Soviet concepts of ballistic missile defense. Master's thesis
This thesis characterizes the Soviet concept of ballistic missile defense (BMD) in order to better understand and predict future Soviet BMD decision making. The Soviet concept of BMD is fundamentally different from that in the West. Soviet BMD is clearly an integral component of a much larger Soviet strategic defense effort which consists of strategic air defense as well as passive measures, such as mobility, deep underground command and control facilities, and civil defense. As the Soviet military literature demonstrates, Soviet strategic air defense encompasses defense against a continuum of threats -- from aircraft to ballistic missiles to satellites to 'space-strike weapons'. Soviet strategic air defense weapons therefore appear optimized to counter a wide range of airborne threats. In the Soviet view, surface-to-air missiles may be a primary tactical BMD weapon. Additionally, Soviet strategic BMD weapons may be a primary Soviet anti-satellite weapon. Furthermore, manned space platforms play a particularly significant role in Soviet thinking about the future of BMD and space warfare.
- Research Organization:
- Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, CA (USA)
- OSTI ID:
- 5892818
- Report Number(s):
- AD-A-207375/7/XAB
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: Thesis
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Strategic culture and ballistic missile defense: Russia and the United States. Master's thesis
Defending the Homeland: Growing Foreign Challenges to the U.S. Missile Defense Posture
Related Subjects
45 MILITARY TECHNOLOGY, WEAPONRY, AND NATIONAL DEFENSE
BALLISTIC MISSILE DEFENSE
ATTITUDES
USSR
CIVIL DEFENSE
DECISION MAKING
MILITARY STRATEGY
MISSILES
OPERATION
PLANNING
SPACE WEAPONS
TREATIES
UNDERGROUND
ASIA
EASTERN EUROPE
EUROPE
LEVELS
NATIONAL DEFENSE
350000* - Arms Control- (1987-)
990500 - Civilian Defense- (-1987)
450202 - Explosions & Explosives- Nuclear- Weaponry- (-1989)