Soviet Reactions to Follow-On-To-Lance (FOTL)
Abstract
One of the most controversial areas of US military planning for the 1990's is Battlefield Nuclear Weapons (BNW) modernization. The current dilemma has been created in part by Soviet 'public relations' activities in the area of troop reduction and arms control at a time when NATO must decide whether to modernize nuclear weapon systems currently deployed in Western Europe. This paper focuses on the FOTL, which will modernize the soon-to-be-obsolete Lance system. It identifies why NATO needs the new system, why the Soviets want to prevent its deployment, and how the political environment in Western Europe and the US will impact the decision for or against development. The paper also discusses the Soviet Frame of reference for reacting to US/NATO initiatives ideology, insecurity, and the correlation of forces. It describes past Soviet reactions to nuclear weapons modernizations (Pershing IIs, Ground Launched Cruise Missiles, and Enhanced Radiation Weapons), and then postulates how the Soviets may respond politically and militarily to a FOTL deployment. Keywords: Surface to surface missiles;
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 26, 1989
- Accession Number
- ADA209811
Entities
People
- Richard O. Wightman
Organizations
- United States Army War College