OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR •

10- NATIONAL RECONNAISSANCE OFFICE

WASHINGTON. D.C.

'November 20, 1973

MEMORANDUM FOR THE DIRECTOR OF CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE

SUBJECT: Backup Photographic Processing Capability.

•

Several months ago the Department of Defense announced the

closing of Westover Air Force Base with the exception of a few

tenant units. In your letter. "NatiOnal Reconnaissance Program"

10268/73, dated August 9, 1973), you asked that we examine

savings which would result from closing the. Air Force Special

Projects Production Facility (AFSPPF) presently operating as a

Westover tenant.

The AFSPPF could continue as an operational unit at Westover;

however, this would be less than practical without the full support normally provided by an active base. Therefore, it is my

desire to phase out the AFSPPF a Westover and, in so doing, to

maintain a backup to th hotographic processing

capability. Thus, I have emente certain alternate, cost

saving means by which these objectives can be met.

I have directed that the primary processing capability at

th e contractually increased to accompl duplicate film processing currently

performed by the AFSPPF. In addition, I have approved augmenting

the capability of the 544th ARTW at Headquarters SAC, Offutt Air

Force Base, Nebraska. The 544th ARTW was selected because it is

close to a major user of photographic intelligence, presently

works with satellite reconnaissance projects, and represents an

existing capability.

Activation of the backup capability will require an increase

in the physical plant at the 544th ARTW which is estimated to take

approximately two and one-half years to complete. At that time,

the activities of the AFSPPF will be completely dissolved. In

the interim, we will be phasing down the AFSPPF production activity as thelMINWORMincreases their capability.

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The pre and post flight evaluation and analysis functions

of the AFSPPF will be continued throughout the transfer of these

activities and their corresponding manpower spaces. Research

and development tasks selected for continuation will be handled

through the NRO.

From an NRP funding standpoint, we anticipated these developments in the Jul ► ExCom, and thus reduced our estimates as

follows:

FY-74 FY-75 FY-76 FY-77 FY-78 FY-79 Total

Nov 72 ExCom

Jul 73 ExCom

Reduction

Refinements of the costs indicate that the present approach would

add ;41.4);IMin FY 76. This will be included in the November ExCom

estimates. In addition, we are expecting sizeable savings in

Air Force manpower and O&M support outside the NRP accounts.

I am confident that these actions will permit the NRO to

continue to fulfill its photographic reproduction requirements

and to do so at a reduced cost.

•
. HO

Lt Colonel, USAF

'NATIONAL RECONNAISSANCE OFFICE

WASHINGTON. D.0

THE NRO STAFF November 6, 1973*

NEMDRANDUM FOR DR. McLUCAS

SUBJECT: Backup Photographic Processing Capability

We have prepared for your signature a memorandum to the

DCI which explains the decision to phase down and ultimately

close the AFSPPF. This responds in part to the DCI's memorandum to you, asking for ways in which NRP costs could be

reduced (TAB A).

Recommend that you sign the memorandum at the right.

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9 August 1973

10268/73

MEMORANDUM FOR: Director, National . Recoonaissance Office

SUBJECT National Reconnaissance Program

REFERENCES : A. Letter to W. E. Colby from B. A.

Bridgewater (OMB) dtd 31 July 1973

Memo for Mr. Colby from D/NRO

dtd 1 August 1973

Letter to W. E. Colby from Director,

OMB dtd 30 July 1973

We all recognize that some of the discussions at

the July ExCom would involve very substantial cost increases

in the FY 74 and FY 75 program.. At the same time, we are

now in receipt of OMB's guidance (Ref C.), which amounts to

a hold-the-line ceiling for FY 75 and even raises the

possibility of reductions. This would require the most

severe approach to all program of the intelligence community

for FY 75.

Thus, we need an intensive review of the tentative

ExCom actions in July, to'ether with a careful examination

of other possible reductions in the NRP to compensate for

the increases considered during the July ExCom if these are

felt to be essential. Separately, through IRAC, we will be

examining the other community nrograms to see whether they

may be the source of some contribution to an increased NRP,

but the prognosis here is that they are apt to produce

additional demands as well.

3. Therefore, I think it essential for you to examine

the overall NRP and develop a range of options between your

present fiscal guidance and a continuation of the FY 74

level. In this connection, I would appreciate your examining

reductill11111110mnd R&D support, savings from closing the

Westover facility, transfer of U-2's, and other possibilities.

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10268/73

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Your study of the mix of SIGINT.satellitms, it seems to me,

should be accelerated to identify a range of options here

which might offer us savings. In view of the different

views on a number of these activities, it strikes me that

you may come up with alternate solutions reflecting varying

values of different programs, tied to a careful analysis of

the performance and approximate costs involved. I would

suggest that your study include consultation and membership

in the study group from all the affected elements, such as

NSA, SAFSP, DIA, CIA, ASO(I), and the IC Staff in addition

to NRO itself.

4. In the study of the SIGINT satellite mix, I would

appreciate another look at several of the suggestions

considered during the ExCom which might present cost •

savings, and especially such possibilities as:

S. In view of the necessity to proceed with overall

community budget considerations through IRAC in the same

time frame as the presently scheduled November ExCom meeting,

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believe it essential that the above studies be coepleted

in a form sufficiently precise, if not conclusive, to.allow

decisions prior to the sinner of 1974 as suggested in your

letter. For that reason, I would hope that we would have

a short ExCom meeting sometime after 15 September to review

at least your initial thoughts on the above so that they

can be integrated with the camunity budget review.

6. Dr. Hall joins me in the above suggestions

pursuant

I)

 to his responsibilities as 600 ExCom timber and

as ASD(.

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