Approved For Release 2000/08/08
: CIA-RDP96-00789R0035001 70003-3
Modernization of Soviet ICBMs Warhead Mix
(mobile)
Submarine-Launched Ballistic
Missile Force Developments
The Soviet Navy operates the world’s largest strategic
missile submarine
force.
Although
it
includes some
older submarines, the majority of the nuclear-powered
ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) force consists of more
Part
1, Chapter IV
; Mid-1990s* 4
•
5%:
New
Heavy ICBM
SS-19
mfef1
modern DELTA
I,
II, and
III submarines armed with
intercontinental-range
missiles
that
can
reach North
America from Soviet ports and coastal waters.
Within
the
last
seven
years,
the
Soviets have
in-
troduced
the TYPHOON and
the DELTA
IV, both
equipped with more
accurate,
longer range MIRVed
intercontinental
missiles.
The
introduction
of
these
systems has enabled the Soviets to increase their SLBM
weapons delivery capabilities by nearly 30 percent with-
out
increasing
the
overall
size of
their SSBN
force.
At
the same
time, submarine
survivability was being
significantly enhanced.
Based in the Pacific Ocean and Northern Fleet areas,
the Soviet ballistic missile submarine force
is equipped
with over 3,000 warheads on submarine-launched bal-
listic missiles (SLBMs).
In wartime, a portion of these
forces
is
expected
to
serve
as
a
survivable
nuclear
reserve. In the last decade, the deployment of multiple-
warhead SLBMs
with
ranges
sufficient
to
reach
the
United States from waters near the USSR has allowed
the
Soviets
to
plan
to operate
the majority of
their
SSBNs
in
protected
“bastions,”
or
havens,
near
the
Soviet Union. Mixed groups of naval air, surface, and
submarine
assets, along with
fixed
sensors and mine-
fields,
will operate
in wartime
to protect these SSBN
bastion areas against US/NATO antisubmarine forces.
Additionally, within the last several years the Soviet
Navy has increased greatly its interest in the Arctic as an
area of military operations, particularly for
its SSBNs.
The Soviets think that SSBN operations in the Arctic ice
zone could
increase submarine survivability, based on
their belief that operations under and near the Arctic ice
pack might provide their deployed SSBNs with greater
security and protection than in more exposed waters.
To
ensure
that
they
can
communicate
with
their
SSBN/SLBM assets, the Soviets have recently improved
their submarine command,
control, and communica-
tions (C 3
) systems by deploying an extremely low
fre-
quency (ELF) communications system. Newly deployed
BEAR J aircraft offer an additional means of effective
SSBN communication
redundancy by
providing
very
low frequency (VLF) communication transmissions
to
SSBNs on patrol.
The
Soviets may
begin
at-sea
flight
testing
of
a
modified version of the SS-N-20 missile sometime
this
year. A modified version of the SS-N-23
missile
will
probably complete
testing
in
1988.
Improved
accu-
racy of the
Soviets’
latest SLBM
systems,
as
well
as
possible
efforts
to
increase SLBM
reentry
vehicle
size
and warhead
yield, would confirm Moscow’s plans to
Approved For Release 2000/08/08
: CIA-RDP96-00789R0035001 70003-3
Approved For Release 2000/08/08
: CIA-RDP96-00789R0035001 70003-3
modern DELTA
I,
II, and
III submarines armed with
intercontinental-range
missiles
that
can
reach North
America from Soviet ports and coastal waters.
Within
the
last
seven
years,
the
Soviets
have
in-
troduced
the TYPHOON and
the DELTA
IV,
both
equipped
with more
accurate,
longer range MIRVed
intercontinental
missiles.
The
introduction
of
these
systems has enabled the Soviets to increase their SLBM
weapons delivery capabilities by nearly 30 percent with-
out
increasing
the
overall
size
of
their SSBN
force.
At
the same
time, submarine
survivability was being
significantly enhanced.
Based in the Pacific Ocean and Northern Fleet areas,
the Soviet ballistic missile submarine force
is equipped
with over 3,000 warheads on submarine-launched bal-
listic missiles (SLBMs).
In wartime, a portion of these
forces
is
expected
to
serve
as
a
survivable
nuclear
reserve. In the last decade, the deployment of multiple-
warhead SLBMs
with
ranges
sufficient
to
reach
the
United States from waters near the USSR has allowed
the
Soviets
to
plan
to
operate
the
majority
of
their
SSBNs
in
protected
“bastions,”
or
havens,
near
the
Soviet Union. Mixed groups of naval
air, surface, and
submarine
assets, along with
fixed
sensors and mine-
fields,
will operate
in wartime
to protect these SSBN
bastion areas against US/NATO antisubmarine forces.
Additionally, within the last several years the Soviet
Navy has increased greatly its interest in the Arctic as an
area of military operations, particularly for
its SSBNs.
The Soviets think that SSBN operations in the Arctic ice
zone could
increase submarine survivability, based on
their belief that operations under and near the Arctic ice
pack might provide their deployed SSBNs with greater
security and protection than in more exposed waters.
To
ensure
that
they
can communicate
with
their
SSBN/SLBM assets, the Soviets have recently improved
their submarine command,
control, and communica-
tions (C 3
) systems by deploying an extremely low
fre-
quency (ELF) communications system. Newly deployed
BEAR J aircraft offer an additional means of effective
SSBN communication
redundancy
by
providing
very
low frequency (VLF) communication transmissions
to
SSBNs on patrol.
The
Soviets may
begin
at-sea
flight
testing
of
a
modified version of the SS-N-20 missile sometime
this
year. A
modified
version
of the SS-N-23
missile
will
probably complete
testing
in
1988.
Improved
accu-
racy of the
Soviets’
latest SLBM
systems,
as
well
as
possible efforts to increase SLBM
reentry vehicle
size
and warhead
yield, would confirm Moscow’s plans to
48 Approved For Release 2000/08/08
: CIA-RDP96-00789R0035001 70003-3
Approved For Release 2000/08/08
: CIA-RDP96-00789R0035001 70003-3
Modernization of Soviet SLBMs Warhead Mix
TYPHOON
DELTA-111,
DELTA-IV
As illustrated in the 1987 edition of Soviet Military Power, (middle right), the ALEXANDER BRYKIN
is specially designed to reload Soviet
SSIBNs away from their homeports, thereby increasing SSBN survivability and enhancing Soviet wartime capabilities. The lead unit of
this new class of missile support ship was photographed
last year, providing a detailed view of SLBM storage and handling areas.
Part
1, Chapter IV
Approved For Release 2000/08/08
: CIA-RDP96-00789R0035001 70003-3
Approved For Release 2000/08/08
: CIA-RDP96-00789R0035001 70003-3
A, newerd— C nr*ar,owe„d b,,«c
carriers, such as Ihe YANKEE shown here, which has been modified to
ry
be converted to cruise missile
cruise missile.
Soviet Strategic Aviation Developments
US and Soviet SLBM Launcher and Reentry
Vehicle (RV) Deployment 1981-1988
develop a hard-target-kill capability for its SLBM force.
The new missile support ship class, the ALEXANDE
BRYKIN
is
designed
to
reload SSBNs
with
these
modern
missiles.
This
capability
will
allow
Soviet
SSBNs to hold additional targets at risk.
The
Soviet
intercontinental bomber
force has
his-
jrically lagged behind the SRF and navy
in systems
evelopment. Recent Soviet efforts in strategic aviation,
owever, particularly with the BEAR H and BLACK-
ACK long-range bombers, signal heightened interest m
manned-bomber attack force to diversify the character
ff their strategic forces.
The BLACKJACK is the world’s largest and heaviest
imber
Designed
to
carry bombs and
air-launched
uise missiles (ALCMs), the BLACKJACK can cruise
ibsonically
over
long
ranges,
perform
high-altitude
ipersonic dash, and attack utilizing low-altitude, high-
lbsonic penetration maneuvers. As with the B-l,
t e
LACKJACK has
a blended wing-body design
with
variable-sweep wing and a single
vertical
stabilizer,
has an
unrefueled combat
radius
of about
7,300
ilometers and a maximum speed of Mach 2.0. Eleven
iLACKJACK bombers have been produced, and
the
rst BLACKJACK regiment should begin forming this
ear
The backbone of the modern Soviet mterconti-
lental bomber force of the 1980s, however, will remain
he BEAR H, armed with the AS-1 5/KENT ALCM.
rhe Soviets also have in their inventory about 100 other
JEAR bombers and air-to-surface missile carriers. The
3EAR was
first produced in the late
1950s, but some
>f these aircraft have been updated in subsequent years
with new technology.
Appifoved For Release 2000/08/08
: CIA-RDP96-00789R0035001 70003-3