AIR FORCE POSITION ON SOVIET ANTI-MISSILE ACTIVITY

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79R00961A000400080033-0
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 15, 2016
• Document Release Date: October 15, 2003
• Sequence Number: 33
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For Release 200311W. C 1A000400080033-0
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ANNEX D
Air Force Position on Soviet Anti-Missile Activity
The Air Force does not agree with this paper but would substitute the
following:
It is evident that the Soviets are actively engaged in research and
development of several anti-missile systems to counter ballistic missiles
of varying ranges. The evidence suporte the conclusion that research
and development is under way to counter short, medium, and intermediate
range ballistic missiles. Limited evidence suggests that some work may
have been accomplished toward an anti ICBM system.
The threat to the Soviet e from short and medium range ballistic
missiles is primarily from those missiles which will be fired against
tactical targets in theater areas. This includes those missiles with
ranges up to approximately 600 n. m.
We believe that an outgrowth of the existing SAM systems could
produce in 1962-1963 some defense against ballistic missiles with ranges
up to approximately 50 n. m. There is evidence to show that the Soviets
have been engaged in a research and development program of an anti-
missile system to engage missiles in the 100-600 n. m. range. The defense
of tactical targets could be satisfied with a mobile or static system. Such
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a system could be deployed in 1963-1964.
The status of the ABM systems for defense against the IRBM and
ICBM is unknown and cannot be determined from the very limited information
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now available. We believe that the development of tactical ABM systems
is receiving a far greater effort from a testing point of view, than is the
development of a system for defense against strategic missiles.
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There is no basis for any assumptions regarding Soviet deployment of
ABM defenses. Since we cannot describe the characteristics of any
system we have no basis for determining its capabilities or limitations.
The Air Force believes that the Soviets will develop an ABM
system for defense against the IRBM, ALBM, FBM, and ICBM and that
this system -could be deployed about 1966. There is no firm evidence that
the Soviets are investigating techniques for discriminating against decoys.
Soviet research and development in anti-missile defense perhaps including
unconventional techniques, will undoubtedly continue as long as there
are ballistic missiles. The Soviets almost certainly will design their first
system in such a way that improved components can be incorporated as
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they become available. Improvements might include introduction of
better intercept vehicles or advanced discrimination techniques. We
believe that the Soviets will obtain a limited capability against low altitude
satellites when the anti-ICBM system is deployed. With presently
available equipment at the missile test centers, the Soviets could achieve
an intercept over the missile test centers of a low altitude satellite,,
after it had made several orbits, if they desired to do so and disrupted
other work.
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