The Changing Strategic Balance and US Defense Planning.

Abstract

This memorandum evaluates the nature of and objectives behind the unrelenting buildup of Soviet strategic nuclear forces. The author concludes that while the Soviet Union may be seeking some 'margin of superiority,' deterrence of nuclear war remains a preeminent Soviet objective. The author further concludes that while US strategic retaliatory forces have become more vulnerable to a Soviet preemptive attack, the Soviet Union does not yet have the capacity to execute a disarming 'first-strike.' Nevertheless, the United States must modernize its strategic forces and engage the Soviet Union in arms control efforts if future strategic instabilities are to be avoided.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Feb 01, 1984
Accession Number
ADA142163

Entities

People

  • Ryan Kennedy

Organizations

  • United States Army War College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Counter WMD
  • Space
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Attrition
  • Ballistic Missile Submarines
  • Ballistic Missiles
  • Civil Defense
  • Contingency Operations (Military)
  • Electronic Countermeasures
  • Fleet Ballistic Missiles
  • Inertial Navigation
  • Inertial Navigation Systems
  • Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles
  • National Security
  • Nuclear Powered Submarines
  • Nuclear Warheads
  • Nuclear Weapons
  • Strategic Weapons
  • United States
  • Warfare

Fields of Study

  • Political science

Readers

  • Strategic Security Studies