e

avIN

u....141. •

MEMORANDUM FOR THE RECORD 1 May 1963

SUBJECT: Operational Aspects of the NRO

1. On 15 April 1963, Dr. McMillan sent a memorandum to the Deputy

Secretary of Defense on the above subject. The purpose of this memo

was to propose a means of

Effecting formal coordination between the peripheral activities

of the JCS and the over-flight activities of the NRO.

Formalizing coordination by the JCS of the resources of the

unified and specified commands which may be required to support

NRO over-flight activities.

c. Insuring that the NRO has available to it the best military

operational knowledge and experience.

2. The gist of Dr. McMillan's memorandum is as follows:

The policy with respect to operational aspects of the NRO needs

qualification. In addition, the present organizational arrangement is

inadequate with respect to capabilities for operational planning and

analysis.

The definition of a denied area for over-flight is not clearly

understood. The NRO defines a denied area for over-flight as any

area which requires the specific permission of the 5412 Special Group

or higher. •

The question of when the NRO should cease to be responsible

for such aircraft flights has been raised. Dr. McMillan recommended

the policy that this transfer occur to the appropriate military commander

upon the decision of the Secretary of Defense or higher authority that

the particular denied arca had become an active theater of military

hostilities.

With respect to the inadequacy of the present organizational

arrangement for planning and analysis, Dr. McMillan attached a

proposed solution and recommended that it be discussed with the JCS.

This proposed solution and the JCS reaction to it are discussed in the

following paragraphs.

.1rt rA ak, mg ev:

; . 4 F. ir 

lk.? fog t r

;,' r • : • • - •

..r.

1.

.

a:a
3. The specific problem to which the DNRO proposed a solution was

"to define the organizational arrangement whereby the DNRO may

discharge its responsibilities for aircraft over-flight reconnaissance

of denied areas." The essence of the proposed solution is shown in

the attached chart. Under this plan, the JRC becomes the coordinating

point for the NRO with the JCS, the specified commands, and other

departments and agencies. The separately stated functions of the JRC

when it is operating as the AOC under the NRO include the following:

Review the requirements for operational flights and assign

responsibility to the service elements, the CIA, etc.

Review the plans for and coordinate over-flight and peripheral

activities.

Monitor all NRO reconnaissance missions.

Prepare a forecast of all NRO missions for the Special Group

and assist the DNRO as required in presentations to the Foreign

Intelligence Advisory Board (FLAB).

c. Maintain liaison with the DIA and the USIB on requirements for

over -flight.

f. Specify the targets of satellite missions and the desired on-orbit

target-program option. Make the on-orbit selection between the available options based on weather or intelligence factors.

4. The Joint Staff has reviewed the DNRO proposal described above.

As of 30 April, however, the Chiefs had not formally considered•their

recommendations. The Staff position is that the Joint Chiefs should

approve the DNRO proposal providing the specific operational procedures

for the JRC in its new dual capacity can be satisfactorily defined in

detail. In addition, concern is expressed regarding the lack of a clear

definition of the responsibilities for research and development of

satellite reconnaissance systems for use during limited and general

war. It is proposed that the JCS recommend to the Secretary of Defense

that appropriate DoD directives be changed to clarify that the responsibility for research and development of satellite reconnaissance systems

for limited or general war rests with the military services.

1 Atch - Chart

Postscript: On I May, the Joint Chiefs approved the recommendations

of the Joint Staff as described above to be forwarded to the

Secretary of Defense. ' kaytis .0..ic.c.rt... 0%ft rva.4,

i iii.

wIly:i.1..tr • .. • . -. - . .. .:- tit1 4' :•.- A reri 0 d•

t n•• . :'. ::* 4.,:tz.0
Satellite

Operations

Center

SOC

** Aircraft

Operations

Center

AOC

Joint

Reconnaissance

Center

JRC

D/NRO

DNRO Staff

* D/Operations

NRO Staff

JCS

Dir Joint Staff

D/Operations

J-3

;Ts. on, !t"'N T.11111M1

; :I •

• Z "

..tn

Dual (JCS-NRO) Functions of the

JRC (Joint Reconnaissance Center)

* Chairman, JRC also serves as D/Operations of the NRO staff.

** JRC and AOC consist of the same personnel and resources:

as the JRC, they serve the JCS; they serve the NRO in

accordance with separately stated functions.