C05147118

ONNAISG

Approved for Release: 2023/10/19 C05147118
—SECRET//TRK//REL_TO-USA,_FVEY— :

NATIONAL RECONNAISSANCE OFFICE
14675 Lee Road
Chantilly, VA 20151-1715

Office of the Director

25 July 2023

MEMORANDUM FOR DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE
UNDER SECRETARY OF DEFENSE FOR INTELLIGENCE AND
SECURITY

SUBJECT: +S//RBE} Limited Declassification of PARCAE as a Signals
Collection Satellite

REFERENCE: ~—tS//REL) PARCAE Reconnaissance Assets - as a
Signals Collection Satellite +8//PK//RED

+{S7/REG}- Consistent with provisions of Executive Order 13526,
Section 1.3, I am declassifying certain limited facts associated with
the PARCAE signals collection satellite program. I have concluded
that publicly acknowledging limited facts will not cause harm to our
current and future satellite systems. Additionally, acknowledging the
program is consistent with our obligation to the American public to be
both open and transparent where possible through declassification of
historic programs.

4S//TK//REL} PARCAE was a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) signals
collection satellite program and was the follow-on program to the
already declassified POPPY and GRAB satellite programs. The
satellites were developed by the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) as
part of the National Reconnaissance Office’s (NRO) Program C. The
PARCAE satellites were initially launched in 1976 with the last
satellites launched in 1996. The satellites performed admirably but
were removed from the NRO’s Signals Intelligence (SIGINT) architecture
in May 2008, following coordination with National Security Agency
(NSA) and the Intelligence Community.

SAATK//REL}

Additionally, overhead collection of signals is no longer a
government-only endeavor as several unclassified commercial ventures
have launched signal collection systems whose capabilities are
comparable if not superior to PARCAE.

4S/}/PRKA/RED}-Given the long and distinguished life of PARCAE
satellites in support to the Nation, we will acknowledge the limited
PARCAE declassification through a public announcement in conjunction
with the NRL’s 100th anniversary celebration in June 2023. After

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C05147118 Approved for Release: 2023/10/19 C05147118
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“SECRET//TR/7REL_TO-USA,_FVEY

SUBJECT: + PR /REE-PO-OSA,_FVETT Limited Declassification of PARCAE
as a Signals Collection Satellite

limited declassification, we will evaluate the program for a more
complete programmatic declassification as time and resources permit.
NRO will continue to coordinate with NRL on any future
declassification of the PARCAE program. Declassification of PARCAE
would thus enable the American public to understand the value of this
system to the Nation and fulfill our obligation to declassify
materials that no longer have bearing upon sources and methods in
current use.

TST HER//RED}-I have declassified the following with respect to
the PARCAE program:

a. +8//?K//REE} Terms “PARCAE” and “Improved PARCAE.”
b. +S/A/8K//REL} Associated mission numbers,. 7108-7120.

c. +SA+APRA/REG} Fact that PARCAE and Improved PARCAE were
programmatic follow-ons to POPPY under NRO’s Program C launched from
1976 to 1996.

d. +SA/EK//REE} Fact that NRL played a major part in the
early development of PARCAE and throughout the PARCAE program’s
lifetime in support of NRO’s Program C.

e. +SA/TK//REE} Fact that PARCAE and Improved PARCAE were a
satellite electronic intelligence collection system.

f£. (S7//*TR/RED}-Fact that the driver for evolution was the
increased concern from the Soviet Navy.

g. TS7/TRK//RED}-Fact that the evolution from POPPY to
PARCAE was also based on the need for a system that was designed to
primarily provide information on the Soviet Fleet and other foreign
entities to the United States (US) Navy and US policy makers.

h. (S7//TR//REE}-Fact that PARCAE and Improved PARCAE
downlinked data to ground process facilities located at selected
locations around the world.

i. +3//2K//REE} Fact that Improved PARCAE added collection
and recognition of selected foreign communications systems.

3. 4SA/2K/EE}- Fact that PARCAE and Improved PARCAE
operated in a LEO.

k. tS7/TR/7REL) Fact that NRO utilized the satellites from
1976 to 2008.

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Approved for Release: 2023/10/19 C05147118


iC 05147118 Approved for Release: 2023/10/19 C05147118

-SECRET//TK//REL_TO-USA,_FVE——__

SUBJECT: +L TK//REL-TO-USA,FVET)—Limited Declassification of PARCAE
as a Signals Collection Satellite

l. tS7/*TR//RED} Fact that data was provided to, processed
and reported by NSA.

m. —tS//TR/RED} Release of an illustration of the early
PARCAE vehicles.

n. “S7/TR//RED Release of early PARCAE models for display.
(U) Should you have any questions regarding this decision, please

contact Ms. Carol Krumm, Chief, Information Review and Release Group,
Information Management Services Office, Communications Systems

Directorate at (secure).
C5. Seet—

C.J. Scolese

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Approved for Release: 2023/10/19 C05147118