North American Strategic Air Defense: Active Deterrence

Abstract

This report evaluates the peacetime posture of United States strategic air defense relative to the threat posed by the Soviet air-breathing offensive force of long range bombers and sea and air launched cruise missiles. Soviet policy, doctrine, and forces are assessed to substantiate the threat. United States policy, doctrine and defensive forces are assessed to confirm the absence of any mismatch between these. Significant shortcomings in the defense posture of the United States are identified. The strategic defense forces, especially those along the northern tier of the US and Canada, though properly trained and adequately equipped, are not postured to defend or provide deterrence during peacetime. The impact these shortcomings have on deterrence is discusses and suggestions are offered to overcome these shortcomings.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
May 01, 1989
Accession Number
ADA217244

Entities

People

  • Jay A. Mengel

Organizations

  • Air War College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Counter WMD
  • Space
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Defense
  • Air Force
  • Airborne Warning And Control System
  • Ballistic Missiles
  • Command And Control
  • Control Systems
  • Defense Systems
  • Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles
  • Military Organizations
  • National Security
  • North America
  • Space Systems
  • Tanker Aircraft
  • United States
  • War Colleges
  • Warfare
  • Warning Systems

Fields of Study

  • Political science

Readers

  • Irregular Warfare and Special Operations Cyberspace Operations against Adversarial Threats.
  • Missile Defense Systems.
  • Systems Analysis and Design