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  4. Document 86

86. Note From the United States to the Soviet Union1

Washington, undated.

1. Beginning in October 1977, and for the period through January 1, 1984, the number of ICBM launchers, SLBM launchers, and heavy strategic bombers will be limited as follows: for the US no more than 2200; for the USSR no more than 2400.

2. Thereafter, in the period lasting through the end of the new agreement (December 31, 1985), the number of weapons specified in paragraph 1 will be no more than 2400 for the US and for the USSR, unless agreement is reached beforehand on additional mutual reductions.

3. During the period from October 1977 through January 1, 1984, the number of ICBMs and SLBMs equipped with MIRVs will be limited as follows: for the US no more than 1320 and for the USSR no more than 1120.

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4. Thereafter, in the period lasting through the end of the new agreement (December 31, 1985), the limits on the number of ICBMs and SLBMs equipped with MIRVs will be 1320 for both the US and the USSR.

5. During the period of a new agreement, from October 1977 through December 1985, both the US and the USSR will have the right to deploy (a) no more than 250 new heavy strategic bombers, (b) no more than 288 modern SLBMs on new types of modern ballistic missile submarines, (c) no more than 180 new, modern large ICBMs equipped with MIRVs.

6. By the beginning of 1984, at the latest, the US and USSR will resume negotiations on a further agreement limiting strategic arms, with the aim of agreeing on a program of phased reductions to take effect after 1985.

  1. Source: National Archives, RG 59, Records of the Office of the Counselor, Lot File 81D286, Box 6, SALT, November–December 1977. No classification marking. A covering memorandum from Sonnenfeldt and Hyland to Kissinger explains that the note was to be passed to Dobrynin and that it had incorporated the changes in paragraph 5 that Kissinger had requested. (Ibid.) Kissinger gave Dobrynin the note on November 13. (Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Kissinger–Scowcroft West Wing Office Files, Box 27, USSR, The “D” File)↩