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SUBMARINE-LAUNCHED BALLISTIC MISSILES (SLBMs)

Soviet SLBMs currently in the force are the SS-N-5, SS-N-6, and SS-N-8, with the SS-NX-13 due to be operational in 1976. (The SS-NX-13 may not be utilized as a strategic missile.) There are five primary submarine launchers: Golf (diesel), Hotel II and III, Yankee, and Delta (a long Delta will become operational in 1976). The latter four submarines are all nuclear powered. The U.S.S. R. is also developing a new large and small SLBM for deployment in the 1978-79 period. The large missile will be the first Soviet SLBM with MIRV capabilities.

U.S. SLBMS are the Polaris A-3 and Poseidon; the Trident will become operational in 1979. Included in the U.S. figures are approximately 41 submarines carrying a total of 656 SLBMs with eventual capacity of 750-plus with the addition of Trident submarines. Both Trident and Poseidon have a MIRV capability.

The range capability of SLBMs is extremely important because it increases the patrol area for an adversary's anti-submarine warfare (ASW) fleet and makes their search problem more severe. The range capabilities of current United States SLBMs exceed capabilities of Soviet SLBMs except for the SS-N-8 and the two Soviet SLBMs currently in development. The range of the SS-N-8 (4000+ nautical miles) exceeds all existing submarines. The range of the Trident when fully operational will exceed that of all other SLBMs.

The Trident submarine and missile are the major items in the DoD FY 1977 budget associated with the SLBM program:

Table 4.—UNITED STATES SLBM's

[Costs in millions of dollars]

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STRATEGIC BOMBER FORCES

The Soviet bomber force consists primarily of the Bison and Bear bombers and the Backfire bomber, particularly for the future U.S.S.R. bomber role. The Bison is also utilized as the primary tanker aircraft. To date, the Backfire has been deployed primarily with U.S.S.R. naval forces. It has the ability to reach the United States. The U.S.S.R. bombers are armed with the Kangaroo and Kitchen air-tosurface missiles (ASMs) and with stockpiled nuclear bombs.

The U.S. bomber force consists of 70 FB-111s and approximately 350 B-52s. The KC-135 represents the major tanker capability. Congress will decide this year whether to proceed with production of the B-1. The DoD FY 1977 budget provides funding for the initial buy of three B-1 production aircraft and long lead funding of eight FY 1978 aircraft. Current policy provides for an ultimate force of 240-plus B-1 aircraft. Assuming a favorable decision, the B-1 would become operational in significant numbers in the 1980's. Besides nuclear bombs, weapons to be carried by the B-1 and B-52 include the already deployed short-range attack missiles (SRAM) and the air-launched cruise missiles (ALCM) currently under development. A new buy of the SRAM missile is planned to provide B-1 armament. There are also advanced procurement funds in the FY 1977 budget for an advanced tanker/cargo aircraft (ATCA) with production to initiate in FY 1978. The ATCA will become the primary tanker for the B-1 and also be used for tactical forces purposes. Cost and quantities associated with strategic bomber forces and related systems in the FY 1977 budget are:

Table 5.—U.S. STRATEGIC BOMBER FORCES AND RELATED SYSTEMS [Costs in millions of dollars]

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1 Previous SRAM procurements were for FB-111 and B-52 aircraft.

2 The costs for the Air-Launched Cruise Missiles (ALCM) are R. & D. costs

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B. STRATEGIC DEFENSE FORCES

The U.S.S.R. has far more strategic defensive forces than the United States, but the numbers are offset by the greater capabilities represented by U.S. low-altitude bombers and missiles. The Soviets have deployed strategic defensive forces because the U.S. strategic bomber force has always represented such a powerful threat in the U.S.S.R. The United States has significantly reduced its surface-toair missile (SAM) and interceptor aircraft forces. Conversely, the U.S.S.R. has increased SAM development, particularly for lowaltitude defense purposes. These efforts may produce some capability for defense against the SRAM and ALCM. There will be a slight reduction in U.S.S.R. interceptor aircraft although capability is projected to improve. Many of the deployed U.S.S.R. air defense systems were originally designed to counter medium- to high-altitude bombers and standoff threats imposed by the B-70 and its related technologies in development a decade ago.

Approximate 1975 figures for U.S. and U.S.S. R. are:

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1 These launchers accommodate about 12,000 SAM interceptors.

Major items in the DoD FY 1977 budget associated with strategic defense forces and command and control systems related to strategic forces are (a) ballistic missile defense (R&D efforts, and technological improvements in sensors, data processing, radar, etc.), and (b) Advanced Airborne Command Post (AABNCP).

Table 6.-U.S. STRATEGIC DEFENSIVE FORCES

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The primary purpose of theater nuclear weapons is to complement general purpose forces and act as part of a spectrum of deterrence and control of escalation. The theater nuclear forces of the U.S.S.R. land force consist of the SS-4 and SS-5 medium-range and intermediaterange ballistic missiles (MRBMS and IRBMs), and the Scud, Frog, and Scaleboard tactical missiles and rockets. Testing is being conducted on the SS-X-20, a MIRVed mobile IRBM. Several of the

U.S.S.R. tactical aircraft and a great number of their naval forces also are capable of tactical nuclear delivery, although the number of weapons is unknown.

U.S. theater nuclear forces are oriented toward nuclear-armed strike aircraft, atomic demolition munitions (ADMs), tactical surfaceto-surface missiles (SSMs), and cannon artillery. Pershing, Lance, and Honest John are principal SSMs with the 8-inch and 155 mm cannon artillery comprising the nuclear artillery capability. The ASROC, SUBROC, Terrier, and Talos are basic naval force theater nuclear

arms.

The Navy missiles have already incurred major procurement costs and the strike aircraft FY 1977 implications are discussed under tactical aircraft on page 162 of this study. There are several efforts underway to enhance theater nuclear force capability. None of the efforts have major impact on the FY 1977 budget.

The following chart illustrates the relative strengths of U.S./ U.S.S.R. strategic and tactical nuclear capabilities:

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* These are approximate numbers. Estimates for certain types of U.S.S.R. tactical warheads are unknown.

72-678-76- -11

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1 A study by the Library of Congress, Congressional Research Service, "United States/Soviet Military Balance," January 1976.

Table 8.-UNITED STATES/U.S.S.R. GENERAL PURPOSE FORCES

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1 Does not include para-military forces.

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2 These figures represent full active division units. The United States also maintains 8 complete reserve divisions; the U.S.S.R. maintains another 100 to 110 divisions ranging from one-third to two-thirds full divisions.

U.S. divisions average approximately 16,000 troops; Soviet divisions average: Tank division, 9,000; motorized rifle division, 11,500; airborne division, 7,200.

TANK FORCES

Current U.S.S. R. tank forces number approximately 42,000 and consist of the JS 2/3, T-10, T-54, T-55, T-62 and T-72 (the newest tank model with significant increased mobility, laser range finder, and better armor protection). The tank forces are augmented by a similar number of armored fighting vehicles.

U.S. medium tank forces (9,000) consist of the M-48, M-60, and M-60A1. Some M-48s are being upgraded to M-60 capability in guns and engine.

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