What did the declassified documents reveal?

Possible Missile Impact Area in Western China – U.S. Intelligence Memorandum, December fourteen, nineteen seventy. This declassified National Security Agency record is notable because it documents an early U.S. assessment of three crater‑like features and associated instrumentation sites that were interpreted as possible missile impact locations in the Takla Makan desert of western China. The record is hosted at the Black Vault archive. The memorandum was released to the public through a Freedom of Information Act request filed with the Central Intelligence Agency. The declassification review was completed by the National Imagery and Mapping Agency and the Department of Defense Executive Director, and the document was approved for release on March twenty‑six, two thousand four. The Black Vault entry for this record can be found at archive dot org slash download slash us‑china‑intel‑CI01968 slash CI01968djvu.txt. Approved fourteen December nineteen seventy. Memorandum for: Deputy Director for Intelligence. Subject: Possible Missile Impact Area in Western China. 1. I have investigated why the possible missile impact craters and some possible instrumentation sites—found recently by the Imagery Analysis Service in photography of—were not found and reported on earlier by the National Photographic Interpretation Center or other photointerpretation components. 2. I have concluded that it is unlikely that craters such as these—a key element in the identification of an impact area—would be perceived in initial scanning of even high‑resolution photography. The craters are obscure and the possible instrumentation sites ambiguous in their photographic appearance. Such photographic evidences yield to detailed search and lengthy photointerpretation study, unlike the more readily recognizable signatures of launch sites which we are detecting early in their construction and during initial scans and following searches of visible terrain. 3. During initial scanning and following searching (first and second phase photointerpretation) NPIC photointerpreters work against a wide variety of kinds of known targets as well as seeking signs of new activity such as signs of missile deployment and testing. The present arrangement of NPIC photointerpretation assignments continues to be the most effective way in which to detect most kinds of new activities during an initial scan with the number of PIs authorized. 4. Incidentally, NPIC worked with the National Security Agency and COHIREX in gaining coverage of the area in which the craters were found. As the result of information provided by NSA in January nineteen seventy, NPIC requested high‑resolution coverage of a new area different from that which previously had been covered and searched for signs of a missile impact area. NPIC did report in an Oak supplement of July nineteen seventy on the presence of three of the five sites which IAS has described as possible instrumentation sites. [redacted] Attachment: Map showing…

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 Possible Missile Impact Area In Western China – U.s.

◆ BLUF — The short version

S. Intelligence Memorandum, December fourteen, nineteen seventy. S. assessment of three crater‑like features and associated instrumentation sites that were interpreted as possible missile impact locations in the Takla Makan desert of western China. The record is hosted at the Black Vault archive.

Date: AUG 6 · 2026
Release: Declassified · U.S. public record (FOIA)
Source document: View the primary source document

↯ Dispatch — press play3:05

0:003:05

↯ Share

X in r/

Episode notes

Possible Missile Impact Area in Western China – U.S. Intelligence Memorandum, December fourteen, nineteen seventy. This declassified National Security Agency record is notable because it documents an early U.S. assessment of three crater‑like features and associated instrumentation sites that were…

View the primary source document

Questions about this case

What was CIA Possible Missile Impact Area In Western China – U.s. about?: S. Intelligence Memorandum, December fourteen, nineteen seventy. S. assessment of three crater‑like features and associated instrumentation sites that were interpreted as possible missile impact locations in the Takla Makan desert of western China. The record is hosted at the Black Vault archive.
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.

intelligence-vault

Related cases

✉ Dispatches

A short dispatch when a new file is released — narrated, answer-first, and linked straight to the primary source. No spam; unsubscribe anytime.

↯ Subscribe to the feed

RSS feed Browse all cases

CIA Possible Missile Impact Area In Western China – U.s.

Questions about this case

Related cases

Political Problems In Communist China – A Central Intelligence Agency

Central Intelligence Agency Record Concerning Chinese Involvement

Central Intelligence Agency Intelligence Report On Meng‑tzu Airfield, West

Peking's Attitude Toward The Threat Of U‑s Attack, Central Intelligence Agency

Central Intelligence Agency Memorandum Concerning The Use Of A P‑3 Aircraft

Questions about this case

Related cases

Political Problems In Communist China – A Central Intelligence Agency

Central Intelligence Agency Record Concerning Chinese Involvement

Central Intelligence Agency Intelligence Report On Meng‑tzu Airfield, West

Peking's Attitude Toward The Threat Of U‑s Attack, Central Intelligence Agency

Central Intelligence Agency Memorandum Concerning The Use Of A P‑3 Aircraft

Get the next declassified case in your inbox