US-SOVIET MILITARY AND SPACE SPENDING IN 1968 COMPARED

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79B00972A000100440005-8
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 21, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 24, 1998
• Sequence Number: 5
• Publication Date: February 25, 1969
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For Release 2007/02/23: CIA-RDP79B00972AO00100440005-8
W'. NOW14W
25 February 1969
US-Soviet Military and Space Spending in
1968 Compared
1. The comparisons that follow are based on
estimates of US and Soviet military and space ex-
penditures--expressed in dollars--in 1968.
2. 1968 was a year when US expenditures on
general purpose and support forces were up because
of Vietnam and US strategic force costs were down
because of the completion of the initial Minuteman
and Polaris deployments. Soviet expenditures, by
contrast, were up in the strategic field, reflect-
ing on-going field deployment of ICBMs and the
deployment of defensive fighters and surface-to-air
missiles.
3. In 1968, Soviet strategic offensive expen-
ditures, when expressed in dollars, were a third
greater than those of the US--or about 1.3 to 1.
ICBM costs made up almost 60 percent of the USSR
total ($6.5 billion) but only 21 percent of the US
total ($4.8 billion).
4. Soviet strategic defensive costs (excluding
R&D) were more than three times greater than those of
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the US. The Soviets spend $5.6 billion compared to
$1.7 billion for the US--or about 3.3 to 1. Soviet
expenditures on defense have always greatly exceeded
those of the US. The US built vast bomber fleets;
the Soviets reacted with surface-to-air missiles and
interceptors. Soviet defensive costs make up 10
percent of their total military and space budget; US
defensive costs make up 2 percent.
5. The US spent twice as much on general purpose
forces in 1968. US--$32.6 billion; USSR--$16.4 billion.
This was 41 percent of the total US budget, but only
28 percent of the USSR budget.
6. For communications, logistics,, and general
support, the US spent more than $3 for every $2 the
Soviets spent. US command and support costs were
$26.7 billion; USSR, $16 billion.
7. In the difficult-to-measure area of R&D
and space, Soviet expenditures were. up from previous
years while US expenditures were down. In fact,
both spent about the same amount-slightly over $14
billion. The US outspent the Soviets in space, both
military and civilian, 7 to 5. The Soviets outspent
the US in military R&D, 9 to 7. R&D and space made
up 18 percent of the US budget and 24 percent of the
Soviet budget.
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US and USSR: Military and Space Spending
196-9-
US a/
(Fiscal Year)
Billion
Dollars
USSR as a
Percent
of US
USSR b/
(Calendar Year)
Billion
Dollars
Strategic Offense
4.8
135
6.5
Strategic Defense
1.7
329
5.6
General Purpose Forces
32.6
50
16.4
RDTE & Space c/
14.3
99
14.2
Command and General
Support d/
Total Defense
26.7
60
16.0
and Space
80.1
73
a. TOA basis, from budget and official documents.
b. Expenditure basis in dollar equivalent costs which reflect
what Soviet programs would cost in the US, allowing direct
comparison with US programs.
c. For comparability in scope with the figure for the USSR,
the US figure includes all NASA expenditures, AEC R&D
expenditures and all DoD R&D expenditures, including those
normally associated with military programs.
d. Includes nuclear expenditures other than R&D.
Approved For Release 2007/02/23: CIA-RDP79B00972A000100440005-8