OXCART RECONNAISSANCE OF CUBA

Created: 9/6/1966

OCR scan of the original document, errors are possible

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KHMORANDUM FOR: The Deputy Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs

The Deputy Secretary of Defense

The Director of Central Intel ligertce

Special Assistant to the President (Mr. Movers)

Special. Assistant to the President (Mr. Rostow)

SUBJECT: OXCART Reconnaissance of Cuba

Attachedroposal by the Central Intelligence Agency tc use the OXCART aircraft over Cuba. It is submitte for early consideration byommittee.

Acting Director

'National Reconnaissance Office

approved for aug

^BYE

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CONCEPT

AIR DEFENSE

PLAN

ROUTES

TOP CBgflET HANDLE VIA BYEMAN CONTROL SYSTEM

I. PBCVCSAl

A. c turaliU in orrtsr to:

1. Ejecrcino Its cuarationaj cxjtfcility. 5. rnr*'. oayuM3ity to OT*aru*ta insy fttte*ntlomvStluiQ thoU'lttMi 3. SvMuatijsiroriottt roac'-ira

. Ct-tainfMt&uxxcs. oath loretiu vli2 ir rcsuite anisnyKi&^QQUuatuVX.

C. jcBtaljut WU-'AT-C

o

II, OPERATIONAL CONCEPT

thia tin* the CIA isostureaerial reconnaissance of Cuba with OXCART on aadvance notice notification basis- During thiscoordination of supporting procedures andof supporting faollitles will bo accomplished. preparatory action* areapabilityoperational missionswenty-four hourconcept will DO maintained.

will bo planned ao as to cover thoof Cuban targets on oaob overflight. As is shown onroute attached, essentially the entire island ofbe photographed on ono flight, provided the weather Tho OXCART will launch and recover at

base utilising two rofuollngs. Tho departure snd withdrawal portions of tho mission will be flown atenetration of denied territory will be accomplished atnots) and0 feet or above. Emergency/alternate bases have been designated within tho continental United States in the ovontiased air refueling or emergency. It la highly unlikely that OXCART would require an emergency landing outside oontinontal Unitsd Stataa.

OXCART ago

HANDLE VIA BYEMAN CONTROL SYSTEM

OXCART will not boar USA7 Military markingsflight* will ba flown by CXA civilian oontraot pilot*.

with NORAD and FAA will bosuppression of friendly radars. Search and rescuefurnished by the Air Rescue Service.

X. Thia OXCART oporation ovor Cuba will notSHIELD" capability for OXCART overflightS.I. Asia.

OXCART OP BY CM FT Page

HANDLE VIA BYE HAN CONTROL SYSTEM

ZZZ. CUBAN AIR DEFENSE

Air Dafenn* capability poses noto OXCART In ita operational environment becauaeOXCART'a hiffh apeed, high altitude, low radarand sophisticated ECU (Electronic

will ba flownix of thaayateasi

PINDirection Finder

BIOJammer

BLUBGuidance J;

HADJaaaer

C. It la expected that OXCART will ba detected by tho Early Warning systemangeiles from Cuba,

age

HANDLE VTA BYEUANCONTROL SYSTEM

Continuous tracking* la likely. Whether or not the Cubans would attempt to counter OXCART with thea difficult to assess, however, It lo possible that the Sovieta might encourage aucb an aotlon in order to gain data and experienceupersonic threat*

D. Although the aocompanying aonlo boom will probably be heard during overflights, it la not expected to create undue lntereat alnoo tha Cuban aircraft inventory lnoludea auperaonlo aircraft.

Page

HANDLE VIA BYEUAN CONTROL SYSTEM

IV. CUBAN CLIMATOLOGY

6 EPTEMBER -OCTOBER -NOVEMBER

cloud cover over Cuba la approximatelyand thia average does not vary greatly from month Diurnal and topographic differences in oloudmore significant than seasonal changes.

higher elevations hare mora oloudlnesa thanareas, and ln general, tho eastern half of thedearer than the western half.

cloareat time of day la morninghe most favorable for reconnalseance. akies are uncommon as some clouds exist at alltho mid-afternoon, oloud cover la often twiceaa ln the morning.

la tho height of the hurricane season At least ono storm should affect Cuba lntho Island could bo overcast for upeek.

6

Page

HANDLE VIA BYEMAN CONTROL SYSTEM

V, COVER/CONTINGENCY PLAN

Tho oover/contlngenoy plan for tho proposed nlsslon will bo essentially that approved by tho Interdepartmental Contingency Planning Coamlttee, aubjeeti "Interdepartmental Contlnganoy Plan for Project 8KYLABK,'*, dated,

ANDLE VIA BYEMAN CONTROL SYSTEM Man

OX .ART

TOP OUUllUT

age 7 ANDLE" VtA BYEMAN ^NTROL IMffi^

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COLOMBIA

CAMERA SWATH OFM EITHER SIDE OF TRACK WITH GROUND RESOLUTION OFEET OR BET! TIME OVER DENIED TERRITORYINUTESARGETS COVERED

Original document.

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