LETTER TO WILLIAM J. CASEY FROM WILLIAM PROXMIRE

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90B01390R000700980009-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 6
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: December 29, 2010
• Sequence Number: 9
• Publication Date: May 23, 1986
• Content Type: LETTER

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OFFICE OF CONGRESSIONAL AFFAIRS
Routing Slip
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INFO
1. D/OCA
2. DD/Legislation
3. DD/Senate Affairs
4. Ch/Senate Affairs
5. DD/House Affairs
6. Ch/House Affairs
7. Admin Officer
8. Executive Officer
9. FOIA Officer
10. Constituent Inquiries
Officer
11.
12.
1 / Y NOft/Nite
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TO:
SUSPENSE 10 June 86
TO #13: Please provide response.
STAT
EXECUTIVE SECRETARIAT
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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
DAVID R. OBEY, WISCONSIN,
CHAIRMAN
LEE H. HAMILTON, INDIANA
PARREN J. MITCHELL, MARYLAND
AUGUSTUS F. HAWKINS, CALIFORNIA
JAMES H. SCHEUER, NEW YORK
FORTNEY H. (PETE) STARK. CALIFORNIA
CHALMERS P. WYLIE, OHIO
DANIEL E. LUNGREN, CALIFORNIA
OLYMPIA J. SNOWE, MAINE
BOBBI FIEDLER, CALIFORNIA
SCOTT LILLY,
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Est Reodq
W 2398x
Conveso of the ` lnittd estates
JOINT ECONOMIC COMMITTEE
(CREATED PURSUANT TO SEC. BN) OF PUBLIC LAW 301. 79TH CONGRESS)
i )ashington, IN: 20N O
May 23, 1986
.A PIE
Mr. William J. Casey
Director
Central Intelligence Agency
Washington, D. C. 20505
ICE CHAIRMAN
WI IAM V. ROTH, JR.. DELAWARE
STE EN D. SYMMS, IDAHO
MATTINGLY, GEORGIA
ALFONSE M. D'AMATO. NEW YORK
PETE WILSON, CALIFORNIA
LLOYD BENTSEN. TEXAS
WILLIAM PROXMIRE, WISCONSIN
EDWARD M. KENNEDY, MASSACHUSETTS
PAUL S. SARBANES, MARYLAND
_ ^ ROBERT J. TOSTERUD,
_~ DEPUTY DIRECTOR
Dear Mr. Casey:
The purpose of this letter is to request that certain information
about Soviet weapons production be made available on an unclassified basis,
just as it has been in the recent past.
The Joint Economic Committee recently concluded our annual hearings
on the Allocation of Resources in the Soviet Union and China. Included in
the materials submitted for the hearings are tables showing production
quantities of 30 types of Soviet military equipment on an annual basis
for the years 1974-85. The tables are classified.
In the past hearings, we have been provided with the same information
for 26 types of Soviet weapons on an unclassified basis. Enclosed are copies
of tables 10-13, submitted to the Committee by DIA in 1982. The tables cover
Soviet production of Ground Force material missiles, aircraft, and ships for
each of the years 1977-81.
Similar information about Soviet weapons production is contained in
the DOD annual publication, Soviet Miliary Power. The 1986 edition includes
tables covering the same categories of weapons. However, only 22 types of
weapons are shown and for only a three-year period, 1983-85. In addition,
some of the totals in the DOD publication do not agree with the information
I have received and may have been carnpiled on a different basis.
I would like to have the data for the 26 types for each of the years
1974-85. This would give us the same kind of information in the same format
as has been provided in the past.
Of course, the classified tables show both CIA and DIA estimates. I
an not asking that this comparison be declassified. It would be acceptable
for the tables to show composite figures of the two agencies, or the estimates
of one or the other.
Sincerely,
William Proxmire
U.S.S.
WP:rkj
Enclosures
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3. SOVIET MILITARY RESOURCE TRENDS
a. Military Production Capabilities
The Soviet military industrial base is by far the world's largest in
number of facilities and physical size. The Soviet Union produces more indi-
vidual. systems in greater quantities than any other nation.
The Soviet industry has grown steadily and consistently over the past 20-
25 years. Its physical growth, and the commitment of large quantities of
financial and human resources is its most dynamic aspect, but its cyclical
production is its most important. Production plants appear to be continually
active, suggesting that as old weapons programs are phased out, new ones are
begun, leaving no down times or long periods of layoffs and inactivity. The
cyclical process, the continuing facility growth, and the high rates of produc-
tion keep the arms industry in a high state of readiness to meet any contingency.
Table 10
Soviet Ground Force Materiel Production
1977
1978
1979
1980
1981
Tanks
2,500
2,500
3,000
3,000
2,000
Other Armored Vehicles
4,500
5,500
5,500
5,500
4,500
SP Field Artillery
950
850
250
150
200
Towed Field Artillery
1,300
1,500
1,500
1,300
1,500
Multiple Rocket
Launchers
550
550
450
300
400
SP AA Artillery
300
300
300
200
200
Towed AA Artillery
250
100
--
--
--
Infantry Weapons
(thousands)
350
450
450
400
400
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?
Table 11
Soviet Missile Production
1977
1978
1979
1980
1981
ICBMs
300
200
200
200
200
IRBMs
100
100
100
100
100
SRBMs
200
250
300
300
300
SLBMs
600
600
700
700
750
SLBMs
175
225
175
175
175
ASMs
1,500
1,500
1,500
1.500
1,500
SAMs
50,000
50,000
50,000
50,000
53,500
ATGMs
35,000
35,000
40,000
50,000
60,000
Table 12
Soviet Aircraft Production
1977
1978
1979
1980
1981
Bombers
30
30
30
30
30
Fighters/Fighter-
Bombers
1,200
1,300
1,300
1,300
1,350
Transports
400
400
400
400
400
Trainers
50
50
25
25
25
Helicopters
900
650
700
750
750
Communications/Utility
100
100
100
100
25
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Table 13
Soviet Naval Ship Construction
1977
1978
1979
1980
1981
Submarines
12
13
12
13
10
Major Combatants
12
11
11
11
9
Minor Combatants
52
51
53
65
44
Auxiliaries
6
4
7
8
4
b. Military Exports and Assistance
During 1977-81, some $35 billion worth of Soviet military equipment was
delivered. The Near East and South Asian countries were the main receipients
with 74 percent of the total. The rapid increase in arms transfers during this
period can be attributed to: the new Arab wealth following the rise in oil
prices in 1973 and 1974; the sale of more sophisticated equipment such as MiG-23
and MiG-25 jet fighters, IL-76 transports, MI-24 combat helicopters, surface-to-
air missile systems, T-62 and T-72 medium tanks; and, higher Soviet prices.
Soviet Militar Deliveries by Area, 1954-1981
(millions of U dollars)
East Asia and Pacific
11,410
Latin America
3,890
Near East and South Asia
42,380
Africa
5,000
Third World
62,680
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