NSDD 178 Strategic Forces Modernization

FOT TOP SECRET 2 operational in 1986. During the development of the ATB, design options will be preserved to ensure that the ATB could ultimately have the capability in conjunction with other national assets to locate and attack relocatable targets within the Soviet Union and other potential adver- saries. Also, the ATB should have the ability to deliver both nuclear and conventional weapons. The numbers of ATBs and Advanced Cruise Missiles to be deployed and their initial operational capability (IOC) dates are set forth in Annex One to this NSDD. The ACM should be prodúced and deployed on B-52Hs as rapidly as practical. Bomber modi- fications and rotary launcher schedules should be developed to support this schedule. NSDD-78 established 350 heavy bombers as a lower limit on the bomber force structure for purposes of the START negotiations. Previous force structure projections have not been compatible with this level. The Department of Defense should recommend an appropriate heavy bomber force structure plan to the National Security Council by December 1, 1985. (TS) 3. Sea-Launched Missile Forces. Continue the Trident II (D-5) and Trident submarine programs. The D-5 will be developed and deployed so that the first D-5/Trident SSBN will be deployed no later than 1989. While the final force structure of Tridents and D-5's is not determined at this time, acquisition of Tridents should occur at the rate of at least one every year until a final force structure decision is made. (S) 4. Land-Based Missile Deployment a. The Peacekeeper Program--Phase I. Continued develop- ment and production of the Peacekeeper missile will be accomplished on a priority basis. Sufficient missiles and associated ground support equipment will be produced to support an operational deployment of 100 missiles. At least 50 of these 100 missiles will be deployed in existing Minuteman silos in Wyoming, supported by Francis E. Warren Air Force Base. Specifically, the first 50 missiles will replace the Minuteman missiles in the 400th Strategic Missile Squadron (SMS). If the second 50 are deployed in Minuteman silos, they will replace Minuteman missiles in the 319th SMS in Wyoming and Nebraska. The IOC of the Peacekeeper missile in this basing plan will be achieved in 1986. The full operational capability of the 100 missiles will be achieved as soon as possible thereafter depending on the basing mode selected for the second 50 Peacekeeper missiles. Full operational capability for the first 50 Peacekeeper missiles in silos will be accomplished by the end of calendar year 1988. The Department of Defense should ensure that the production of Peacekeeper missiles is not OF 8 COPIES, COPY TOP SECRET