SDI (Strategic Defense Initiative) and the Soviet Defense Burden

Abstract

The Soviets' response to the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) must be understood within the context of their deteriorating economic situation and need to modernize their economy. This Note evaluates the defense burden to the Soviets of both an offsetting and an emulation response to the U.S. SDI effort. The analysis is conducted within the context of General Secretary Gorbachev's modernization program, which is designed to increase the productivity of economic resources. The analysis suggests that the Soviets can partially offset a U.S. SDI effort with a ruble expenditure that is a small percentage of current defense spending. Although the Soviets may regard such a response as unsatisfactory, it is important to consider the striking contrast compared with the burden of an emulation response. The author hypothesizes, therefore, that the Soviets will choose not to directly emulate the U.S. SDI activities, at least until they have modernized their technical-economic base.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Dec 01, 1988
Accession Number
ADA208307

Entities

People

  • Gregory G. Hildebrandt

Organizations

  • RAND Corporation

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Human Systems
  • Space
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Defense
  • Air Force
  • Antimissile Defense Systems
  • Computers
  • Defense Systems
  • Economic Models
  • Homeland Defense
  • Machine Tools
  • Military Doctrine
  • Military Personnel
  • National Security
  • Procurement
  • Reentry Vehicles
  • Security
  • Strategic Defense Initiative
  • United States
  • Vehicles

Readers

  • Defense Acquisition Program Management
  • Economics
  • Political Science/ International Relations/ European Studies