---
category: U.S. Government
location: Washington, D.C.
start: 1961
summary: The National Photo Interpretation Center (NPIC) was a U.S. intelligence agency
  established in December 1961, with Arthur C. Lundahl in charge.
tags:
- Organization
- Intelligence
- USA
---

The National Photo Interpretation Center (NPIC) was a U.S. intelligence agency established in December 1961, with [Arthur C. Lundahl](/people/arthur-c-lundahl/) in charge. Its mission was to provide more sophisticated photo intelligence, including huge photographic mosaics of areas like [Israel](/places/israel/), capturing nuclear facilities such as [Dimona](/places/dimona/).[^1]

[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 4.