==Tu-22M and SALT== 
 Fikri - On March 11, 2004, you added this statement to the PSC Tupolev article: 

 In the 1970's development were concentated in improving the performance and lethality of the Tu-22M bombers which spawned many capable variants including maritime versions. It is the presence of these bombers in quantity that brought about the SALT treaties. 

 That's a pretty interesting idea, but do you have a reference?  I don't find it implausible, but none of the accounts that I have found allude to this.  I'd like to know more, if you have details on this   -