BALLISTIC MISSILE DEFENSE AND SOVIET STRATEGY.
Abstract
Theoretically, a Soviet anti-ballistic missile (ABM) deployment would be consistent with Soviet military doctrine, Russian-Soviet tradition, and the current military environment in which Soviet strategy must operate. Practically, however, any Soviet ABM decision will be encumbered by a number of constraints-particularly competing demands upon the limited Soviet economy. It is doubtful that the Soviets could move, on a crash basis, into a large-scale ABM development and deployment program without doing serious harm to important domestic, military, and foreign commitments. The 'proximity consciousness' which traditionally has influenced Russian-Soviet strategy may suggest a somewhat limited role for potential ABM deployment; namely, defense against the more modest threat posed by Nth countries of the future (e.g., Western Europe generally, West Germany particularly, and ultimately Communist China). Until now, the Soviets have played their ABM publicity in a markedly low key. Their statements thus far yield no indication of any intent to move into a crash program of extensive ABM deployment. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 1963
- Accession Number
- AD0620180
Entities
People
- Alvin J. Cottrell
- Walter F. Hahn
Organizations
- Institute for Defense Analyses