197. Memorandum From Allen
Dulles to Eisenhower1
Washington, September 12,
1959
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SUBJECT
- Soviet Guided Missile Estimate
1. The United States Intelligence Board has this week brought up to date
its estimate as to the current status of the Soviet Guided Missile
Program. I enclose a copy for your information.
2. In the course of its review the Board made use of a panel of
distinguished military and civilian experts involved in our own Guided
Missile Program. Their findings and recommendations are also
attached.
3. It occurred to me that you might find this latest thinking of ours of
use in preparation for your forthcoming talks with Chairman Khrushchev.
Enclosure
Memorandum From Hyland to Allen
Dulles
Washington,
August 25,
1959
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SUBJECT
- Report of DCI Ad Hoc Panel on Status of the Soviet ICBM Program
1. This Panel, consisting of the below membership and meeting at your
request, has reviewed available evidence relating to the Soviet
ICBM program. We have also
reviewed the Guided Missiles and Astronautics Intelligence Committee
(GMAIC) report on this subject, dated 21 August 1959 and have
discussed their report with the (GMAIC) members.
Mr. L.A. Hyland, Chairman
Mr. Charles R. Irvine
Major General John B. Medaris
Dr. William J. Perry
Dr. W.H. Pickering
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Rear Admiral W.F. Raborn
Major General Osmond J. Ritland
Dr. Albert D. Wheelon
2. Based on the foregoing, this Panel has arrived at the following
conclusions:
- a.
- Evidence acquired, primarily at the TYURA TAM missile test
range, indicates the Soviets are following an orderly, and
effective ICBM program,
and intend to acquire a substantial capability at the
earliest reasonable date. We believe the Soviets are now
testing the initial complete system capable of the
intercontinental range required by their needs. Although
there is only indirect evidence of KAPUSTIN YAR support to
this program, it is considered reasonable that the ranges
have been mutually supporting with respect to component
testing and shared experience.
- b.
- The Panel believes that a Soviet IOC capability with a very few operational
missiles (10)2 is at least imminent. This
number of missiles, however, represents only a highly
limited capability, and an operational capability sufficient
to assure the application of effective force in the
international field (100 missiles) will probably not be
available until late 1960 or later. It is also believed that
the Soviet determination as to their balanced needs may
result in a
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deployment of not more than 400 to 500
ICBM’s which could be
attained by the latter part of 1962. The Panel no longer
believes that this latter capability will be obtained in two
years after IOC, as the
evidence is now firm that the Soviets are not engaged in a
“crash” program.
- c.
- Regarding the characteristics of the ICBM at IOC, the Panel finds the
subject thoroughly discussed in the GMAIC report and, on
most points, generally valid. Two additive statements to the
GMAIC report are submitted, however, and in one instance,
the Panel favors the minority statement, as follows:
- (1)
- In the area of system mobility vs fixed sites, we
find the GMAIC statement well considered. We believe
further that whatever the operational launching
mode, the Soviet railroad will play a central role
in the operational deployment and usage of ICBMs.
- (2)
- The Panel considers the determination of the
CEP to be
extremely important, but does not find hard evidence
to substantiate the CEP figures in the GMAIC report. Recent
successes in the U.S. program indicate that
achievement of CEPs
considerably better than 3 n.m. theoretical and 5 n.m. operational may not
be as difficult a problem as initially believed.
Recognizing the difficulties of equating U.S.
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accuracies with Soviet capabilities, the Panel
believes the statement should be: “The operational
CEP of the Soviet
ICBM at IOC will not be worse
than 5 n.m. and may
very well be better.”
- (3)
- Available evidence does not adequately support a
probability of more than one basic type ICBM currently being
flight tested at TYURA TAM. Variations noted in
current test programs could well be achieved through
relatively minor modifications. Such changes would
also be sufficient to accommodate specific special
missions, such as certain space requirements. The
current missile should be capable of delivering a
warhead of at least 6000 pounds to a range of about
5500 n.m., or with
warhead reduced to the order of 3000 pounds could
achieve 7500 n.m.
range.
- d.
- Positive evidence relative to Soviet ICBM production facilities or
operational deployment sites continues to be missing. The
Panel believes that intelligence on the status of the Soviet
program requires these inputs if it is to be as precise as
national security demands. Recognizing that these types of
data have not been accumulated on other types of offensive
missiles either, some adjudged to have been operational for
several years, the Panel giving consideration to collection
means available to the U.S. finds this situation
alarming.
- e.
- The Panel can see no indications that the Soviet space
program has interfered with their ICBM program, nor vice versa. The Panel
considers that the Soviet facilities are probably adequate
to handle both programs even under a program more
accelerated than observed heretofore. While the Soviet space
program, observed to the current time, appears to have
utilized considerable ICBM
hardware, there appears to be no deficiency in reserve
missiles or equipment.
3. Available intelligence information continued to be inadequate for
assessing the Soviet ICBM threat.
We therefore strongly recommend that:
- a.
- All collection concepts capable of providing date on the
status of Soviet ICBM
accuracy, deployment and production be vigorously
pursued.
- b.
- Continued effort be directed toward determining Soviet
ICBM characteristics
by directing specific attention to the acquisition of
readable telemetry data prior to first stage burnout and to
the intercepts of the ICBM
beacon prior to final burnout. Additional collection should
be directed to the reentry phase including the type of
nosecone, fuzing and arming techniques, and possible use of
penetration aids.
- c.
- Present ELINT
capabilities be augmented by passive tracking capabilities
such as interferometer techniques.
- d.
- [text not declassified] activities
be directed toward acquiring data concerning ICBM deployment, production
rates and goals, and future ICBM design concepts.