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December 23, 1956 

"-,. 't; .. "r:"",....i. A).r.: ...... -... .... ~ __ .. ~ .......,.-: .. .;·;.·..:·..:.::Ct:2w \..:.. .... ;J ... ~ ... VJ. J Ol.UC ~':'Gi1.a ... U:re 

b;l ~lC:"': :~:::'G ~·i..:: $ Scllultze is ti12 111cr.-:o to tl1C 

?~'2C 211~ o:-~ '~l-4~ 1~\GLOl~Iill issue. 'I'l1.a j Oil1t ... 

s~;s~~u~c in 2 BOB rcco~~1C4dGtio~ ~s an 

~;-:~~~c.::t::'O:.1 t::.::lt tliC 1.:1080 rca~on.:J.~ly preDc:: .. ~s 

both s:~~~ o~ the issue. 

;"'-~. Sc:-~~lt28 ::cqucsted 8C'IJG r~1:LnOr 

ci-';'::::~:::2S iI ... '~l:2 ~.:.~:~c c2illo=ancum (corisiz"tcd 

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21·::jo::;.:·~~3 0:1. :::~:o ;':/JB/D·OD arguLicnts). For ~ t-· .... ~ ,_.- -: ...... ~ r. ,.......... _ ... - .'- . ..., !"'iI1'i ~ .... 1 ~ t- rp~ '0 ~ ~.;.-. .,-l..., 0 ~,. .... 1:'1: oCt ~ ....... ...., .. /-_ ~"-,,v ..... ,. ~"',.,.. ............ fi....:.ft..i.::y w ..... ~ ...., J......., ,-L4\.;; UJ...uJ. 

"1= .. '"7:1 " a 1 ~ 0'::':':":'::: ::::-':::'::"_0 Yv .... :;:;'v7 Ii,ccnascoy nl.gnt; tao 

stt';:'':::-;'::~1:::::.:t i::; u~1.cha-:J.ged from. the version 

you ~-.:.\-;. 

.. ,' 

J.::::.s.cs T. Stewart 

~·:~jor Gener.::l, US.AF 

Director, NRO Staff 

BEST COPY 

AVAILABLE 

1 

..... 

2. 

Mr. Vance 

Dr Flax 

8S-l 

Gen Steakley 

SS-8 

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QXC.ART/'I'AGBOAPJ) 

L-:SXOI'~~NDu11 FOR THE PRESIDEI:-t"T 

SUBJECT: High Performance Reconnaissance Drone (TAGBOAP~) 

IS~3IJ2 : 

t,Jhether to continue the development of the reoriented 

TAGBOARD reconnaissance drone program or to defer further 

cevelopment until FY 1969 with a combined FY 67/68 savings of 

sP?ro:d '11ately .. $50 million in NOA and $30 million in actual 

expenditures. 

TAGDOAPJ) is a Hach 3.3, ramjet-powered, photographic reconnaissance drone vJhich vJill cruise above 90,000 feet with a 

3,000 nautical mile range. TAGBOARD originally was designed 

for launch by a modified ..0,.-11 at Mach 3-plus and 75,000 feet 

(this speed and altitude are necessary for ramjet ignition). 

Hm<J3ver, as a result of a fatal R&D launch accident last July, 

it t'ias decided to reorient the program to use a B-52H launch 

plat£Orl11 and boost the T.AGBOARD to ramjet-operating speed and 

altitude tvith a solid rocket motor. 

BtJREAU OF BUDGET RECm·1l1E:NvATION: 

The BOB proposes deferring further development of the 

.TAGBOAP~ system until FY 1969 because: 

1. The system proposed for development has a relatively 

~iRh cost (about $2 million per mission) but a low probability 

9£ use for targets not accessible to satellites, subsonic longrange drones and Hach 3 aircraft. Over China, subsoni9._.<:lrones 

81~nrr 11111111 "/111111

1 

~"III ~IIIIIII "11111" I,ll "11111111111111111111" Ii 1111111" 111111 

OXc.Ll.RT /TAGBOARD 

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OXCART !l'Acw.t\.:,m 

2. ,Fe should t~lk~ cc1v:.:~ntti?c dur:tn~ the naxt year of - .. I. . .B J..... 

l~::::::: (1~;;o::tu;:1:Lty to rc-c:~DfJi;:~c the direction of our over.:l.l1 ., . .... t ,.. ... h d ""' d =cco:-.. na:.GGCo1.1CC a:rone prog'r.::.m ~n l.l.gn OJ: 01. er oS equa .. e an 

cv~ilable recor~~iss~ncc systcmn. 

~he ~OD orODoses 

~ i: to continue daveloDillcnt • of the TAGBO.~~ 

d:coue be~,Quse: 

. 1.. Th8 tF-;~'1tm.::18d TAGD'JAH.:e rccon:l.1aissnnce drone cap~bility 

L':. i.l~'::;:3c:cd ~s soon 88 1'033i'Ol-3 to insure coverage of tn-rr;ets not 

"G.::::.::iiy cccessible to satellite' sy::::tcrus) or .. ·.7hich i.."1.volve the 

;?oliticcl riek of ma;:med ovozoflight, o:r '\iJhere prohibitive loss 

'.::2 -:::C3, would be incurred by otbi:;X (1:;:0:.1.3 systems. 

2.. The Soviet's have shmm both a wi 11i::::/"\uess and copa .... 

bil:U::v. to deploy .s.c1vanced vwz.;?o1.1. systems ~nd to creat~~ dence . ..;:: ~ • d" . . .r. t 1 1 1.' ,:::,~,~ S.J .. :L~Ct~V8 ,cr:cnr.·e e:''1Vl .. rO~:-;,~:Gnt8 :til C:L:£GS OJ: "f!~..:-r Ot·m Ci1.00S1n~ 

:.:.1. 1.2 r:,cnths or less (e.g., C~ba end North Viotncm).. Hhere such 

d.;;fe:.:.:l3iv,:; systz=~s sr'o deployed <4"1d used, JA~30AKD I;'7ill provide 

the c:-,J.v effective unmar.ncd drOl"le recol1naissance capsbilit'l. 

3" Jhc p..E.£l2?sed deferral. by the BOB t'7ould delax the 

0;::.c:;:;:':;10::.01 cvailcbility of the '?AGJ30AItD system from January; 

lS:~, to ,j~nu.ary 1970. 

,:':::~.:; attached peper includes more detailed arguments in support 

0...: :":::1.e BOB and DOD recommendations.) 

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, HIM" 5ttiUt I 

HANDLE VIA 

'" , BYEMAN 

CONTROL SYSTEM 

OXCART!TAGBOARD 

ACTION: 

Approve BOB Recommendation: 

Approve DOD Recommendation: 

See me: 

Cyrus . Vance 

OXCART!TAGBOARD 

(date) 

. , 

"I 

Deputy Secretary of Defense 

. . . i . 

..-

", ..... . 

TOP S~CRET EXCLUDED FROM AUTOMATIC REGRAOING 

·000' OIRECTIVE 5100.10 00E5 HOT APPLY 

.. 23 DEC 1966 

(~ate) :,' 

,I " 

. " 

\, 

': 

\ / 

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OXc.:\RT /TACOOARD 

Attachment . 

1. T~1C T..~.GDO..;\RD system proposed for development he.s a 

rcl~tivcly high cost (about $2 million per mission) but a low 

?ro0~bility of UGC • 

.:l. The TAGBOAPJ) vJould be li."'..~itca to use for targets 

~ot cccessible to satellites. subsc~ic long-range drones and 

1'~:Jc~1 3 aircraft. 

iJ. The TAGL01~'1D ~Jould be limi.ted to use in areas 

'\~':lich hnve air defense forces of the type and intensity nOtl1 

, , d-' t" C ... U . yep~oyo ~l no ~OVLe~ n~on. 

d. Over the Soviet Union, the probability of uSLig 

~::'::::1r!.::;d or ur..r::lsn-!"'lcd Hcch 3 aircraft is slight. The TAGBOARD 

dron~ ~c only a narrow aavcntagc over the SR-71 type aircraft 

ir-J. tC:;''1::5 c;: a lower provocation effect--the offensive act being 

"i:he vicl.:.~ion of Soviet airopace. 

2. ~ .. ..:: ~b.ould take o.dV'::l.1t8gc during the ne:Kt yeer of' the 

O?~:G:.:tu~:::';;y to :ce-examine our overall recor..naissance drol1e 

:?:,::c,,:.:;:::w:;. ;:':'"1 light of other adequate and avail<lble :Lecor.naissance 

::y~~ ~_:;lG.. The reasscssm.C:..1.t should include: probable mission 

t:c:.::. __ ;, .2:1.-::icipated deZel1.sivc environments * .:lnd relative cost .. 

C:";-.._..::t:iV0:1CSS .. 

3. It is recognized that the L~?lications of deferring 

::':~:':':~;,2r r.:::evelop;:ncnt and fundirlg until FY 1959 is a delay of 

C~,,~"':.2~ion31 availability from approx.::.r.1ately January 1968 to 

J.:.:.-.. :.13ry 1970. " -

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OXCART /Tl1.GBOAPJ) 

1. The flc:db:tlity of an aircraft reconnaissance system 

(:'l'::i.:acd or u::-cl.:.nnned) is rcc;uircd to sunDlcraent satellite & •• 

'; ,',., ~ t ' ,.., • .,., +- '" (h' ~::.·(::.o';vr;::up~1y t'hlCl1. tlll1C.l.l.UOSS 1.8 Ol: UI.IDosn;; urgency c angl.ng 

t~i.,..;tic.al nituat:ions and/or t<Jkin,z ndvantagc of fleeting good 

t;;;'::;Qthor over strategic obj acti.ves). In vievl of political 

cOrJ.:3tr.nll1.ts against m.s.ffi1.od overflight of denied territory, an 

:,:;,:,-s:~;':i.1.cd vehicle is required whi.ch is capa.ble of successfully 

,. ~.. ~. - ~ . pc~c~ret:l.ng SOpul.stl.cateu Ul.r do~enso enVl.:t:'onments. 

3.. ,]:ho Soviets have shm·i1l.1. both the willingness and the , . - . • 1 ~ d· ~,~ • d . d C£?~~~l~ty to G~p oy auvaucc Skk ae~ense systems Ln eSkre 

':'J:C':'S L"1 12 L.1cnths or le3s (for e.i':emplc, Cuba sud Vietn~m). 

':'.~ ,'"'";,,..., 1-J..""" C.o~Ti,:)·'-"" ';'''''~··'-r''lO~'''''''''v~ 'ho~'h Q/. -2 J <:' ,t1nd ,job'" F!~UT'.4"D D ..... ~ ... v ...... ,..,'W, .... .L_ ...... V Y,,",w ...... a..L.~" u\..,. ...... u ..., _ ..... t........ r.J ..... ,L ~...... ~i.J.J.JJ..;,o 

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i'i; :1.~d bcccr..1a opc;:atio~1.al L1. tl1.c Sovio~ U:ti(...~1.. 

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a. Thc probability of a single Vietnamese S-Band SA-2 

site (5-6 r:;isDilcc' shcotill:'l' 00'\'711 a j,1.on-Ew·:r equipped T ... <\GBOARD 

:~c (;~1.u :)C: J:C ant • 

b.. Th.e mU:i-:::ir:>urJ. prob.::bility of the present overall 

C;;;]ca air defense ci."lvirora-.1ont shootirl/! clo~m a TAGEOARD is 

.:::.o')::ox].r:li1tcl v 5 Dz;ccel":.'!.: I 

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l:lE}:ORANDIlM FOR. THE PRESIDENT 

SUBJECT: High Performance Reconnaissance Drone (IAGBOARD) 

ISSUE: 

~nether to continua the development of the reoriented 

~~GBOARD reconnaissance drone program or to defer further 

~evalopment until ~l 69 with a combined FY 67/68 savings of I .' 

cpproximutely $50 million in NOA and $30 million in actual 

PROCE,AN: 

TAG BOARD is ~'~Iach 3.3, ramjet-powered .. photographic reconnaissance drone which will cruise above 90,000 feet with a 

3,000 nautical mile range. TAGBOARD originally ~as designed 

for launch by a modified A-ll at Mach 3-plus and 75.000 feet 

(this speed and altitude are necessary for ramjet ignition). 

However, as a result .of a fatal R&D launch accident last July, . 

it was decid~d to reorient the program to usa a B-52H launch 

pl~tforow and boost' the TAGBOARD to r~at-operating speed and 

altitude with Q solid rocket motor. 

.'. 

, .,.... ... f'~"':1'('''''''I( }_:;'.:,:::1.-: VU\ ,.._,.i. _AI ... -...1 ... 

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Tt~ EO~ proposos deforring further developmont of the TAGBOARD 

system until FY 1969 because: 

_~ 1. ~hQ system proposed for development has a relatively 

hic~h cost (about $2 million per mission) but a 1m.; probabilitx of 

~. The TAGBOAl1D would be ltmited to use for targets not 

accessible to satall::ltaG» ~ubsonic long-r-'lnge drones and Mach 3. 

circraf~. and for "re~s which l~va air defense forces of~the 

type and intensity now deployed in tho Soviet Union. 

2. ~:!e should take advantage dur.ing the next year of 

the c'rlportt::;.~~.~:¥ to rc-e:rrcmine the over.1l11 direction of our 

overall ~~cv:~~aisscnco drone p~ogram in light of other adequstQ 

and av~~~ablc roconnaissanco systems. The reassessment should 

includc~ probn.ble mis.sS-on uses J anticipated defensive environr:::C!l:: s, .r.:41d ..;;;r;,.;0;,.;1 .. !1 .... t .. 1..· v .... e .... · --.c_o.;;.s.,;;t ....... ;,.;e .... f.... f .... ~ e .. c .... t .... i_v..;...;;,c;;.;n;.;;;r!_s ..... s • - . OF DEFENSE RECONNE}.T[)ATION: 

'l'he DOD proposes to continuo development of the TAGBOARD 

drone beCo1;'lU30: 

1. The unmanned ~.GBOARD reconnaissance drone capability 

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OXCART/TAGBOARD 

c~sily ~cccssible to s~tQllito syst~, or which involve the 

politic.::l l:isl<:. of mannod ovorflight, or 'o;vhora prohibitive loss 

rstcs would baincurrcd by other aroua systems. 

t') 

..... 'Iha Sovietto hn.vo Ghown both a ~.1il11ngncss lind capobility Co doploy sdvanced wc~pon systems and to creato dense t F 

and effective defense cnviror~ents in areas of their ovm choosing 

in 12 ~onths or less (a.g •• Cuba and North Vietnam). Where such . , 

def~nsivQ systems ~re doployed and used, TAGllih~RD will provide 

~ho only offcc~ive unmanned arone reconnaissance capability. 

" 3. Tho proposed deferr.!ll by tha BOB 't'7ould delay the 

operational availability of the TAGBOARD system from January 

1968 to 3~nuary 1970. 

(The attached paper includos more dot~ilad arguments iQ support 

of the EOB and DOD recommand.:ltions.) .. ----. 

ACTION: 

~~?~ove BOB Recommendation: 

Approve DOD Recommandation: 

Sec me: 

.. ,. :_= \/;/\ S'{EN1AN 

co~n-"OL SYST::M ONLY; 

, ._----

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