Foreign Relations of the United States, 1958–1960, Volume III, National Security Policy; Arms Control and Disarmament, Microfiche Supplement

193. Memorandum From Boggs to the NSC¹

Washington, August 11, 1959

SUBJECT

• Priorities for Ballistic Missile and Space Programs

REFERENCES

• A. NSC Actions Nos. 1846, 1941, 1956 and 2103
• B. Memos for NSC from Executive Secretary, same subject, dated May 7 and 10, 1959
• C. NSC Action No. 2081

The enclosed memorandum from the Secretary of Defense, for recommending revisions in NSC Action No. 2081–b, is transmitted herewith for consideration by the National Security Council at its meeting on Tuesday, August 18, 1959.

Marion W. Boggs
Acting Executive Secretary

cc: The Secretary of the Treasury

The Director, Bureau of the Budget

The Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff

The Director of Central Intelligence

The Administrator, National Aeronatics and Space Administration

The Special Assistant to the President for Science and Technology

Enclosure

Memorandum From McElroy to the Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs

Washington, August 10, 1959

SUBJECT

• Priorities for Ballistic Missile and Space Programs

REFERENCES

• NSC Actions Nos. 1846, 1941, 1956, 2013 and 2081

At the meeting on 18 May 1959 the National Security Council noted, under NSC Action No. 2081, that the President has established the following programs as having the highest priority above all others for research and development and for achieving operational capability; scope of the operational capability to be approved by President:

(Order of listing does not indicate priority of one program over another.)

(1) ATLAS (ICBM) Weapon System.

(2) TITAN (ICBM) Weapon System.

(3) THOR-JUPITER (IRBM) Weapon Systems.

(4) POLARIS (FBM) Weapon System.

(5) Antimissile-missile defense weapon system, including active defense and related early warning for defense of the United States proper.

(6) Space programs determined by the President on advice of the National Aeronautics and Space Council to have objectives having key political, scientific, psychological or military import.

It is believed that the weapon systems and related programs included in the above listing should be re-examined for the following reasons:

(a) The THOR–JUPITER IRBM programs are well advanced and deployment problems appear to be such that the need for a special priority to procure these items no longer exists. The highest Department of Defense priority will meet the needs of the THOR and JUPITER programs.

(b) The MINUTEMAN ICBM weapon system, now in the research and development stage, has progressed sufficiently to justify the assignment of the highest national priority to this weapon system. The assignment of priority is in consideration of the projected military importance of this system and the demonstrated need for this priority to achieve earliest possible operational capability.

(c) It is believed that the intent of the priority on antiballistic missile defense weapon system, including active defense and related early warning for defense of the United Stated proper, would be more easily realized by defining the programs now being carried out within this area. The present projects now considered to properly belong within the antiballistic missile defense category are:

(1) NIKE-ZEUS Weapon System

(2) Ballistic Missile Early Warning System (BMEWS) Phase I, including Project DEW DROP

In view of the above, the following recommendations are presented:

(a) Delete the THOR-JUPITER (IRBM) Weapon Systems

(b) Delete the antimissile-missile defense weapon system, including active defense and related early warning for defense of the United States proper

(c) Add the MINUTEMAN (ICBM) Weapon System (now in research development)

(d) Add NIKE-ZEUS Weapon System

(e) Add Ballistic Missile Early Warning System (BMEWS) Phase I, including Project DEW DROP

Attached is a brief description of each project recommended for inclusion in the national priority list.

/s/ Neil McElroy

Attachment 1

Washington, undated

MINUTEMAN (ICBM) WEAPON SYSTEM

The MINUTEMAN program is an Air Force development to provide a second generation intercontinental ballistic missile using 3-stage solid propellant propulsion to deliver thermonuclear warheads on targets up to 6500 nautical miles from launch points.

This project is now in advanced research and development and is approaching component final design. The decision for production and deployment has not been made.

Attachment 2

Washington, undated

NIKE-ZEUS WEAPON SYSTEM

The NIKE-ZEUS is being developed by the Army to provide a defense against all forms of the ballistic missile threat out to a range of 75 nautical miles. An early system demonstration against simulated targets up to 130,000 feet altitude is scheduled during 1961 at the White Sands Missile Range, with full system capability demonstration against actual ballistic missile targets up to 500,000 feet altitude in 1962.

The engineering design of the system is essentially complete and major components are now being fabricated or installed for tests. The decision for production and deployment of this system has not been made.

Attachment 3

Washington, undated

BALLISTIC MISSILE EARLY WARNING SYSTEM (BMEWS) PHASE I, INCLUDING PROJECT DEW DROP

BMEWS is an Air Force project to provide a ballistic missile early warning system with radars to be located at Clear, Alaska; Thule, Greenland; and a site in the United Kingdom. The system is designed to give warning of a mass ballistic missile attack on the North American continent.

Site I at Thule, Greenland is more than 50% complete. Construction at Site 2 at Clear, Alaska will beging this summer. Negotiations for Site 3 in the United Kingdom will begin in Agugust 1959.

Site 1 will be operational in September 1960, Site 2 in September 1961, and Site 3 approximately 36 months after completion of negotiations with the United Kingdom.

The Air Force Project DEW DROP is a 630 mile long Tropospheric Forward Scatter Communications System which will link the BMEWS station at Thule, Greenland with Cape Dyer, Baffin Island and existing rearward communications to the United States.

The equipment for DEW DROP is already installed and is under final test. The system will be operational in December 1959.

1. Source: Transmits Secretary of Defense’s paper on ballistic missile and space programs. Top Secret. 7 pp. NARA, RG 59, S/S–OCB Files: Lot 61 D 385, Ballistic Missiles.