SOVIET SLBM LAUNCH TECHNIQUES

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80M00165A002400010001-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 15
• Document Creation Date: December 15, 2016
• Document Release Date: February 24, 2004
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: March 15, 1977
• Content Type: MF

Approved F
I aseXr~' 6 CIA-RDP80M001?00 00010001-7
1 F MAR 1977
11EMCRANDUM FOR: Director of Central Intelligence
SUBJECT Soviet SLBNI Launch Techniques
REFERENCE Letter to DCI from
25 February 1977
dated
1. We have reviewed the referenced letter, sent to
you b In this letter,
Itates that he has proven unequivocally that the
ovie union has been-launching their fleet ballistic missiles
by floating them to the surface. The missiles would remain
suspended in a vertical position, with firing taking place
at a time independent of the time at which the missile was
released by the submarine. While concedes that
to date only Soviet SSBNs have been identified as releasing
the missiles, he extrapolates to the possibility that per-
fection of the "free-float" technique would permit the-deploy-
ment of ballistic missiles from a variety of stationary and
moving platforms. Based on our review, elieve that at
present there is no evidence to support hesis.
2. Over the past several years, .as met with 25
members of the Intelligence Community in an attempt to convince
them of his theory. Upon his retirement and in an attempt to
resolve this question, the Naval Intelligence Support Center
(NISC) provided him with clearances, personnel, and documentation
relevant to the problem.
3. I Icame away from this exercise still con-
vinced that his theory was correct. However, the NISC personnel
that worked with him on this project remained convinced that,
in fact; the data proved.just the opposite; i.e., that with
slight.