FILMS WOULD BE USEFUL IN
SATISFYING NATIONAL AND THEATER REQUIREMENTS FOR IMAGERY
COLLECTION/EXPLOITATION. TO ASSIST IN THIS EFFORT, IT IS DESIRABLE
THAT OPERATIONAL COLOR IMAGERY BE COLLECTED FROM VARIOUS AIRBORNE
PROGRAMS TO SUPPLEMENT THE KH COLLECTION ACTIVITIES. 25X1D
TO THIS END, IT IS REQUESTED THAT THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION BE
PROVIDED TO DIADC-5C BY SAC/CINCPAC (AS INDICATED)(
A. SAC:
(I) RECOMMEND A COLOR/B&W FILM LOAD COMBINATION,
5C1D INCLUDING IN AT LEAST ONE FOR GIANT SCALE
MISSIONS IN SOUTHEAST ASIA. INDICATE THE PROPOSED TRACK(S) WITH
{ CONSIDERATION TO CURRENT COLLECTION REQUIREMENTS AND RECOMMEADAT IONS
25X1D FROM CINCPAC/OTHER USERS. I?`JCLUDE FOOTAGE FIGURES FOR THE AMOUNT
FILM REQUIRED.
(2) RECOMMEND PROPOSED TRACK(S) FOR GIANT NAIL MISSIONS TO
25X1D BE FLOWN USING OFILM WITH CONSIDERATION TO CURRENT COLLECTION
REQUIREMENTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FROM CINCPAC/OTHER USERS. INCLUDE
FOOTAGE FIGURES FOR THE AMOUNT OF OFILM REQUIRED. 25X1D
(3) A (} 00r okeICeJ $(( 1' /d7I. A : 7 Od4~M6Q USbt =~DI NG
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25X1 IN AT LEAST ONE I FOR GIANT SCALE EMR MISSIONS IN KOREA.
NSIDERATION TO CURRENT COLLECTION
INDICATE THE PROPOSED TRACK(S) WITH CO AND RECOMMENDATIONS
REQUIREMENTS' THE RADC REQUEST (REFERENCE E?)' A THE AMOUNT
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FROM CINCPAC/OTHER USERS INCLUDE FOOTAGE FIGURES FOR
F0l OR OTHER COLOR FILMS REQUIRED.
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(4) ADVISE AS TO CAPABILITY OF THE
GS TECH OBJECTIVE
CAMERA TO ACCEPT I ILM.
B. CINCPAC:
(1) RECOMMEND TO SAC ANY SPECIFIC TARGET AREAS FOR OR
WHICH COLOR COVERAGE IS DESIRED THAT MIGHT BE COLLECTED BY GS
GA MISSIONS IN SEA OR BY EMR (GS) MISSIONS IN KOREA. ITY
(2) ADVISE AS TO WHEN COLOR PROCESSING/DUPING CAPABILITY
C
WILL BE AVAILABLE AT THE
(3) ADVISE AS TO THE NUMBER OF FILM DUPES OF GS OR GA
MISSIONS WHICH WOULD BE REQUIRED FOR CINCPAC UNITS IN COLOR.
THIS SHOULD BE KEPT TO A MINIMUM TO REDUCE THE COST OF SPECIAL
DUPE MATERIALS AND CHEMISTRY. REMAINING CUSTOMERS WOULD RECEIVE
BLACK AND WHITE COPIES MADE FROM THE GREEN RECORD. IMPACT
S. THE OUTCOME OF THESE ACTIONS COULD HAVE CONSIDERABLE IMPH DOD
ON FUTURE IMAGERY COLLECTION/EXPLOITATION ACTIVITIES IN
AND NATIONAL PROGRAMS. YOUR SUPPORT IN THIS EFFORT WOULD BE
GREATLY APPRECIATED.
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