Variables Affecting Central-Region Stability: The 'Operational Minimum' and Other Issues at Low Force Levels

Abstract

The negotiations on conventional forces in Europe (CFE) include the principle of mutual reductions to parity at force levels below NATO's current levels. The participants' proposals set limits on equipment such as main battle tanks and artillery in the Atlantic-to-the-Urals region and various subregions. This Note provides an analysis of the following issues: (1) defining and estimating the operational minimum, which is the operational-level strength of forces below which the feasibility of narrowly defined forward defense would be questionable (although by no means impossible) even under conditions of parity; (2) the significance for Central Region stability of the D-Day theater force ratio; (3) the potential stability at low force levels (i.e., below the operational minimum); and (4) possible CFE stabilizing measures.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Sep 01, 1989
Accession Number
ADA214391

Entities

People

  • Paul K. Davis
  • Richard L. Kugler
  • Robert D. Howe
  • William G. Jr Wild

Organizations

  • RAND Corporation

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • C4I
  • Counter WMD
  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Power
  • Armored Personnel Carriers
  • Arms Control
  • Artillery
  • Artillery Ammunition
  • Central Europe
  • Command And Control
  • Command And Control Systems
  • Forests
  • Geography
  • International Security
  • Military Organizations
  • Operations Research
  • Second World War
  • Treaties
  • Urban Areas
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Control Systems Engineering.
  • International Relations and European Studies
  • Military History / Militaries and War Studies