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MEMORANDUM FOR Deputy Director, NRO

SUBJECT: NRO Aircraft Operations

' Reference: DNRO memo for the De j: Operations Aspects

NRO, dtd 13 April 3), with attachment

Further to my IS April note transmitting to you a copy of the

referenced document, and to our subsequent discussion of this matter,

I should like to clarify the intent of the proposed arrangement.

The ph:posed arrangement would have no effect whatever on the

aircraft operations responsibilities presently carried out by the Director,

Program B, or the functions of the CIA OPCEN. The Director, • •

Prcgrain B, would continue to be responsible for preparation of operations plans for conduct of MO aircraft overflights throuolt use of

aircraft and/or drones at projects for which responsibility is assigned

to the Director, Program B. He would continue to be responsible for

coordination of these proposed activities and arrangement for necessary

support in exactly the same manner as presently employed.

however, the proposed arrangement would fill in some important

missing links in the present KRO organisation and procedures. Upon

receipt of plans for proposed aircraft overflight activities, prepared by

the Director, Program B for signature of the Director, NM to the '

Special Group requesting approval to proceed, the Deputy for Operations,

/am Staff would review the proposed plans, obtain any necessary coordination with the Joint Chiefs of Staff, together with any reccnnutendations

or comments which might be appropriate. lie would effect coordination

,..of the proposed overflight activities with the peripheral reconnaissance

program operated by the Ma Chiefs of Staff, and would discuss with

the Director, NEW the results of his coordination and any comments or

recommendations of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. In the event that the work

of the Deputy for Operations should result in no recommendations for

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change to the original proposals, or in the event that the Director, 111/0

should not concur with such recomnunalations which do result, the

Director, MO would sign and forward to the Special Group the original

plans as prepared and transmitted by the Director, Program B. In the

mat that the Director, MO should =skier that clmiges Gbould be

made, he would discuss such changes with the Director, Program B,

following which the Deputy for Operetions wouLi prepare a revised plan

for the. Director, MO to forward to the Special Grow. The Deputy for

Operations, NRO Staff would arrange with the Director, Program 8 to

be kept currently advised as to the statue of each overflight in order

that the ;Director, NiO Staff and appropriate ICS personnel could

monitor actual progress of all MO aircraft overflights.

Although the above procedure would result in an additional

coordination step, it seems to me that this additional step is absolutely

essential to the establishment of a sound MO management structure,

Present NRO aircraft overflight activities do invoke support of resources

prenently or potentially assIped to unified and specified commands; for

instance, the 4 April memorandum for the Special Group (SC-04377-03/ER)

as presented to me for signature contained an outline Of a proposed operational concept involving use of command resources under the auspices of

the Joint Chiefs of RA as well as proposing the use of certain equipment

in a mom: to which the Joint Chiefs bed previously expressed strong

objection. As yoa.know, certain future MO plans will involve much

more eztensive sport from resources under the control of the Joint

Chiefs of Staff,

Therefore, I feel that a formal mechazdsni must be established for

coordinating these proposed activities with the Joint Chiefs of SUS on a

workable, respazive basis consietalt with the security restrictions which

mud *07. In addition, I would observe that the NRO, from its earliest

incation, Ms been under the mite to establish coordination of all NRO

overflight activities with the peripheral reconnaissence program, audit

Is evident that so far no such formal coordination arrange raents have been

established. I also consider that there is =ft in the concern recently

ovressod to me in a meeting with the Joint Chiefs of Staff, that the NRO

have adequate support of military perzonneLarith sppropria.t operational

knowledge and operational experience.

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It would seem to me that all of these objectives can be net most easily, and with no effect on the CIA or the Director, Prom= 8, by the arrangement proposed in the referenced memorandum

sizzled.

Brockway Memnon Director

National Reconnalastnee Office

DepSecDef Chan 3'CS

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