PENTAGON PLANS TO PUBLISH STUDY DESCRIBING SOVIET ARMED STRENGTH

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90-00552R000707060048-1
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 23, 2010
• Sequence Number: 48
• Publication Date: September 27, 1981
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

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i en .iguti 1 LUILJ LV l wa;'uoi8 .Jiuuy
Describing Soviet Armed Strength
Officials Say Document
Is Designed to Dispel
Doubts Over Buildup
By BERNARD GWERTZMAN
Special to The New York Times
WASHINGTON, Sept. 26 - The Rea-
gan Administration plans to make pub-
lic a detailed description of Soviet mili-
tary strength next week to document its
contention that the West faces an in-
creasing threat from the Soviet Union.
The portrayal of Soviet military
power is packaged in a glossy, 99-page
booklet that includes color charts, draw-
ings and photographs to demonstrate
the growth of Soviet strength.
Officials said the purpose of the publi-
cation, to be released at a news confer-
ence by Defense Secretary Caspar W.
Weinberger, possibly on Tuesday, is to
dispel the doubts, particularly in the
United States and in Western Europe,
about the Administration's contention
that the Soviet Union is embarked on a
major spending campaign to gain mili-
tary superiority over the West.
U.S. Responding With Buildup
The Reagan Administration has em-
barked on a large spending campaign of
its own, in which the Pentagon, almost
alone of the government departments, is
being allowed to increase its outlays in
coming years.
As part of an acknowledged public
relations campaign, Secretary of State
Alexander M. Haig Jr. made a trip to
West Berlin and Bonn earlier in the
month to speak out against what he de-
picted as a Soviet threat to Western Eu-
rope and to stress the need for the West
to match the Soviet buildup.
Last week, in a letter to Leonid I.
Brezhnev, the Soviet leader, Prc' de.at
The New York Times
Caspar W. Weinberger
t Might:
A LT 0 S. View
Report Cites Strength
But Lacks Conclusion
By LESLIE: H. GGELB
Special taTke New York Ti r.e?a
WASHINGTON, Sept. 26 -- In a 99-
page report plus a prc'tace, including
1 photographs and artisi:'' renditions of
Soviet weapons, the Dc'eirtment of De-
fense paints a picture of a hug' s and dy-
nary),:. Soviet military ma-
chine. But there is no new
inform l"'.:>n, no conclusion,
no systematic comparison
with American forces, only
Reagan drew r.,'tenlion to tii -,vies ~-=.,as
buildup as one of the aspects I:a' was
troubling the United States.
Mr. Haig is believed to have disci L. sed
this concern when he met witl ?or,ign
Minister Andrei A. ofnnvko of the
Soviet Unio on Wednesday in New
York. The two men will meet again in
New York on Monday.
Most of the basic facts in the ..utiKiet,
which is titled "Soviet Military Power,"
have been made oublic in testimony he-
the impres=sion of relentless and almost
{ overwhelm-ng,Soviel military power.
t'4le r ^t ~ ~. stci~ hog-:: r>f G w i~ klts~ ';~, t
Defense S. .ret:ar} aspar s 'L'c inter
get has said on m ~nanv occasiui S -- that
the ini ecl St.afF is now in "a f>osition of
danger. us imbalance with the Soviet
Union."
Con-is tent With :Vnenpaign Charge
But its co-itent frilly consi:tent wr::h
that me;s .ge and with Ronald Reagan's
charge in the 1.980 presidential cam-
paign that the Soviet Union had
achieved military superiority over the
United States.
Among the very, few challenges to this
assumption are the annual studies of the
military balance prepared by the Inter-
national Institute for Strategic Studies,
a research group based in London.
'!Mesa studies ht.: -7>resscd con^ern
about "trends" it tike balance tapping
toward Moscow, noting particular areas i
of Soviet advantage, but have also
called attention to continued American
military strength and to the great risks
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Soviet Might: U.S. Sees
'luge Military Machine
ntercontlnental ballistic missild In its silo at an unidentified site,
Continued From Page 1
they are inevitably to show Soviet su-
periority.
Submarine Comparison With U.S.
For instance, in the section on subma-
rifles, it is stated that "the Soviet Navy
currently operates some 377 subma-
rines, including 180 nuclear-powered
submarines, compared to 115 in the
United States Navy."
The booklet does say that the United
States currently leads the Soviet Union
in advanced technology, but it warns
that "the Soviets have dramatically re-
duced the U.S. lead in virtually 'every
important basic technology.
"The United States is losing its lead in
key technologies, including electro opti-
cal sensors, guidance and navigation,
hydroacoustics, optics and propulsion,"'
it says. "In many areas where the
United States continues to lead the Sovi
ets, their technology has achieved a
level of adequacy with respect to
present military requirements."
Mr. Weinberger, in his preface, says
the Soviet armed forces, now 4.8 million
men, have continued to grow over the
last 25 years "at a pace that shows no
sign of slackening."
"All elements of the Soviet armed;
forces the strategic rocket forces, the
ground forces of the Army, the Air
Force, the Navy and the air defense
forces-- continue to modernize with an
unending flow of new weapons systems,
tanks, missiles, ships, artillery and air-
craft,"_ he says. "The: Soviet defense
budget continues to grow to fund this
force buildup, to fund the projection of
Soviet power far from Soviet shores and
to fund Soviet use of proxy forces to sup
port revolutionary factions and conflict
in an increasing threat to international
stability."
Details on aTank Manufacttrer
To demonstrate the resources being
given to the Soviet military sector, the
Zta on to Is'ue Booklet on Soviet Armed Might
fore Congress or in specialized military
publications. But the idea behind this
publication, which was printed by the
Government Printing Office; is to in-
form a wider; public about what Mr.
Weinberger,' in a preface, calls "the
threat to Western strategic interests'
posed by the growth and power projec
tionof the Soviet armed forces."
Of particular interest are the maps in-
eluded in the publication, disclosing for
the first time the approximate location
of, Soviet launchers for long-range and
medium-range missiles armed with nu-
clear warheads. A map, omitting place
names, shows the SS-20, a mobile medi-
um-range missile, to be based largely in
the western part of the Soviet Union,
with its range including all of Western
Europe, Iceland and parts of the Middle
East and North Africa,
NATO Decision on Missiles
It was the concern over the buildup of
the SS-20 ,that prompted the North Atlan-
tic Treaty Organization to take steps to
deploy new American Pershing missiles
and cruise missiles in Western Europe
starting in 1983.84. The booklet says
that, as of July, some 250 SS-20 missiles,
each carrying three warheads, had been
deployed. Of these, 175 missiles with 525,
warheads "are. deployed opposite the
NATO countries."
There has been considerable opposi-
tion in Western Europe to the deploy-
ment. of the American missiles, and
when Mr. Haig was in West Germany,
he was asked by reporters why the
United States had not made; public its
evidence about the 55-20 deployments
There had been discussion in the past of
making available' satellite pictures of
the deployment, but this booklet limits
itself to diagrams and maps and de-
scriptive matezi&.
The booklet is not an attempt to pro-
vide an analysis of the balance of forces
in the world or in Europe. Few compara-
tive data on Wester forces `are pro-
vided. When comparisons are made,
ook1et discusses a large freight-car 'vu, tuu in eacn or me last eight
and tank manufacturing plant at Nizhni years, "the Soviets have produced more
Tagil, a 'city of 400,000 people in the than 1,000 fighter aircraft;"
Urals' industrial region, which is off q The Soviet Union is adding to its
limits to foreign travelers. number of nuclear warheads against
Booklet on Soviet Military
i
Special tofeNewYorkTimes`
Follow-
ing is the preface, signed by Secretary,
of Defame Caspar W. Weinberger, to
the 99-page booklet titled "Soviet Miii
Tice Soviet armed forces today num-
bar more than 4.8 million men. For the
past quarter century,. we have wit-
nessed the continuing growth of Soviet
military power at a pace that shows no
signs of slackening lathe future.
All elements of the Soviet armed;
forces`- the strategic rocket forces,'
the ground forces of the Army, the Air'
Force, the Navy and the air defense
forces - continue to modernize with
an unending flow of new weapons sys-
tems, tanks, missiles, ships, artillery=
and aircraft. The Soviet defense
budget continues to grow to fund this
force buildup, to fund the projection of
Soviet power far from Soviet shores
and to fund Soviet use of proxy forces
to support revolutionary factions and
conflict in an increasing threat to in-
ternationalstability.
Details of Structure Provided
To comprehend the threat to West
em strategic interests posed by the
growth and power, projection of the
Soviet armed forces; it is useful to con-
sider in detail the composition, organi-
zation and doctrine of these forces,
their ideological underpinning, and
their steady acquisition of new, in-
creasingly capable conventional, thea-
ter nuclear and strategic nuclear
weapons systems.
It is equally important to examine
the-U.S.S,R,'s industrial base, mill
tart' resource allocations, and continu-
ing quest for miltary-technological su-
periority which contribute to the effec-
tiveness of its armed forces and proxy
forces, and which support the Soviets'
position as world leader in arms ex-
ports.
Strength Exceeds 180 Divisions
The facts arestark:
The Soviet; ground forces have
grown to more than 180 divisions -'
motorized rifle divisions, tank divi
sions and airborne divisions - sta- ' powered cruisers and
erye-
tioned in Eastern Europe, in the carriers, presently undr construU.S.S.R., in Mongolia, and in combat tion. This growing naval force emerg-
in Afghanistan. Soviet ground forces ing from large, modem shipyards is
have achieved the capacity for ex- designed to support sustained opera-
tended intensive combat in the central tions in remote areas in order to
region of Europe. project Soviet power around the world.
The Soviets have fielded 50,001 tanks The Soviet air defense forces man
and 20,000 artillery pieces. The Soviet 10,E surface-to air missile launchers
divisions are being equipped with the at 1,000 fixed missile sites across the
newer, faster, better armored T.64 and Soviet Union,
T-72 tanks. Some artillery units, or-
ganic to each division, include new, The growth of the Soviet armed
heavy mobile artillery, rriltiple forces is made possible by the
rocket launchers and self-proelbd, ar- whi hcontmilitary production
at the ex base'
mored 122-millimeter and 152-nillime- which coninues to grow at the expense
terguns of all other components of the Soviet
More than 5,200 helicopter are `economy. There are 135 major miii-
available to the Soviet armed rorces, tars industrial plants now operating in.
including increasing numbers tf Mi-S the Soviet Union with over 40 million.
and Mi-24 helicopter gunships }sed in square meters in floor space, a 34 per-
direct support ofground foroesonthe .'cent increase since 1970. In 1980, these
battlefieldplants produced more than 150 differ-
.
Fighter Output 1,OGl a Year
U.S. booklet says the Soviet ICBM arsenal includes 7,
Generally availabie Soviet publica-
tions mention only the civilian aspect of
the plant, which manufactures more
than a fourth of all Soviet freight cars,
which totaled 63,000 last year.
According to the Pentagon booklet,
the plant, with 8.3 million square feet of
floor space, also makes T-72 tanks, and
in 1980 manufactured 2,500 of them. The
T-72 is the largest tank in the Soviet in-
ventory, pending the development of a
new T-80 tank, also mentioned in the
booklet.
To illustrate the size of the Nizhni
Tagil plant, the booklet shows a map of
Washington, in which the plant area
would extend from the Lincoln Me-
morial to Capitol Hill, about two miles.
Details of Forces Presented
In discussing the Soviet forces, the
booklet makes these points:
ci Soviet ground forces have grown to
180 divisions, an increase of 30 since
1967, and "have achieved the capacity
for extended' intensive combat in the
central region of Europe " 5~ ve~nty-nine
percent of the ground forces axe sta-
tioned inside the Soviet Union, 1-6 per-
cent in Eastern Europe, 3 perct'nt in
Mongolia, and 2 percent in Afghanistan.
aThe Soviet Union has fielded 5tlsOOO
tanks and 20,000 artillery pieces. Sod"let
units are being equipped "with ti 1e
newer, faster, better armored T-64 an
T-72 tanks." Some artillery units "in
elude new, heavy mobile artillery, mul
tiple rocket" launchers and self-pro.
pelted, armored 122-millimeter and 152..
millimeter guns."
chore than 5,200 helicopters . are
available to the armed forces, including
increasing numbers of Mi-8 and Mi-24
helicopter gunships used to,support.
ground forces on the battlefield..
Western Europe, China and the United
States. The intercontinental missile
force and the submarine-launched ms-
rile force are being modernized, with
stress on accuracy and explosive force,
The Soviet intercontinental strategic ar-
senal includes 7,000 nuclear warheads.
c There are now eight classes of
Soviet submarines and eight classes of
major surface ships, including nuclear-
powered cruisers and new aircraft car-
riers under construction. "This growing
naval force emerging from large, mod-
em shipyards is designed to support sus?
tamed operations in remote areas in
order to project Soviet power around the
world," the booklet says.
c Soviet air defenses include 10,000
surface-to-air missile launchers at 1,000
fixed sites in the Soviet Union.
cThere are 135 major military indus-
trial plants in the Soviet Union, with
over 400 million square feet of floor
space, a 34 percent increase since 1970.
Mr. Weinberger, in his preface, says
that "there is nothing hypothetical
about the Soviet rmlitary machine."
"Its expansion, modernization, and
contribution to projection of power be-'
yond Soviet boundaries areobvious,
says. "A clear understanding of Soy^`
armed forces, their doctrine, their ca
bilities, their strengths, and their w
nesses is essential to the shaping w
maintenance of effective United
and allied armed forces." i
g More than 3,500 Soviet and Warsaw
Pact tactical bombers and fighter
planes are deployed in Eastern Europe
end types of weapons systems for
Soviet forces and for export to client
More than 3,500 Soviet and Warsaw states and developing countries.
Pact tactical bombers and fighter air-
craft are located in Eastern Europe 85,000 Soldiers in Afghanistan
alone. In each 'of the last eight years,
the Soviets have produced more than Today, the Soviets have more than
1,000 fighter aircraft. 85,E men fighting in Afghanistan,
Against Western Europe, Ch.na and Soviet naval forces are deployed in the
Japan, the Soviets are addirg con- major oceans of the world. The
stantly to deliverable nuclear ware U.S.S.R, is gaining increased access to
heads, with the number of lauchers military facilities and is supporting
growing, with some 250 mobil, SS-20 proxy conflicts in Africa, Southwest
intermediate-range ballistic nissile Asia, Southeast Asia and the Western
launchers in the field, and wit4 three Hemisphere.
nuclear warheads on each SS-!0 mis- There is nothing hypothetical about
site, the Soviet military machine. Its ax-
The Soviets continue to give hgh pri- pansion, modernization and contribu-
ority to the modernization of their in- tion to projection of power beyond
tercontinentai ballistic missile' Sovietbourdariesareobvious.
(ICBM) force and their submarine- A clear understanding of Soviet
launched ballistic missile (SLBM) armed forces, their doctrine, their
force, stressing increased accuracy capabilities, their strengths and their
and greater warhead throwweight, weaknesses is essential to the shaping
The Soviet intercontinental strategic and maintenance of effective U.S. and
arsenal includes 7,000 nuclear war- allied forces,
heads, with 1,398 ICBM launchers, 950 The greatest defense forces in the
SLBM launchers and 156 long-range world are those of free people in free
bombers. This does not include some rations well informed as to the chal-
150 nuclear-capable' Backfire bomb- lenge they face, firmly united in their
ers. resolve to provide fully for the corn-
The Soviets have eight clasr'es of' man defense, thereby deterrirag-
submarinea'and eight classes of major gression and safeguarding the se-
surface warships, including nuclear curity of the world's democracies,
Continued From Page 1
and uncertainties attending any actual
combat between the two superpowers.
Western military experts agree that
over the last 20 years, the Soviet Union
has made a major effort to redress the
balance of forces, and that Soviet forces
today are bigger and much better than
they were in 1960 and 1970. Beyond that,
the experts are divided, some arguing
that there is now an overall balance,
with the Soviet Union ahead in certain
respects and the United States in other
respects, and others saying that Moscow
is now superior. The new Pentagon re-
pert provides data to support the view of
Soviet superiority.
In those few instances where the Pen-
tagon report compares Soviet and
American military efforts and weapons,
the Russians are usually portrayed as
superior, but the evidence presented is
incomplete.
For example, the report says that
over the last 25 years the Soviet Union
has devoted an average of 12 to 14 per-
cent of its gross national product to the
military. In the same period the Amen-
can average was about 7 percent. But
the report does not point out that during
this period the size of the American
economy averaged at least twice that of
the Soviet Union. Thus, overall expend-
itures on the military tend to even out.
Soviet Spends More ThanU.S.
Although it is generally agreed that
Moscow has been spending more for
arms and men than Washington over the
last decade, this accounting does not in
elude allied expenditures. When the
military spending of the United States
and its allies is compare with that of
the Soviet Union and its allies, the plc-
tune is quite different. Spending by the
United States, its NATO allies, Japan
and China has been and remains higher
than military spending by the Soviet
Union, its Warsaw Pact allies, Cuba and
Vietnam.
Although the report does not discuss
these comparisons, it does point to their
effects on Soviet military deployments.
It is publicly acknowledged for the first
time that the Russians put as many of
their high-quality combat divisions
along the border with China as in Eu-
rope.
Of the S0 divisions in Europe, 5 per-
cent are category 1(the highest in readi-
ness, training and supplies), 20 percent
are category 2 (the middle rating) and
75 percent are category 3 (the least
ready). Of the 45 divisions along the bor-
der with China, 15 percent are category
1, 35 percent category 2 and 50 percent
category 3.
Twenty-five divisions are in the cen-
tral part of the Soviet Union and can be
used readily in either direction.
U.S. Technology Lead Challenged
The report also makes some general -.
comparisons about technology, saying
the United States' "lead in basic mili-
tary technology is presently being chal-
lenged." It implies that the United
States can no longer rely on its custom-
ary technological superiority to offset
Soviet numerical superiority.
The report says, and it is getleraliy
agreed, that Moscow now leads in the
development of high-powered laser -
weapons and electrical power sources
for directed energy weapons. It adds
that Washington still leads by two to
seven years in microelectronics, com-
puters and jet engines.
The last complete comparison of
Soviet and American military technolo-
gies was made in February 1980 in testi-
mony to Congress by Dr. William J.
Perry, then Under Secretary of Defense
for Research and Development. In corn-
paring 20 basic technologies, he said the
United States was ahead in 15, equal ins
and behind in none. These included
areas such as computers, optics and nu-
clear warheads.
As for high-technology weapons actu-
ally deployed by 1980, Dr. Perry found
that of 30 systems, the United States was
ahead in 14, behind in 7, and equal in 9.
These included weapons such as tanks
and aircraft.
250 SS-20 Missiles
The new report says that the Russians
have now deployed 250 SS-20 medium-
range missiles, mostly in Europe, with a
total of 750 warheads, and that 65 more
are under construction. The North At-
lantic Treaty Organization does not
have any comparable weapons and will
not have them until new Pershing and
cruise missiles are deployed beginning
about 1983.
The future deployment of these
American missiles has become a major
political issue, in Europe, as has the
United States decision to produce neu-
tron weapons. Moscow has conducted a
major propaganda campaign against
these weapons and against the increase
in American military spending general-
ly.
Mr. Weinberger and his aides have
said privately that they hope that this
new report on Soviet military power will
turn some of the spotlight of world opin-
ion on new Soviet military increases.
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