The Proliferation of Conventionally-Powered Submarines: Balancing U.S. Cruise Missile Diplomacy? The Cases of India and Iran

Abstract

The end of the Cold War has left the United States as the world's sole superpower. The ability of the United States to strike deep into the territories of most nations with impunity represents a new security threat to many nations. Defeating the U.S. military is not feasible in most cases, but balancing the United States may be possible, especially with weapons of mass destruction (WMD). Although WMD might provide a formidable deterrent, their technical, political, and economic costs preclude most nations from pursuing them. On the other hand, modern conventionally powered submarines are easier to obtain and operate and could present a significant deterrent to U.S. military force. This thesis assesses whether the perceived threat posed by the United States has emerged as a motivation for acquiring conventionally powered submarines since the end of the Cold War. After examining the motivations behind the recent submarine acquisitions of India and Iran, this thesis presents an economic model to predict when developing nations will be able to afford submarines if they choose to acquire them.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jun 01, 1997
Accession Number
ADA333352

Entities

People

  • Eric R. Jones

Organizations

  • Naval Postgraduate School

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Ground and Sea Platforms

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Antisubmarine Warfare
  • Boats
  • Globalization
  • Intergovernmental Organizations
  • International Organizations
  • International Relations
  • Marine Transportation
  • National Security
  • Naval Vessels
  • Naval Warfare
  • Navy
  • Nuclear Powered Submarines
  • Second World War
  • Submarine Warfare
  • Treaties
  • United States
  • Weapons Of Mass Destruction

Readers

  • Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering.
  • Strategic Security Studies