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J..&r NATIONAL RECONNAISSANCE OFFICE 

WASHINGTON, D.C. 

OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR 

August 18, 1967 

MEMORANDUM FOR MR. NITZE 

MR. HELMS 

DR. HORNIG 

SUBJECT: Status of TAGBOARD 

Attached is a summary paper on the background and status 

of the TAGBOARD Program. This subject will be discussed at 

the August 23, 1967 meeting of the Executive Committee. 

Attachment 

Status of TAGBOARD 

OXCART/TAGBOARD 

Alexander H. Flax 

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Status of TAGBOARD 

BACKGROUND 

In late 1966 the DNRO requested and received approval 

to reorient the TAGBOARD drone program to be launched from 

a B-52 instead of an A-12. This decision followed upon 

inconclusive findings of the investigation of the A-12 

drone accident and the recommendation by the DNRO to use the 

B-52 instead of the A-12. Contractor go ahead was given in 

January 1967. Three flights were conducted by launch from 

the A-12 which demonstrated successful operation of the 

engine inlet, inertial navigation and flight control systems. 

These flights were respectively 125, 1100, and 1500 nautical 

miles. We have not yet demonstrated successful termination 

of flight to include recovery of the payload. 

MILESTONES ACHIEVED SINCE PROGRAM REDUCTION 

1. Modification of the first B-52 has been completed 

and work on the second aircraft is underway. 

2. The inertial navigation system, including the star 

tracker, has been checked out in the B-52 with an average 

circular error of .7 nautical miles. 

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3. The first mated flight with asymmetrical loading and 

dummy booster has been completed with all load and stability 

readings satisfactory. 

4. In addition, and separate from the B-S2 question, most 

of the radar cross section measurements for vulnerability 

studies have been completed and a first look suggests the 

possibility of TAG BOARD penetrations of denied areas without 

ECM. 

NEW TESTING 

Delivery and firing of the first hot booster on a test 

stand was successfully demonstrated August 14, 1967. Three 

more such test firings are planned prior to the launch of the 

first drone. This test series is late and is currently the 

critical pacing item of the program. In addition, four free 

launches of the drone will be conducted on the Pacific Missile 

Range from September through December to complete the test 

programo It should be recognized that every time a TAGBOARD 

is flown, the airframe (but not the sensor and certain other 

high cost components) is expended. 

SIJMMARY 

1. At present it is anticipated that the conversion of 

the TAGBOARD from A-12 to the B-52 for launching of the drone 

will have been completed with testing by January 1968. However, further delay in rocket motor qualification or unanticipated problems in launch could slip this date. 

2. A decision has been made to procure 12 drones with 

1968 funds for delivery in FY 68 and 69. This was considered 

by the DNRO to be the best buy from alternatives available 

with a cost of approximately $5 million more than the President's 

budget of $31.6 for FY 68 in view of the high cost of a production gap which would occur with a smaller quantity buy. 

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3. Consideration of the estimates for future years and 

specifically for FY 69 now estimated at $36.9 million will be 

presented to the Executive Committee in December 1967. 

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