ESTIMATE OF RELATIVE US-USSR AIR STRENGTH, AS PER THE REQUEST OF THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79R00904A000100040060-3
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 16, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 15, 2005
• Sequence Number: 60
• Publication Date: June 4, 1953
• Content Type: MF

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Relative US-USSR Air Strength as per
of the Secretary of Defense
1. An estirate of relative US/USSR air strength ray be con-
ceived levels:
a. A tabulation of estimated US and USSR air order of
battle as of a given date or dates
b. A series of estimates of relative air capabilities
under a series of assumed hot war situations.
2. If la above is desired, national intelligence on Soviet
air order 7 battle exists in the appendices to Ni1-64 (Part
I), Soviet Bloc ,lapabilities, through Mid-120. The appendix
to NIR.90' Soviet Bloc Capabilities through Mi6-1955, soon to
be cleared by the Ike, will project these estimates up to mid-
1955. Similar data on US air order of battle could of pours*
be furnished by the TAF. I believe that the Joint Staff,
rather than the IAC, should be the issuing agency for a paper
of this sort. It could be put together in rather short order.
3, If lb above is desired, the resultant paper would have
to to a 0OFf1ieated commander se estimate in which alternative
realietie hot war situations were aseumed, US plans laid on the
table, and the whole war-gamed out to probable eonclusions. I
believe such an exercise would be necessary for the true
appraisal of relative US-USSR air etrength.
tiONFIDENTIAL
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4. I n discussed the above genera
epecific..Ily with Osneral Bull* Because t
full war-gaming exercise it is the Boardts reconnex
one in which I fully concur) that thie paper is not one which
the IAC could or should handle unassisted, but one which should
be produced by a special ad hoc group comparable to the Edwards
Committee. If such a proYiorre laid on, the IAC community is
in good shape to furnish coordinated national intelligence on
Soviet raw air capabilities.
SHERMAN KENT
Assistant Director
National Estimates
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