KH-11

KH-11 is a type of reconnaissance satellite developed by the United States. The first KH-11 was launched on December 19, 1976. Its images were capable of being digitally relayed to ground stations in real-time for instant analysis by the intelligence community. The KH-11 was considered an astonishing leap in technology, with its superb optical resolution.¹

Access to the high-quality imagery from the KH-11 was tightly restricted, even to close allies like Great Britain. However, in March 1979, President Jimmy Carter decided to provide Israel with access to KH-11 photographs. This agreement gave Israel access to satellite intelligence dealing with troop movements or other potentially threatening activities up to one hundred miles inside the borders of neighboring Lebanon, Syria, Egypt, and Jordan. This decision disrupted the satellite's careful scheduling and meant less access for some American intelligence agencies.¹

Following the Israeli bombing of the Iraqi nuclear reactor at Osirak in June 1981, William J. Casey, Director of Central Intelligence, authorized a review of Israel's use of the KH-11 intelligence-sharing agreement. The review found that Israel had expanded the agreement to extract virtually any photograph desired, including extensive coverage of western Russia and Moscow. Despite this, it was agreed that photographs would continue to flow to Israel, but with the initial 1979 restrictions re-enforced.¹