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MEMORANDUM FOR DR. FLAX 

Reference your note to General Berg (Atch 1) on the resolutionvalue study for MOL. 

For the past several months, we have again been studying the need 

for and value ofillresolution photography. AFNIN has given us a 

briefing of their views; FTD has compiled a new and rather detailed 

break-out of resolutions required to analyze various weapon and support 

system components; we have had discussions with DIA and NPIC representatives; we plan to discuss this subject with the Navy and Army, etc. 

This is a frustrating exercise. None of the approaches seem to 

add up to mathematically precise and overwhelming proof that 

A costeffectiveness approach seems hopeless -- it is easy to compute the 

cost, but the worth (in dollars) is a highly subjective opinion . . . . 

Perhaps, I am seeking some yardstick that doesn't exist, since it occurs 

to me that a KR-8 replacement for X11-7 or a KR replacement for 01-4 

might never have been started had such demands been imposed. 

In any event, we recently started preparing a fairly comprehensive 

paper on this subject. We will document the story with as many "official" 

(COMOR, DIA, etc.) papers and as few MOL-prejudiced opinions as 

possible. We will attempt to clearly indicate the need for and value 

of resolution photography in terns of: (1) technical 

intelligence; (2) operational information (order of battle, and equippage 

of weapons of known characteristics, arms control, etc.); and (3) the 

increased value of lesser resolution photography (KB-9, etc.) when 

higher resolution material is available (i.e., the "signature" technique). 

We will also attempt to "translate" the what-can-be-seen into what 

actions can or might be taken as a result of acquiring the information. 

Actual events (Cuba, photography, etc.) will be used as examples 

where applicable, etc. 

A first rough draft will be available just prior to Mr. McNamara's 

forthcoming visit to GE and EK and you will have the opportunity to 

peruse it for possible discussion ideas as soon as available. (We will 

also use some of the non-controversial material from the study to give 

Dr. Miller and Mr. Simons some background in this area prior to the 

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SecDef's visit). The next step will be to produce a refined and revised 

draft by early September. At that point, we can decide whether to turn 

out a final and formal study, but, in any event, at that stage of 

development, the study should provide a worthwhile reference document 

for briefings, discussions, inputs to various papers, etc. 

JAMES t. STEWART 

Major General, USAF 

Vice Director, 1401. Program 

1 Attachment 'Air( t i)/71° C')/ 

a/s 

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