Foreign Relations of the United States, 1969–1976, Volume XXXIII, SALT II, 1972–1980

144. Memorandum From the Director of the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency (Iklé) to Secretary of State Kissinger¹

Washington, September 30, 1976.

SUBJECT

• SALT MIRV Verification

At yesterday’s SALT meeting in Geneva and in informal conversation today the Soviets indicated that they can accept a major portion of our position on verification of ICBM MIRVs.² In particular, they have indicated that they would count all SS–17, SS–18, and SS–19 launchers in the 1320 MIRV limit, with the exception that the launchers at two fields, Derazhnya and Pervomaysk, must be considered as a special case. While the Soviet leadership has previously indicated to you that it is willing to consider as MIRVed any missile tested with MIRVs, this is the first time the Soviets have agreed in Geneva to our position on MIRV launchers. It is also the first indication that the troublesome problem of deployment of SS–11 missiles in SS–19 launchers is confined to two fields, and will not be a widespread problem. The Soviet move in Geneva, of course, was not linked to cruise missile limits.

These Soviet comments are in response to a series of detailed questions which the U.S. Delegation asked at the last session, citing Derazhnya and Pervomaysk specifically. These two fields have a total of 180 launchers, all of the type we associate with the SS–19; but intelligence indicates some contain SS–11’s and some SS–19’s, with no hard evidence on the mix. The Soviets said yesterday that more of these launchers contain non-MIRV missiles than MIRV missiles. The Soviets have indicated that they are willing to address the situation at these two fields in more detail. In addition to working out a solution for Derazhnya and Pervomaysk, the Delegations can now address the SLBM MIRV launcher issue. This development moves the Geneva negotiations forward by a major step.

Fred C. Ikle

1. Source: National Archives, RG 59, Records of the Office of the Counselor, Lot File 81D286, Box 6, SALT, July 1976–. Secret. Sent under a covering memorandum from Sonnenfeldt, who commented: “I thought the Soviets would drag their feet on this technical issue, because of the linkage with the cruise missile issue. This linkage evidently still exists, as Gromyko made clear in New York. Nevertheless, they are apparently moving to clean up the MIRV verification issue itself, by telling us that: (1) they would count all SS–17, 18, and 19 launchers in the 1320 limit, except those in two particular fields, which will have to be considered as a special case.” (Ibid.)
2. Johnson sent his comments on the meeting in telegram 7593 from USDEL SALT TWO Geneva, September 29. (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D760367-1010)