ACURA? “MstoRANDUM 7 K-65-316 October 20, -TO: 1965 Distribution FROM: os Classification Office LRL, Livermore "> SUBI: OPERATION ROUNDUP “This memo supersedes Classification Memo K-65-191, dated June 23, 1965. A joint DOD/AEC public announcement has been released Operation ROUNDUP. announcement: The following is a summary of that concerning A joint Department of Defense-Atomic Energy Commission non-nuclear air drop exercise, similar to that of October 1964, will be eonducted by Joint Task Force Eight in the Bacific area next month. As in the 1964 exercise, B-52 aircraft will drop instrumented test-simulation objects while other aircraft in the drop areas simulate gathering nuclear effects data. All such exercises are designed to help maintain facilities, resources and crew proficiency ina state of readiness to institute promptly nuclear tests in the atmosphere, if ever required. While such readiness is necessary in the interest of National Security, the U. S. government position has always been that it earnestly hopes there will never be an abrogation of the Test Ban Treaty, and that its capabilities to resume such testing will not have to be exercised. The 1965 non-nuclear exercise is expected to be completed by mid-December. The following facts on the exercise should be used sparingly and in reply to specific inquiries only. 1. Purpose of exercise: a. To evaluate the current capability of the DOD and AEC to conduct atmospheric nuclear tests, if necessary, using airborne diagnostic aircraft. b. To assess the adequacy of preparations for attainment of the prescribed readiness posture. a i sot i i f mote ely TY tia we ~ i ee i . 2 fotos es a De ieh er t ot ; War we Ark ~ nd - i BeeC2, Cbae Ailieke ! a - i an . an * aee } C, i Ue a ee ge ane veeenemas ete rene en . s ane ie