What did the declassified documents reveal?

A Photographic Intelligence Report on the Tachiu Electronic Intercept Facility in China, released by the National Photographic Interpretation Center in January 1969. This document was declassified in 2000 through a Freedom of Information Act request, and is available online through The Black Vault's archive entry. Approved For Release 2000/04/17 : CIA-RDP78R04560A00650001@n09-8 PHOTOGRAPHIC - INTERPRETATIVE 25X1C TACHIU ELECTRONIC INTERCEPT FACILITY CHINA NPIC/R-130/68 JANUARY 1969 GROUP EXCLUDED FROM AUTOMATIC DOWNGRADING AND OEGlassification : 25X10 Approved For Release 2000/04/17 : CIA-RDP78B04560A008300010009-8 WARNING This document contains information affecting the national defense of the United States, within the purview of Title 18, sections 795 and 784, of the U.S. Code, as amended. The transmission or revelation of the contents of this document by an unauthorized person is prohibited by law. INSTALLATION ORGANIZATION NAME : Tachiu Electronic Intercept Facility COUNTRY : China COORDINATES — GEOGRAPHIC — in Beijin, COMER NO. NA a ne oe The Tachiu Electronic Intercept Facility consists of an operations area containing one VHF rhombic antenna, two Yagi antennas, eight discone antennas, twelve mattress arrays, seven solid parabolic dish antennas, six mesh parabolic dish antennas, one cut parabolic antenna, and two unidentified vertical arrays, as well as 16 control/support buildings. A support area is located at the base of the hill south-southwest of the operations area. The facility was first observed on photography which was of poor interpretability and no antennas were visible. Subsequent coverage in MEE failed to reveal evidence of electronics equipment. Antennas were first observed at the facility on low-level photography at which time the facility contained eight parabolic mesh antennas, four solid parabolic antennas, five double rhombic antennas, and two VHF double rhombic antennas under construction. BASIC DESCRIPTION The facility presently contains a total of 38 identifiable antennas and 23 masts of undetermined function. By antenna type, there are one VHF rhombic antenna, two Yagi antennas, eight discone antennas, 12 mattress arrays, seven solid parabolic dish antennas, six parabolic dish antennas, one cut parabolic antenna, and two unidentified vertical arrays. The one rhombic antenna remaining in the antenna field is cut for VHF frequencies, indicated by its dimensions. Terminal connections and feed lines of this rhombic antenna cannot be distinguished on the latest available photography. The antenna was not present on previous photography of sufficient interpretability to determine feed detail; therefore, the operational status of the antenna is unknown. A counterpoise (ground screen) is not present. The height of the array above ground level could not be determined due to the sloping terrain and varying pole heights. The two Yagi arrays, located on building tops, cannot be measured because of lack of photography of…

Why was this case declassified?

This material entered the public record through the U.S. declassification and Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) process. The originating source document is linked on this page so the citation chain is auditable.

CIA A Photographic Intelligence Report On The Tachiu Electronic Intercept Facility

◆ BLUF — The short version

A Photographic Intelligence Report on the Tachiu Electronic Intercept Facility in China, released by the National Photographic Interpretation Center in January 1969. This document was declassified in 2000 through a Freedom of Information Act request, and is available online through The Black Vault's archive entry.

Date: AUG 7 · 2026
Release: Declassified · U.S. public record (FOIA)
Source document: View the primary source document

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What was CIA A Photographic Intelligence Report On The Tachiu Electronic Intercept Facility about?: A Photographic Intelligence Report on the Tachiu Electronic Intercept Facility in China, released by the National Photographic Interpretation Center in January 1969. This document was declassified in 2000 through a Freedom of Information Act request, and is available online through The Black Vault's archive entry.
Why was this case declassified?: This material entered the public record through the U.S. declassification and Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) process. Storyflo narrates it directly from the public release.

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