26 September 1963 

DINAR. 

ZARF RUFF 

NCECRN EXCEPT UK 

C- -2S--"Ye.. 

COMOR-D-69/ 1 

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MEMORANDUM FOR: 

SUBJECT: 

Ter7 

Committee on Overhead Reconnaissance 

Results of SIGINT Satellite Collection: 

Extract from a DIA Briefing of 

13 September 1963 

Attached for the information of the COMOR is an 

extract from a DIA SIGINT satellite briefing designed to provide some 

measure of the value of the SIGINT thus far collected. 

OW' 

E.clod.d born etlematIc 

5 eoweading an4 d•ztessiticolien 

Comm 

mes Q. Reber 

Chairman 

Overhead Reconnaissance 

Attachment: 

subject paper 

Copies 2, 3 

4 

5, 6, 7,8 

9 

10,11 

12-15 

16,17 

18,19 

State TCO 

DIA (Col. Ainsworth) 

DIA TCO 

OACSI TCO 

ON.I TCO 

AFNIN TCO 

NSA TCO 

NRO TCO 

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Results of SIGINT Satellite Collection: Extract from 

a DIA Briefing of 13 September 1963 

1. This extract is classified TOP SECRET/DINAR/ZARF/ 

RUFF/NOFORN EXCEPT UK and handled in the TALENT-KEYHOLE 

Control System. 

2. DIA records reflect that over 40 SIGINT vehicles have 

been placed into orbit since June of 1960. Over 50% of these vehicles 

have successfully met the intelligence objectives against which they 

were designed. The current collection concept under which this 

satellite program is oriented is divided into three phases. 

a. A General Search Program covering a broad 

frequency spectrum between 60 to 10,000 mcs implemented 

into vehicles which have been designed to remain in orbit 

monitoring the electronic 

environment on a day-to-day basis. 

b. ROB vehicles launched against known emitters 

primarily for update of the JCS SLOP. 

c. Directed Coverage programs launched as 

required against high priority electronic signals associated 

with communications, ABM, and ICBM systems. 

3. Currently requirements for the SIGINT ESV program are 

forwarded to DIA where they are researched, validated, and processed 

into a consolidated SIGINT objectives list. This list is forwarded to 

COMOR which maintains a master ESV index system covering all 

target parameters. COMOR is now in the process of mechanizing 

this objectives index in order to streamline the tasking of vehicles, 

particularly those which remain in orbit for extended periods. In 

conjunction with the mechanizing of the intelligence objectives index 

the NR0{£F} is also developing an automatic tasking program to insure 

that all intelligence targets are met, based on periodicity and 

priority of coverage. This automatic tasking system divides the 

Sino-Soviet Bloc into specific geographic areas. Within each geographic 

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area approximately 32 frequency spectrums are listed which- are 

priority weighted, based on the information obtained in the COMOR 

SIGINT, objectives index. This automatic tasking of vehicles should 

insure maximum system efficiency since all data input will be 

updated in a timely manner based on current requirements. 

4. Raw data collected by vehicles in orbit is forwarded 

to the NSA which has been charged by the DOD as the prime 

contractor for readout of all SIGINT ESV programs. NSA has 

subcontracted a portion of this responsibility to the Strategic Air 

Command, the Air Force Security Service and the Naval. Research 

Lab. Processing is accomplished both manually and by machine. 

Electrical reports concerning system performance after initial 

screening of the collected data are forwarded to the operator to 

insure that all collection systems are in a "go"condition. NSA 

also forwards electrical messages concerning any new and 

unusual data which may be of possible value to consumers. Mission 

summary reports (hard copy) are published periodically and 

forwarded to consumers as data processing progresses. 

5. At this time we would like to present a review of 

SIGINT missions in the three areas of collection, i, e., General 

Search, ROB and Directed Coverage since June 1960. 

a. In the General Search Program four vehicles 

have been launched to date which have provided a significant 

amount of intelligence. These packages were designed with 

the primary objective of an environmental study of various 

frequency spectrums which, when correlated over a time 

period could possibly provide an early warning indicator 

of impending hostilities. Data collected against this 

objective by vehicles in this program is not presented 

since this material is extremely extensive. 

(1) DYNO I launched in June of 1960 was 

the first ESV in this series. This package demonstraisri 

that valuable intelligence information could be 

collected on an electronic environment by Satellite 

means. This package covered a limited portion of 

the S-Band and though as indicated above had as its 

primary objective an environmental study of this 

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band from ground analysis a certain amount of radar 

order of battle was refined on Soviet V-Beam, early 

warning radars and height finder radars. 

117 Radar Sites confirmed 

52 New Sites activated 

35 Sites Equipment updated 

12 Suspense Sites created 

(2) DYNO II was launched in June 1961 

and covered two frequency spectrums in the L-Band 

region. In addition to environmental information 

considerable radar order of battle was derived, in 

addition to providing us with our first specific 

frequency band for possible ABM associated 

emissions. 

178 Radar Sites confirmed 

17 Sites activated 

24 Suspense Sites 

50 Sites Equipment updated 

(POPPY) in this series 

was launched on 13 December 1962. Again the 

primary objective included environmental data of the 

Soviet radars covering a broader band of frequencies, 

plus a long look for new/unusual emitters and EW 

, • ... GCI radar locations. ..'.1•••10.44 

From this 

system it was hoped that we could obtain definitive 

ROB information from a General Search vehicle 

having a long life orbital capability. The vehicle was 

also designed to test a new and improved Ground Data 

Handling System. contained four receivers 

covering frequencies as indicated. 

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(3) 
to an elliptical orbit. The vehicle was heavily tasked 

during its operation and data is currently being 

processed. This vehicle contained 

again test the 

to once 

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To date over orbits have been tasked from 

and the vehicle is still fully operational.. 

Analysis indicated that there has been no evidence 

of new threats within its intercept capability. 

Continued intercept of a high volume of TALL KINGs 

and radars has been noted, 

indicating that these systems are deployed extensively 

and are the primary Soviet long range EW/GCI radar 

systems. The long-range surveillance capability of 

the TALL KING radar has been further developed on 

this mission by high volume intercept and long 

intercept periods. As you may know, the theoretical 

early warning range of a TALL KING radar is 

approximately 400 NM, Tests conducted by other 

collection efforts have indicated that the TALL KING 

may have a capability well in excess of 400NM. Data 

collected by this ESV should further refine this 

intelligence. It has also been noted through regular 

intercepts of the TALL KING radar in•the months of 

January through March and in northern severe weather 

areas that the TALL KING has a possible all-weather 

capability. In addition, regular and frequent intercept 

of Soviet, ChiCom and Polish radars of the EW/GCl/ 

HF types has provided considerable information for 

ROB update. 

(4) (POPPY) in the same 

family,launched 15 June 1963, though designed as a 

long life vehicle discontinued operation on due 

5 

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b. ' In the Radar Order. of Battle program, 

vehicles to date have been launched. 

(1) Vehicle 2301, launched in February 62, 

had as its primary objective the detection and location 

of emitters in the "S" and "X" frequency ranges. A 

vast amount of intelligence was collected which was 

used as operational intelligence for such items as 

SLOP update. The location accuracy on this vehicle 

from multiple intercepts on a single pass averaged 28 

to 46 NM and on multiple intercepts from multiple 

passes an average of 10 to 15 NM was achieved. 

(2) 

launched in 

to detect and 

indicated. 

300 Radar Sites confirmed 

90 Sites Equipment update 

46 Sites Activated 

260 Suspense Sites created 

In the same series, ®was 

Once again the objective was 

locate emitters in the frequency ranges 

It should be noted that as R&D continues we are able to 

increase the frequency coverage on the various types of 

vehicles. Although this vehicle experienced a power 

failure after 25 orbits, two productive orbits provided 

some useable intelligence. 

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26 Radar Sites confirmed 

3 New Sites activated 

27 Suspense Sites created 

( 3) was launched 

Its primary purpose was these four objectives: detection, 

and location of satellite and mission tracking signals, 

TALL KING and emissions, normal S-Band 

air defense radar employment,and deployment of S-Band 

SAM systems. It had a capability to cover 

the frequency bands of 

Results of this mission once again 

indicated that this particular system was capable of 

producing significant ROB information, but unfortunately 

thr,useful life of the vehicle terminated after only 24 

orbits due to a system malfunction. The final results 

of the mission were as follows: 

220 Radar Sites confirmed 

6 New Sites activated 

19 Sites Equipment update 

101 Suspense Sites dreated 

In addition to this ROB type information, there were 

four special areas of signal interest. 

(a) As you probably know, peripheral 

collection platforms for the past six to eight 

months have had limited success in intercepting 

the L-Band emitter indicating that 

possibly this emitter was being phased out of 

the Soviet inventory. This vehicle collected a 

vast amount of L-Band11111111from the 

interior, which confirms that the Soviets are 

still utilizing this capability but only as a second 

or third line defense. 

(b) In the 590 to 600 me range a 

series of intercepts were made which resemble 

the Polish NYSA-C radar. This is the third 

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ESV mission where emitters of this type have 

been intercepted. Although none of the 

vehicles were able to define a specific 

geographic area of concentration, the 

intercepts appear to originate from the areas 

north of the Caspian and Black Sea. There is 

some speculation that this emitter could 

equate to a Soviet space tracking system 

since from collateral and T-KH RUFF 

photography we have identified several Soviet 

electronic installations in these general areas. 

(c) Two other significant signals 

of interest in the "L" Band are under investigailm. 

and no valid intelligence can be applied at this 

time. 

(d) One other signal which is under 

study is a 339 me emitter which could possibly 

have originated in the Sary Shagan area. It 

has not been positively determined whether this 

signal was internally or externally generated by 

the satellite package. 

(4) launched 

is the latest in this ROB series. Its objectives and 

capabilities were similar to those of This 

mission is currently in process, however, preliminary 

results received 30 July 63 indicate that the data 

collected is of the highest quality yet received for ROB 

exploitation. The following items from preliminary 

analysis are noted. Possible located near 

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c. In the Directed Coverage Program there are 

several classes of collectors. The first of these which we 

will review are those directed against the ABM problem. 

As you know, from RUFF photography we have identified 

suspected or confirmed ABM installations in the Leningrad, 

Sary Shagan, Kamchatka and Moscow areas. To date from 

ESV collection there has only been one signal we could tag 

as a possible ABM emission. This was collected by DYNOII 

in the frequency range of 550 to 620 mcs. There is still a 

big question mark assigned to the HEN series antenna 

systems associated with ABM complexes. The Directed. 

Coverage program is programmed against any suspect 

frequencies derived from any intelligence source. 

(1) The first ESV series in the Directed 

Coverage program was called the TOP SOC series. 

These systems demonstrated a capability to intercept 

radars within the frequency capability indicated such 

as our own BMEWS, however, from analysis no 

emitters located could be directly associated with the 

Soviet ABM installations. 

(2) The second ABM series was more 

specifically directed at frequencies in which we had 

a suspect emitter. The first two were unsuccessful. 

Missions 7207 (WILD BILL) and 7216, launched in 

June of this year, are currently in process. Our 

conclusions, therefore, at this time are that we have 

no valid evidence of Soviet emitters which could be 

ABM associated. 

(3) From 1960 to 1962 a series of vehicles 

designated as the SOCTOP series were launched with 

the primary objective of determining whether or not 

the Soviets were tracking U. S. satellite systems. 

From this series there was no valid evidence that 

the Soviets were tracking U. S. satellites, other than 

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IAA the possibility of the 600 me signal mentioned earlier. 

A new program series is currently planned identified 

as the STOPPER series directed against the same 

objectives. Data from this program has not yet been 

made available to DIA. 

(4) In addition, in the Directed Coverage 

program there is a series of special ESV ELINT 

packages programmed against the TALL KING radar, 

the Soviet C-Band ==wrv: yilt,A and the identification and . 

location of high powered S-Band radar emitters. 

(a) The first in this series was the 

TAKI packages directed against the TALL KING 

radar. Several launches have been made to date. 

The first was unsuccessful however the April 

1962 launch provided limited suspense information,. 

Mission 7204 launched in December 62 provided the 

first good data for SIOP purposes. Mission 7204 

also provided an indication of TALL KING 

deployment apparently along the Trans-Siberian 

Railroad possibly co-located with operational 

ICBM sites. 

(b) The PLYMOUTH ROCK series was 

directed against high powered S-Band radars to 

refine parametric information and search for new 

and unusual signals. In addition, a special 

mechanical frequency measuring device was 

tested in an effort to provide more definitive RF 

information. Although these packages were not 

designed with an inherent direction finding 

capability, ground analysis provided a significant 

amount of data which permitted either confirmation 

or updating of previously known sites plus at least 

eight new sites throughout the Soviet Bloc. Mission 

7208, launched on June 1963, is currently in 

process and should provide a similar amount of data 

as that provided by 7201. 

1 0 SC-09474-63-KH 

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6. In summary, the potential of the SIGINT ESV program 

is unlimited. In ELINT the program provides a singular capability 

to satisfy the majority of ELINT requirements including immediate 

recognition of any new emitter regardless of location, complete 

parametric information for capability assessment, ECM, etc„ 

unambiguous indexing of emitter types to accuracy. COMINT 

packages include a capability to index and sample contents of 

signals not otherwise.collectable and the long range possibility of 

solving continuity problems. 

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20 TSO CIA 

21-30 Asst/OPS(NPIC) 

31 LS/PID(NPIC) 

32 I)DI TCO 

33,34 CGS 

35,36 CIA COMOR Member 

37 CGS/ReqBr/ReconGrp 

38 Ch/COMOR Wkg Grp 

39 AD/SI 

40 DDP TCO 

41 DDS&T TCO 

42 AD/OSA 

43 FA/ OSA 

44 ID/OSA 

45 SS/OSA 

46 SAL/OSA 

47-50 SA/DDS&T 

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