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CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
 DIRECTORATE OF INTELLIGENCE

#1 - 20 September 1983

The Soviets have produced more details in support of their claim that
 KAL Flight 007 was part of an elaborate intelligence scheme directed by the
 highest levels of the US administration. Today's Pravda carries an article
 by Soviet Marshal of Aviation Petr Kirsanov which craftily combines facts,
 fiction and half-truths to portray 007's flight as part of a coordinated US
 operation to collect signals intelligence on Soviet military forces in the
 Far East.

Kirsanov's case revolves around three central charges:

First Charge: Flight linked to US Satellite. Kirsanov claims that
 Flight 007's passage over Soviet territory was precisely timed to enable a
 US "Ferret-D" satellite to collect signals intelligence on the reactions of
 Soviet air defenses in the Far East.

Comment: The wide variety of US intelligence satellites in orbit would
 allow the Soviets to find one in position near the scene of virtually any
 event.

Second Charge: No Navigation Error. Kirsanov repeats earlier Soviet
 allegations that 007's course was deliberate and not the result of a
 mistake. He cites a British report to bolster his case and adds that the
 US LORAN-S navigation system was available to check the aircraft's course
 precisely.

Comment: The reasons for KAL 007's deviation from its assigned route may
 not be known unless or until the flight data recorder is recovered.
 LORAN is a long-range navigation system intended to aid ships at sea, but
 it sometimes is used by aircraft. Aircraft equipped to use LORAN can
 calculate their positions by triangulating signals from three stations

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DECLASSIFIED IN PART
 NLS F98-069/1#255
 By LOJ, NARA, Date 11/8/00
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