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NATIONAL RECONNAISSANCE OFFICE

WASHINGTON, D C

THE NRO STAFF August 27, 1974

MEMORANDUM FOR THE RECORD

SUBJECT: Meeting with Dr. Knapp, IDA

On August 22, 1974, I met with Dr. Harold A. Knapp from

the Institute for Defense Analysis. The purpose of the meeting

was to discuss in more detail reasons behind Dr. Knapp's

request to visit with various people at SAFSP during the week of

September 16. Dr. Knapp wished to discuss with the SAFSP people

the plans for future improvements on the various NRO systems.

This is in relation to a study task which IDA had received from

JCS via WSEG. This study appeared to be an extension of an

earlier study under which IDA examined the current capabilities

of NRO satellite systems to define their capability for meeting

WWMCCS JCS requirement . is study has been recently completed

and the final report 6043/74/1) is currently being

reviewed by the NRO to . Permission for IDA to become so

involved with NRO systems was granted as a result of a meeting

between General Kulpa and General Kent on April 10, 1974. As

a result of this understanding, NRO-WSEG cooperation on such

studies would be handled on a case-by-case basis and Dr. Knapp

and Dr. Randall, IDA, would present at an early date, detailed

information to the NRO on the current JCS directed WSEG/IDA

study of the feasibility of strategic command and control so

that the Staff could properly evaluate WSEG/IDA needs for

accesses and special help from the NRO. If this was done, t

was done unilaterally with SS-6 and SS-5 was not involved.

Nevertheless, it appears that the final report being reviewed

by the Staff now would constitute a termination point for

further involvement of the WSEG/IDA personnel in NRO affairs

under the earlier agreement between General Kulpa and General

Kent.

In the JCS memorandum to WSEG (DJSM-807-74, dated June 7,

1974), subject:' Study of WWMCCS and WWMCCS Related R&D, WSEG

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was asked to assess the R&D efforts on-going in the DOD community

in terms of the potential impact on the future capabilities of

the WWMCCS (Atch 1). The JCS asked that the study examine the

potential of the programs to contribute towards reducing the

presently identified WWMCCS deficiencies and to meeting the

objectives as stated in the WWMCCS Objectives Plan. As a result

of the JCS tasking, WSEG asked IDA to perform the study (Atch 2).

When I asked Dr. Knapp how such a study would apply to the

NRO systems, he provided the following explanation. Under the

previous study the operating capabilities of the NRO systems

were defined as they could apply to the nuclear attack options

scenarios of the JCS. For example, if a particular scenario

called for U.S. attack of Soviet forward aircraft staging areas

to show U.S. resolve in a particular situation, NRO systems along

with other information sources, would be tasked to relay back to

the National Command Authorities, in as near-real-time as possible,

information relating to the success of the mission. Under this

new study, however, Dr. Knapp would be looking at the future R&D

planning philosophies of NRO systems in light of predicted future

JCS requirements to determine how well these systems would meet

the JCS requirements and, incidentally, what system design changes

might be recommended for the NRO systems to better meet the JCS

requirements.

I explained to Dr. Knapp that since the first IDA study

pertained only to additional uses which could be made of NRO

satellite data, we had no objections to the study. However,

before we allow IDA to have access to NRO future system design

considerations, there should be a more formal understanding

between NRO and WSEG on exactly what information is needed,

specifically, what IDA intends to do with that information,

and what role the NRO will play in this study. Therefore, I

asked Dr. Knapp if he would arrange to have a letter from

WSEG sent to General Kulpa explaining how the first study was

accomplished and what plans have been made for the second study.

Included in the package should be the TOP SECRET Task Order

from OJCS to WSEG on the first study plus the guidance from

WSEG to IDA on the conduct of the study. Then for the second

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study, the documentation should include the OJCS tasking to

WSEG and the WSEG tasking to IDA. I asked „smeary

letter to General Kulpa be classified at the:revel

so that it could be specific. Dr. Knapp agr is and

said that he would draft the package and be back to discuss

it with us.

This study could well be something that we wish to pursue

at a vigorous level from within the NRO. To this extent I do

not believe we should turn it off. However, I do believe that

the NRO should enter into a more formal agreement with the JCS

and perhaps even WSEG as to what the JCS requirements are and

what the interfaces of the study should be. Mr. Plummer should

officially task General Bradburn to take the lead in this study

with participation from OJCS, WSEG and IDA. In no case should

IDA and WSEG be allowed to proceed on this study without the

direct involvement of the NRO.

Capta n USAF

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