SOVIETS TAKE LEAD IN SPACE LASERS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90R00961R000100090009-2
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 12
• Document Creation Date: December 23, 2016
• Document Release Date: January 18, 2013
• Sequence Number: 9
• Publication Date: September 6, 1985
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

Declassified in Part- Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/01/18: CIA-RDP90R00961R000100090009-2
umce oi turrent rroauction ana Analytic support
CIA Operations Center
News Bulletin : THE WASHINGTON POST, PAGE 0.0
6 SEPTEMBER 1985
ITEM No, 1
Soviets Take Lead in Space La
The superpowers' contest for military
supremacy in space continues, and the Soviets
appear to be substantially ahead in the latest
round: laser weapons.
CIA sources have told us they've discovered a
major laser test center at Krasnoarmeysk, 30 miles
northeast of Moscow. Even more alarming, the
facility is believed to be actually producing laser
weapons.
Evidence of the priority the Soviets place on the
Krasnoarmeysk weapons plant, the CIA has
determined, is that it is operated by an integrated
design bureau. ,
Ordinarily the Soviets borrow the capitalist
technique of competing design bureaus for
everything from tanks to ballistic missiles. They
have found that the competition eventually
produces better weapons?but it's too
time-consuming for a top-priority program.
"The Soviets have had a research program under
way since 1970 aimed at developing lasers with
weapons applications," notes a top-secret CIA
report.
The program includes at least a half-dozen major
research and development facilities and test ranges.
More than 10,000 scientists and engineers are
involved.
By way of comparison, the CIA estimates that a
similar U.S. laser weapons program would cost
about $1 billion a year. But the United States only
began playing catch-up during the Reagan
administration, with about $800 million earmarked
for laser weapons research in 1986.
One of the unique features of the Soviet laser
STAT
program is the development of a rocket-driven
magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) generator, which
produces 15 megawatts of short-term electricity as
a firepower source for the lasers.
A secret State Department report on the MHD
explains that "it generates current by passing a
conducting fluid through a magnetic field." The
report adds this disturbing comment:
"Their [the Soviets') MHD work is the largest in
the world and continues to grow. Power outputs
already achieved exceed those in the West several
fold, and both rocket power and liquid metal system
inputs could have potential for military programs in
high-energy lasers, charged particle beams and
space-borne laser power supplies. MHD is a
technology area where the Soviets clearly lead the
U.S. in demonstrated capability."
In fact, there is no counterpart device in the
West.
Both the CIA and the Pentagon believe that the
Soviets already have ground-based lasers that could
interfere with U.S. satellites, and they estimate
that by the late 1980s the Russians could have at
least prototype space-based laser weapons that
could incapacitate U.S. satellites.
The actual deployment of space-based lasers for
antisatellite use is a tricky business, however, and
the intelligence experts figure that the Soviets
won't have mastered this before the 1990s.
The various reports and estimates, which
accumulate with virtually every top-secret satellite
photograph and analysis of it, all demonstrate that
the Buck Rogers "ray gun" won't wait for Dr. Huer
to come along in the 25th century.
le/ \
SA/DC1
Ex Dia
MIc
AUDI
%CYNIC
PA
IDA
STAT
JJfWA
vm
me
um
3FxsTAFF
gi
www
avic
C) 11$
mao
mum
wks
/OD
PEE( m)
Declassified in Part- Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/01/18: CIA-RDP9OR00961R000100090009-2
Declassified in Part- Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/01/18: CIA-RDP90R00961R000100090009-2
R
Next 2 Page(s) In Document Denied
Declassified in Part- Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/01/18: CIA-RDP90R00961R000100090009-2
STAT
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/01/18:
CIA-RDP90R00961R000100090009-2 L SLIP 4 Sep 1985
TO: (Name, office symbol, room number,
building, Agency/Pest)
C/DSD/OSWR
1.
Initials
'1,4,
Date
4S(?ei
DD/OSWR
2.
6-
y
3.
4.
5.
Action
File
?I
Note and Return
Approval
For Clearance
Per Conversation
/As Requested
For Correction
Prepare Reply
Circulate
For Your Information
See Me
Comment
Investigate
Signature
Coordination
Justify
REMARKS
A response to the ad hoc
request from the DCI via
Nb/USSR and NIO/SU.
Copy of the telephone
message on what was wanted
is attached for your
information.
STAT
DO NOT use this form as a RECORD of approvals, concurrences, disposals,
clearances, and similar actions
FROM: (Name, org. symbol, Agency/Post)
Room4NGo:TENdfi
STAT
Phone No.
STAT
5041-102 OPTIONAL FORM 41 (Rev. 7-76)
Prescribed by GSA
FPMR (41 CFR) 101-11.206
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/01/18:
CIA-RDP9OR00961R000100090009-2
Declassified in Part- Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/01/18 : CIA-RDP90R00961R000100090009-2
3
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
Dr. Nall,
30 AUG 1986
30 August 1985
Fritz Ermarth called with the following action for you:
He met with the DCI this morning and was asked for aniupdatelon
Soviet SDI technology progranii1 -- what we have learned lately--
and cables or summaries of cables where iSoviet:q.scientists_ny?'
;admitted that they are.reall',:worIcing,OnOtil6Oftnese
technologiesi
He didn't know how ssoon the DCI wanted this information, but he told
Mr. Casey that he would pass the request on to you. Fritz is off until
Wednesday morning.
Susan
)
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/01/18 : CIA-RDP90R00961R000100090009-2
25
Declassified in Part- Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/01/18: CIA-RDP90R00961R000100090009-2
Memorandum for: NIO/Science and Technology
From : Chief/Directed Energy Branch/DSD/OSWR
Subject : "Soviet SDI Technology Programs" (U)
0 4 SEP 1985
Attached is a potpourri of cables and reports that are in response to
the DCI's request to Fritz Ermarth for (i) updates on the Soviet "SDI
technology programs" (sic) and (ii) Soviet admissions of their work on
these technologies. 25X1
These materials were collected through the good graces of OSWR analysts
Att: a/s
SE
X1
25X1
Declassified in Part- Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/01/18: CIA-RDP90R00961R000100090009-2
50X1 -HUM
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/01/18:
V
CIA-RDP9OR00961R000100090009-2
040
Next 5 Page(s) In Document Denied
al*
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/01/18:
CIA-RDP9OR00961R000100090009-2
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/01/18:
CIA-RDP9OR00961R000100090009-2
Army giveth...
and then taketh away.
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/01/18 : _
CIA-RDP9OR00961R000100090009-2
50X1 -HUM
Declassified in Part- Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/01/18: CIA-RDP90R00961R000100090009-2
R
Next 1 Page(s) In Document Denied
Declassified in Part- Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/01/18: CIA-RDP90R00961R000100090009-2
Declassified in Part- Sanitized dopy Approved for Release 2013/01/18: CIA-RDP90R00961R000100090009-2
2 3 AUG 1986
Soviets acknowledge space weapons
research in new 'Star -%%ars'boOld?
By Bill Gertz
??? THE WASHINGTON TIMES
The Soviet Union has aCElowre-dge-dr
for the first time that it is engaged id
Military _space_ researelilbut denies its
, Military efforts are geared toward devel-
opin_gspace strike weapons.", :?;.;
The Soil-lets re--v-e-Creal existence ol theirj
S'?-fiTace weapprogranrieW566kra
'issued last week called "Star Wars: Deltij
.5"sions and Dangers ,Ta Polemic against the
We-Ala -Ediiiiiiistration's Strategic
Defense Initiative. A copy of the report
was obtained by The Washington Times.
The 56-page booklet was published in
Moscow by the Military Publishing
? House and is being distributed by the
Information Department of :the Soviet
Embassy in Washington. -
Compared with Other Soviet propa-
ganda releases, "Star Wars" appears
more sophisticated and contains color
, maps and drawings of U.S. military sys-
tems, including a drawing of a proposed
U.S. mobile intercontinental ballistic
missile called the Midgetman.
It also shows the location of U.S. anti-
satellite warfare bases in the United beams and lasers capable of attacking
: States where F-15 aircraft capable of fir- objects in space. A;
lag anti-satellite missiles are stationed. -1But a draft CIA report on Soviet space
The Reagan administration said lliesday -weapons research circulated on Capitol
. it would conduct three tests of an air- Hill last March states that "hostile Soviet
borne anti-satellite interceptor this year. :reactions" to SDI and "lobbying by high-
After criticizing VS. space defense level Soviet scientists" should be viewed
research as part of a "strategy directed . ?m light of the 'fact that the Soviets are
' to preparing the stage for nuclear war," :.:.engaged in extensive space weapons
- -
"Despite its shrill protests against President ,
i?Reciganys Strakfic Defense Initktive [known as
'Star Wars'], the Soviet Union has been developing
its own 'Star Wars' space weapons since 1964
the Soviet booklet states that "certainly
space research is also being done in the
Soviet Union, and in the military field,
too." .
It adds that the Soviets are not devel-
oping any "space strike weapons:' the
Soviet phrase for space- and ground-
based satellite interceptors, particle
?
research.
"The Soviet Union has not admitted to
its own long-standing counterpart
[space] research, and the most vocal
Soviet scientists have themselves been
heavily involved in that weapons
research:' the CIA report on "Soviet
Directed Enegery Weapons" states.
The CIA report states that a Rand
Corp. study on Soviet space weapons
found Soviet research on exotic particle.
beam weapons "appears singularly appli-
cable to the task of propagating particle
beams in space:'
"The Soviets already have a ground-
based laser capable of damaging some
U.S. satellites:' the CIA report states.
By the 1990s, the CIA estimates that
the Soviets "may deploy operational
space-based laser systems for anti-,
? satellite purposes," the report states.
The CIA believes the United States is
"on the threshhold of an alternative
Soviet line of attack ? to compete with
the U.S. in strategic defense."
In Geneva lliesday the International
Defense Journal published an article
-.which asserted that the Soviet Union has
been working on its own "star wars" pro:
gram for two decades despite its 'opposi-
tion to U.S. plans to develop a space-based
missile defense shield.
"Despite its shrill protests against.
President Reagan's Strategic Defense
Initiative [popularly known as 'star
wars'', the Soviet Union has been devel-
oping its own 'star wars' space weapons
since 1964," said the article which was
based on information from Soviet bloc
sources. ? ' -
Among the space weapons being devel-
oped by the Soviets are new anti-ballistic
missiles known as the SH-04 and SH-08.
WAS HtNEZZY1/41 TtMf:F. 22. pve, gs-
Declassified in Part- Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/01/18: CIA-RDP90R00961R000100090009-2
Declassified in Part-Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/01/18: CIA-RDP90R00961R000100090009-2
frd
1,45z,
Declassified in Part- Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/01/18: CIA-RDP90R00961R000100090009-2
Declassified in Part- Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/01/18: CIA-RDP90R00961R000100090009-2
FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
There are no objective obstacles to reaching an
agreement on halting and 'outlawing the develop-
ment of space strike weapons, including research.
All the hindrances are artificially engineered in the
form of "arguments" and "objections". This
includes the long since discredited "Soviet military
threat" myth that is being spread by Washington,
and the latter's unwarranted references to the
"higher"'? rate ? at which the Soviet Union is
allegedly' using outer space in?military ways: But
all these arguments are groundless and were
invented in .haste, post, date. , When? the US
Administration announced. its "Star Wars" pro-
gram it mad& no mention of the USSR being
"ahead". The idea was to ascend to the "heavens"
and conduct a policy of? strength.
'CC---tal.nly,.-spaCe_research ?beiidffy
0.he?Sc:?Cli-e-t?Un ion ,_6nd-fin tice=milltary?f d-rdifi.-7
ctiSitThone Of-it-i's--aimed-at-developing'-spa-ce--st-rikej
113
rc-oncerns-iniproverne?nc--ef--space-based-early-w-arn-
eng,_sumeillance,_comrn_unication, .and- navigation
Mrster.)The USSR is not developing any spade
strike Weapons. And it has no intention of
building a "nation-wide" missile defense system.
The claim that the same' sort . of :?work as in
America is being conducted in the 'Soviet Union,
is nothing but a lie. The USSR abides rigidly by
the provisions of the permanent ABM Treaty
signed in 1972. ?
I
1
1
k /35
1 .
1 FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
i Declassified in Part- Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/01/18: CIA-RDP90R00961R000100090009-2
50X1 -HUM
Declassified in Part- Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/01/18: CIA-RDP90R00961R000100090009-2
R
Next 30 Page(s) In Document Denied
Declassified in Part- Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/01/18: CIA-RDP90R00961R000100090009-2