Tactical defense initiative for Western Europe
This article shows while the ABM Treaty does not address defensive systems capable of intercepting tactical ballistic missiles, the treaty's provisions if adhered to, would affect the capability of such an ABM system in important way. It is clear that some proposed systems, if deployed in an ATBM role, would violate the treaty. In essence, these systems include most of the SDI technologies with ATBM applications. If the ABM Treaty is to remain one of the sacred symbols of arms control - as most allies believe it should - then a European SDI is out of the question. Such a system should also be rejected on other grounds. No European missile-defense system will be 100% effective in defending against a Soviet nuclear attack, for the myriad of nuclear threats facing Western Europe - ranging from nuclear artillery, through air-delivered nuclear bombs and cruise missiles, to the SS-20 - is so vast that some nuclear weapons would inevitably get through. In densely populated Western Europe, a few such nuclear bombs would wreak untold destruction. 16 references, 3 figures.
- Research Organization:
- Harvard Univ., Boston, MA
- OSTI ID:
- 6142424
- Journal Information:
- Bull. At. Sci.; (United States), Vol. 43:4
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
45 MILITARY TECHNOLOGY, WEAPONRY, AND NATIONAL DEFENSE
BALLISTIC MISSILE DEFENSE
EVALUATION
NON-PROLIFERATION TREATY
VIOLATIONS
USSR
NUCLEAR WEAPONS
WESTERN EUROPE
ASIA
EASTERN EUROPE
EUROPE
NATIONAL DEFENSE
TREATIES
WEAPONS
350100* - Arms Control- Policy
Negotiations
& Legislation- (1987-)
450202 - Explosions & Explosives- Nuclear- Weaponry- (-1989)