Foreign Relations of the United States, 1977–1980, Volume XXVI, Arms Control and Nonproliferation

1. Memorandum From the Acting Director of the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency (Sloss) to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Brzezinski)¹

Washington, February 1, 1977

SUBJECT

• Anti-Satellite Related Arms Control Initiatives

NSDM 345² essentially directs that the Director, ACDA, in coordination with the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Defense, and the Director of Central Intelligence, identify and assess arms control initiatives intended to limit the development or deployment of a capability to attack satellites, to reduce the likelihood that satellites will be attacked, and to define actions that would constitute “interference” with satellites.

In view of its importance, but mindful of the possibility that the timing and scope of the arms control study and of related anti-satellite efforts may be changed, I am beginning the effort directed by the NSDM. I have asked that points of contact be designated by State, Defense and CIA.

Leon Sloss
Acting

1. Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Staff Material, Defense/Security, Utgoff, Box 156, Anti-Satellite Policy: 1–6/77. Secret.
2. The Ford administration issued National Security Decision Memorandum 345, “U.S. Anti-Satellite Capabilities,” on January 18, 1977. It is printed in Foreign Relations, 1969–1976, vol. XXXV, National Security Policy, 1973–1976, Document 134.