Student Papers on Strategic Defense Initiative.

Abstract

The Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) will be effective only if the Soviet Union cannot negate the defense system with countermeasures more cheaply than the U.S. can maintain the system's viability. Opponents of SDI feel that the Soviets will always be able to develop effective countermeasures (i.e. decoys, ASATs, fastburn boosters, and passive means). Proponents are confident American technology will be able to negate any Soviet attempts of thwarting SDI. This debate is complex and not easily solvable. This paper presents both sides of the debate. Discussion concentrates on the technical aspects associated with possible countermeasures deployable by the USSR and possible countercountermeasures used by the US.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 01, 1985
Accession Number
ADA338025

Entities

Organizations

  • United States Air Force Academy

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Counter WMD
  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Ground and Sea Platforms
  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Anti-Ballistic Missiles
  • Astronautics
  • Ballistic Missiles
  • Defense Industry
  • Detection
  • Directed Energy Weapons
  • Infrared Detectors
  • Intermediate Range Ballistic Missiles
  • Lasers
  • National Security
  • Organizational Structure
  • Space Objects
  • Space Systems
  • Spacecraft
  • War Colleges
  • Warning Systems

Readers

  • Missile Defense Systems.
  • Strategic Security Studies