Interaction of strategic defenses with crisis stability
Retaliatory deterrence is now carried primarily by SLBMs. START would shift that toward aircraft. Moderate defenses would shift retaliation strongly toward aircraft. Combined boost- and midcourse defenses would increase stability. Mutual reductions of heavy ICBMs have little impact in the absence of defenses. It appears preferable to defend current missiles in place. Unilateral deployments of defense leave crisis indices unchanged while reducing the number of weapons delivered. One-sided reductions in conjunction with defenses produce intermediate indices. Interactive reduction of defense suppression could reduce penetration to marginal levels. Coupling between second strike and target set could be resolved by altering objectives or the target set. 13 refs., 6 figs.
- Research Organization:
- Los Alamos National Lab., NM (USA)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- DOE/AD; DOE/DP
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-36
- OSTI ID:
- 5991832
- Report Number(s):
- LA-11920-MS; ON: DE91008480
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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