The
little known US agency as a useful tool in the new Cold War
“Compiled
and introduced by Archive senior fellow Dr. Jeffrey T. Richelson, the
DEFSMAC documents describe the origins and functions of this
important intelligence entity 'little known to the public' that
provided alerts on missile launches ranging from Chinese ICBMs to
Iraqi short-range ballistic missiles during the first Gulf War.”
“In
contrast to the other missile and space intelligence centers,
DEFSMAC's mission was more oriented toward alerting and reporting
rather than producing detailed finished intelligence reports on
foreign missile and space activities. Among recent launches that
would have attracted DEFSMAC's attention were two Chinese ICBM tests
conducted in late July 2014, as well as the Russian test of a Bulava
submarine-launched ballistic missile in September.”
“The
April 27, 1964, directive specified that DEFSMAC would be responsible
for '(a) twenty-four-hour surveillance of foreign missile and space
activity; (b) tasking and technical control of DoD collection
activities against foreign missile and space activity; (c) providing
technical support, including tip-off, to all DoD missile and space
collection activities; and (d) current analysis and reporting of
foreign missile and space events based on data collected and received
by DEFSMAC up to seventy-two hours after an event.'”
“One
released DEFSMAC product is its February 27, 1991, listing of Iraqi
short-range ballistic missile launches, specifying launch dates and
target areas. Other examples are contained in 1980 reports by the
CIA's National Photographic Interpretation Center (subsequently
absorbed into the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency) concerning
Soviet and Chinese missile facilities and tests. DEFMSAC products
used in preparing the August 1980 report on the Soviet Balaklava
Missile Test Center included New SLBM Launched from Nenonska on 28
January 1980 and Two SS-N-02C Naval Cruise Missiles Launched in the
Black Sea Area on [redacted]. A December 1980 report on a missile
test launched from China's Shuangchengzi test center relied, in part,
on three DEFSMAC reports - PRC Launches CSS-X-4 to South Pacific;
Second PRC ICBM Probable In-Flight Failure; and PRC Announces
Reopening of the Pacific Ocean Closure Area.”
“...
the focus of DEFSMAC operations has broadened considerably. In the
1970s, the 'primary emphasis was on Soviet missile and space-earth
satellite vehicles (ESVs) and deep-space probes.' Then, as a
variety of nations including China, India, Israel, Iraq, North Korea,
Pakistan, and South Africa developed and tested a variety of missiles
of increasing range DEFSMAC's alerting and reporting functions
widened.”
In
details:
These
materials are reproduced from www.nsarchive.org
with the permission of the National Security Archive.
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