Deterrence enhanced by SDI (Strategic Defense Initiative). Student essay

Technical Report · Mon Mar 23 00:00:00 EST 1987

OSTI ID:6377176

Sowa, P T

The Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) is an investigation by scientists, military leaders, and technologists of the feasibility of strategic defenses against ballistic missiles. Whether strategic defense is the way to go in the future remains to be seen. Although the capability of the envisioned layered, ground, and space-based defensive systems is not specifically addressed, the SDI research program's affect on national-security strategy and its formulation is examined. If found to be feasible and cost-effective, SDI will require a drastic change in our military strategy. This essay reviews how that strategy was formulated in the past in terms of a model and how strategic-defense strategy would be used in the future. More importantly, a discussion of how the SDI impacts on present US national strategy and enhances deterrence is presented. Its influence on technology, conventional defense, and arms controls are offered on this evolving strategic concept and the renewed vigor and interest it has provided in strategy formulation.

• Research Organization: Army War Coll., Carlisle Barracks, PA (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6377176
• Report Number(s): AD-A-180466/5/XAB
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

98 NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT, SAFEGUARDS, AND PHYSICAL PROTECTION
45 MILITARY TECHNOLOGY, WEAPONRY, AND NATIONAL DEFENSE
ARMS CONTROL
BALLISTIC MISSILE DEFENSE
NATIONAL SECURITY
NUCLEAR DETERRENCE
MILITARY STRATEGY
NATIONAL DEFENSE
SECURITY
350100* - Arms Control- Policy
Negotiations
& Legislation- (1987-)
450202 - Explosions & Explosives- Nuclear- Weaponry- (-1989)