Picking up the shield: Incorporating defense into strategic nuclear doctrine. Research report

Technical Report · Fri Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1988

OSTI ID:5033249

Ruotsala, M G

Picking up the Shield is an interesting and enlightening account of the evolution of strategic nuclear doctrine. It puts the offense-defense relationship into a historical perspective that lends important insight into the ongoing debate over strategic defenses. Although this debate centers on the active defenses contemplated by the strategic defense initiative, Lt Col Michael G. Ruotsala makes the point that passive defenses are also an important component of strategic defense. He sees the inherent passive defenses of the Triad as being a key to maintaining offense-oriented deterrence, and he makes a good case for survivable Peacekeeper basing and a small mobile intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) to enhance deterrence and pave the way for active defense. Although the future may hold a strategic defense with new, even revolutionary, weapons, any future program will embody old concepts of offense and defense. For the foreseeable future, offensive strategic forces will continue to play a dominant role in US defense policy. However, strategic defenses are consistent with US strategic doctrine. More important for deterrence, defenses are consistent with Soviet doctrine. Clearly, complementing roles for both the offense and defense are critical for developing a doctrine that enhances deterrence of a nuclear exchange between the United States and the Soviet Union. It is also clear that Picking up the Shield makes a significant contribution to understanding the challenge we face as we incorporate defense into strategic nuclear doctrine.

• Research Organization: Air Univ., Maxwell AFB, AL (USA). Airpower Research Inst.
• OSTI ID: 5033249
• Report Number(s): AD-A-213296/7/XAB; AU-ARI--87-7
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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