The Central Intelligence Agency and Overhead Reconnaissance; The U-2 and OXCART Programs, 1954-1974

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or more of the aircraft was always being repaired, and eventually
three of the five AQUILINE prototypes were destroyed in testing.
Although AQUILINE's visual and accoustic signatures were
very small, its radar cross section continued to cause problems. The
radar cross section at low frequencies was less than one-tenth of a
square meter, giving it a radar signature smaller than that of an eagle,
but there were flares in the VHF region that increased the likelihood
of detection.
Studies indicated that the radar cross section problems could
eventually be reduced to acceptable levels, but the greatest weakness
of the AQUILINE project was its navigational system. AQUILINE
did not have a programmable autopilot; it had to be flown by remote
control from the ground. Once the aircraft flew over the horizon. all
navigational commands had to be relayed to it by high-flying aircraft.
A DC-6 loitering at 25,000 feet would give AQUILINE a range of
250 nautical miles: use of a U-2 at 70,000 feet could increase this to
350 nautical miles.
- -Such a range was suitable for the targets originally conceived for
AQUILINE, but the need for intelligence on targets located much
dee er in the Soviet Union and the Peo le's Re ublic of China
and the development time and costs for
~~~~~-c---~
AQUILINE began to soar. By l971 ORD had spent six years and $33
million on AQUILINE but still had many important problems to re­
solve.
At this point the project was turned over to the Office of Special
Activities for operational testing at Area 51 in Nevada. Flight tests
showed the aircraft to be successful by the standards originally set for
the project in l 967, as it flew l 30 miles and obtained very high reso­
lution photography of a target before returning successfully to the
original launchsite. However, improving AQUILINE sufficiently to
make it a practical long-range reconnaissance system was estimated
to cost another $35 million and take two to three years. On the recom­
mendation of DDS&T Carl Duckett on I November l 971, Project
AQUILINE was canceled. The project's aircraft and equipment were
eventually transferred to the US Army for use in a battlefield manage­
ment system known as AQUILA, which has yet to be deployed be­
cause of continuing developmental problems.
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Appendix E
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