NSC REPORT ON SOVIET ANTI-SATELLITE CAPABILITY

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79M00467A002500010020-2
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: December 16, 2016
• Document Release Date: December 29, 2004
• Sequence Number: 20
• Publication Date: May 12, 1976
• Content Type: MF

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UNCLASSIFIED CONFIDENTIAL
SECRE T
OFFICIAL ROUTING SLIP
P
TO
NAME AND A160 RESS
DATE
NITIALS
1
DIRECTOR OF Tr~
L INTELLIG
CE
G
2
3
4
6
ACTION
DIRECT REPLY
PREPARE REPLY
APPROVAL
DISPATCH
RECOMMENDATION
COMMENT
FILE
RETURN
CONCURRENCE
INFORMATION
SIGNATURE
Remarks:
The attached memorandum for your signature to
Brent Scowcroft responds to his memorandum for-
warding the Interim Report of the NSC Technical
Panel of consultants which has been reviewing
Technological Evolution and Vulnerability of U.S.
Space Systems since the Fall of last year. (Tab 1)
As you know, a number of activities are underway
regarding this topic including a briefing being
prepared for the CFI for presentation on 14 May
which will address the two most recent Soviet
anti-satellite events.
The wording of this response has been reviewed
by the NIOs, DDS&T, DDI, and the NRO; and is
acceptable to all of them. I recommend you sign
the attached memora
FOLD HERE TO RETURN TO S
FROM: NAME. ADDIKSO AND PHONE NO. DA-r'E
ID/DCI/Ic'
UNCLASSIFIED CONFIDENlt'IAL SECRET
FINN' 237 Use previous editiolss
1-67 G
Executive Regtstr
Room 7-E-12
Headquartor*
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THE DIRECTOR OF CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE
A2 MAY 1976
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MEMORANDUM FOR: Assistant to the President for National
Security Affairs
FROM George Bush
SUBJECT NSC Report on Soviet Anti-Satellite
Capability
REFERENCE Your Memorandum dated 26 April 1976,
Subject: Soviet Anti-Satellite Capability
1. As you know, the subject of U. S. satellite vulner-
ability and the evolving Soviet anti-satellite threat is of
great concern to me and to the rest of the Intelligence
Community. The interim observations of Dr. Buchsbaum's
Panel in this regard are in general accord with the estimates
and conclusions of similar Intelligence Community assessments
conducted over the last year. Currently, an extensive
effort is underway to attempt to place these assessments in
perspective and to assess the likelihood of Soviet inter-
ference with U. S. space systems under various crisis
situations. This effort is scheduled to be reported in an
Interaaencv Intelliaence Memor_ nndum t-h i s siimmar _ Tf- will
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2. As pointed out in Section II of the Panel's report,
existing national policy guidance concerning U. S. response
to satellite interference, U. S. satellite survivability
posture, and operations in space in general, needs to be
reassessed in light of our current and planned utilization
of space as well as current intelligence assessments. The
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policy question is perhaps the most critical and urgent aspect
of this topic and`should include consideration of political as
well as technical and procedural solutions to the problem. In
any event, any action we take in this regard may result in major
resource, system performance and political implications. These
implications must be carefully considered in the development of
future policy guidance. The Committee on Foreign Intelligence
has discussed this issue and will address those aspects
affecting the Intelligence Community, including the types of
near-term actions which appear appropriate.
3. As I understand, Dr. Buchsbaum's Panel plans to
continue to address this topic with an anticipated completion
date of early fall. The Intelligence Community will continue
to support the efforts of the Panel in the coming months as
we have in the past. We look forward to the recommendations
and insights the Panel will provide. In the meantime,
Dr. Buchsbaum and his Panel are to be congratulated for their
excellent assessment of this important problem.
/s/ George Bush
George Bush
cc: The Honorable Robert F. Ellsworth
Mr. William G. Hyland
General George S. Brown
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Distribution:
1 - Lt/Gen Scowcroft
2 - Hon. Ellsworth
3 - Mr. Hyland
4 - Gen. Brown
5'- Hon. Plummer
6 - DCI
7 - DDCI
8 - SA/DCI
9 - ER
10 - D/DCI/NIO
11 - NIO/SP
1 2 - DDS & 1
13 - DDI
14 - D/DCI/IC
15 - SA-D/DCI/IC
16 - IC/OPBL
17 - IC/OPP
18 - IC/Reg
19 - OPEI Chrono
20 - OPEI/IS (Sub': Col-Satellite Vulnerability)
AC/IC/OPEI/IS (6May76)
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