Approved For Release 2000/08/08 : CIA-RDP96-00789R003500170003-3 = CPt es DELTA’ F-140m 12. Tubes’ SS-N- 3——-| —— DELTA HW 155m 16 Tubes S3-N- jennie fe . “ 8 ~—— DELTA HL 155m 16 Tubes S$-N-18 : : DELTA Wy 160in 16 Tubes SS-N-23 ————>} TRIDENT (OHIO-Class) SSBN TYPHOON Cry oe — RIDENT 170,7m 24, Tubes — 22s Comparative 7 Cross-Sections wae CS) Cie) “of SSBNs © Class 0) Approved For Release 2000/08/08 : CIA-RDP96-00789R003500170003-3
Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missile Force Developments The Soviet Navy operates the world’s largest strategic missile submarine force. older submarines, the majority of the nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) force consists of more Although it includes some 47 Part 1, Chapter IV Sew set wer 7 PWLMeerunrwtie ss 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 48 Approved For Release 2000/08/08 : 2§5-25 (mobile) New Heavy ICBM 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 (C3) 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 CIA-RDP96-00789R003500170003-3
es ray a eter ere Teme Pete ESR modern DELTA I, IJ, and HI 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 (C3) 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 4g Approved For Release 2000/08/08 : CIA-RDP96-00789R003500170003-3
Approved For Release 2000/08/08 : CIA-RDP96-00789R003500170003-3 ~ Modernization. of Soviet SLBMs Warhead Mix. a : DELTA, © TYPHOON “DELTA As illustrated in the 1987 edition of Soviet Military Power, (middle right), the ALEXANDER BRYKIN is specially designed to reload Soviet SSBNs 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 49 Approved For Release 2000/08/08 : CIA-RDP96-00789R003500170003-3
| Approved For Release 2000/08/08 : CIA-RDP96-00789R003500170003-3 As newer classes of nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines are deployed, existing platforms may be converted to cruise missile carriers, such as the YANKEE shown here, which has been modified to carry the SS-N-21 sea-launched cruise missile. oe US and Soviet SLBM Launcher and Reentry Vehicle (RV) Deployment 1981-1988 7,000 6,000 US RVs = 5,000 4,000 Soviet RVS 3,000 2,000 Soviet SLBMs 1,000 —SSnnancanaaaanase veces a aeece anna na aaa ————— es -a1;10 US SLBMs 0o-r- gy 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 a develop a hard-target-kill capability for its SLBM force. The new missile support ship class, the ALEXANDER BRYKIN, is designed to reload SSBNs with these modern missiles. This capability will allow Soviet SSBNs to hold additional targets at risk. Soviet Strategic Aviation Developments The Soviet intercontinental bomber force has his- torically lagged behind the SRF and navy in systems development. Recent Soviet efforts in strategic aviation, however, particularly with the BEAR H and BLACK- JACK long-range bombers, signal heightened interest in a manned-bomber attack force to diversify the character of their strategic forces. The BLACKJACK is the world’s largest and heaviest bomber. Designed to carry bombs and air-launched cruise missiles (ALCMs), the BLACKJACK can cruise subsonically over long ranges, perform high-altitude supersonic dash, and attack utilizing low-altitude, high- subsonic penetration maneuvers. As with the B-1, the BLACKJACK has a blended wing-body design with a variable-sweep wing and a single vertical stabilizer. It has an unrefueled combat radius of about 7,300 kilometers and a maximum speed of Mach 2.0. Eleven BLACKJACK bombers have been produced, and the first BLACKJACK regiment should begin forming this year. The backbone of the modern Soviet interconti- nental bomber force of the 1980s, however, will remain the BEAR H, armed with the AS-15/KENT ALCM. The Soviets also have in their inventory about 100 other BEAR bombers and air-to-surface missile carriers. The BEAR was first produced in the late 1950s, but some of these aircraft have been updated in subsequent years with new technology. Appfoved For Release 2000/08/08 : CIA-RDP96-00789R003500170003-3