NSDD 78 United States Approach to Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) Negotiations V

TOP SECRET TOP SECRET 4 Until the necessary study is completed, the U.S. will not raise the issue of limitation of SLCMs. If raised by the Soviets, the U.S. delegation will note that possible limitation of SLCMs must be accompanied by measures to ensure effective verification and that before such limits can be discussed, we must understand how they could be verified. If pressed further, the delegation will state that the problems associated with the verification of possible limits on SLCMs are currently under study in Washington, and that until that study is complete, it has nothing further to say about this issue. (S) The U.S. position remains that, if limited at all, SLCMs should be limited within the context of START, but the U.S. will not imply any commitment to limit SLCMs in the future at this time. (S) Limits on Mobile ICBMs (C) The U.S. will neither propose to ban nor to permit mobile ICBMs at this time. If the issue is raised by the Soviets, the U.S. will maintain its current position that mobile ICBMs, if allowed in START, must be accompanied by measures to ensure effective verification. (C) Direct Limits on Ballistic Missile Throwweight (C) The U.S. goal remains direct and equal limits on deployed ballistic missile throwweight below current U.S. levels to be achieved in Phase II. Using the proposed U.S. definition of ballistic missile throwweight and associated counting rules, the numerical goal is an equal limit on deployed ballistic missile throwweight in Phase II at a level below 1.9 mkg. (S) Throwweight Definition & Counting Rule (C) The U.S. will propose the following definition and associated counting rule for the treatment of ballistic missile throwweight within START. (C) (1) For existing types of ballistic missiles, throwweight should be determined on the basis of the maximum demonstrated in any flight test. (C) (2) For new types of ballistic missiles, the maximum demonstrated throwweight will be compared to the missile's potential throwweight (for a specific reference range) . The larger of the two values will be assigned as the throwweight of the particular missile. (C) TOP SECRET E 1 of 9 copies TOP SECRET CHRON FILE