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-NATIONAL RECONNAISSANCE OFFICE

WASHINGTON, D C.

THE NRO STAFF 23 April 1976

MEMORANDUM FOR THE DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS, OJCS

SUBJECT: Policy Provisions for Operational Use of

National Reconnaissance Programs 44S-4111.-

( you for your memorandum of 6 March on

this s • 897/76). I agree that we should pursue the iss ed to the use of NRP satellites during

crisis or war, and the attendant problems associated with

such eventualities.

Ellswo Allan response to a request from Deputy Secretary

fice, we recently put together a paper which

attempts to bound and define this area of mutual interest.

A copy is attached for your information and to serve as a

point of departure for further discussion between our staffs.

(he NRO currently operates all NRP assets.

Other e s of the intelligence community define and

prioritize requirements and provide detailed tasking of our

resources which we implement against intelligence targets.

There presently is no national policy for any organization

other than the NRO to operate NRP assets in crisis or war and

I do not see a need or requirement for such a policy. In

time of crisis or war, however, it may be desirable or necessary to alter the method by which requirements are set and

tasking decided in peacetime. There is currently no clear

policy governing transition of these responsibilities un

such circumstances. I strongly support the need to defi

the procedures to be applied in such cases.

(U) The f

your office is

1 Attachment

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Na ' Tactical Asset Plan

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' NATIONAL/TACTICAL ASSET PLAN

INTRODUCTION.

Purpose.

This point outline plan defines the changes in tasking,

control/operation, and resource management of national intelligence assets as they would transition from a national/peacetime

to a crisis/tactical environment.

B. Assumptions.

It is assumed that the intelligence assets being

considered are those which are now used primarily in support of

U.S. national-level decisions concerning overall national security

issues.

A crisis/tactical environment is assumed to be one

requiring intelligence support for both national policy and

militaky.operations.

C. Background. .

Many national intelligence assets were not developed

for tactical/crisis environments and are neither designed nor

deployed to respond with sufficient timeliness. They do not

possess the capacity and survivability which would provide the

availability and reliability needed. They have never been employed

in a conflict in which U.S. forces were actively engaged. As such,

rapid transition to a crisis/tactical mode may not be appropriate

in all cases.•

It may be possible to incorporate additional capability into existing systems, or it may be necessary to redesign

those systems to enhance tactical support applications. The

organizational and funding implications of modifying current and

projected efforts to support tactical requirements, however, have

not been fully addressed. • •

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D. • Approach.

I. Changes in control involving operational command

of systems are not desirable, especially during times of crisis

and hostilities. Therefore, there should be no changes in the

arrangements for tasking, control/operation, and resource management when national assets transition to a crisis/tactical environment. The taskin4 mechanism must be able to respond effectively

in a wide range or environments and should be regularly exercised

in normal times.

2. The changes outlined below are some of the actions

required to assure that the national assets selected for this

application can provide adequate intelligence in crisis/tactical

environments. Amplification concerning each is included in the

Discussion.

II. CHANGES REQUIRED. 

A. Tasking.

Contingency tasking plans.

More specific and timely generation of requirements.

3. Resolution, with greater rapidity, between the many

competing and conflicting requirements.

B. Control/Operation. 

Increased timeliness of response and product •

dissemination.

'Augmentation and relocation of some assets.

3. Reliable contingency operations plans.

4.. Rapid user feedback. .‘

3. Mission planning improvements.

6. Cooperative collection development.

7. .Downgrading of classified products, if required.

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IP. Rapid assessment of tasking impact on the assets.

C. Resource Management. . •

1. Increased manning and funding, if necessary.

III. DISCUSSION.

A. Tasking.

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1. Contingency tasking plans - A system of priorities

must be established to determine which national assets could

support tactical users and then to determine which assets will

be used. Plans must be developed to allow information to be

generated for retasking in a quick-reaction node or targeting

of special areas. These plans must be realistically exercised

in • peacetime to ensure their effectiveness in crisis or wartime.

2. Specific and timely collection requirements - Users

... must .become more familiar with the systems, their collection

capabilities, and their limitations. Requirements must be specified more rapidly and in greater detail, if possible, with the

associated rationale arguments in order to allow appropriate

prioritization and efficient employment of intelligence collection

assets.

3. Improved generation of requirements - Faster resolution of competing and conflicting requirements, assignment of

associated priorities, and forwarding to control points will be

required to meet user timeliness needs. It should be determined

whether data applicable to relatively long-range operational

planning is on file or if data is in processing channels; if so,

these could be utilized without need for immediate retasking.

B. Control/Operation.

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Timely response and product dissemination - The

timeliness with which intelligence products are delivered requires

improvement. Some systems provide more timely data than others.

Comprehensive analysis of this aspect is required,. Deficiencies

must be remedied by operational and procedural changes. .

Asset augmentation and relocation - Control transfer

and coverage augmentation for some assets will be required to

provide simultaneously long-term dedicated•coverage and exploitation of particular targets, as well as the capacity to satisfy

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of others. The number and location of collectors also affect the

response time from the receipt of tasking data to production of

intelligence, since timeliness is dependent on relocation time

(if necessary) and frequency of revisit to the area of interest.

3. Contingency operations plans - Contingency plans

for joint operations should be formulated for cooperative

•collection (see para. 8.6) and for increased manning (see para.

. C.1), if required. Such plans must be realistically exercised

in peacetime.

4. Rapid feedback by users - Provisions for timely

-cammunications links should be established between various

echelons and operational collection sites to•provide feedback on

the fulfillment of requirements or other needs.

5. Improved mission planning - For planning purposes,

the tactical user of intelligence products should know at least

one day in advance the collection schedule for his local area of

interest. Mission planning improvements will be required at-some

operating sites to respond expeditiously to retasking.

7. Security relaxation - Dissemination of products

derived from intelligence collectors must be at as low a classification level as possible, consistent with predetermined security

plans, to ensure full and timely utilization of data.

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8. Rapid impact assessments - The effects of tasking

collection assets and the associated tactical requirements which

are not being met should be determined. This information must

be obtained more expeditiously when assets are being utilized

at full capability. •

C. Resource Management. •

Augmented resources - Increased resources could be

required. Costs in equipment and manpower to support tactical

requirements could be identified, if necessary.

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