Office of the Historian

50. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (McFarlane) to President Reagan1

Washington, July 9, 1985

SUBJECT

  • Update to NSDD–91 (Strategic Modernization)

Issue

Whether or not to sign a new NSDD which updates your Strategic Modernization Program guidance to the Department of Defense.

[Page 165]

Facts

NSDD–912 (Strategic Modernization) is now more than two years old. A number of significant changes to our programs and the world situation have occurred since NSDD–91 was published. This new NSDD3 integrates these changes into your modernization program.

Discussion

This new NSDD directs the Department of Defense to begin work on several important new programs which have become more important due to recent Soviet advancements in research and weapons deployments. These new U.S. programs include warning of attack by air and sea-launched cruise missiles, research and development on defense against cruise missiles and bombers (to complement our work on defense against ballistic missiles in your SDI program) and the development of capabilities to attack relocatable targets like the Soviets’ new SS–24 and SS–25 ICBMs.

The new NSDD has been coordinated with both Secretary Weinberger and Secretary Shultz.

Recommendation

OK NO

____ ____ That you sign the attached new Strategic Modernization NSDD and Annex One.4

  1. Source: National Security Council, National Security Council Institutional Files, Box SR–090, NSDD 178. Top Secret; Special Access. Sent for action. Prepared by Douglass. Reagan wrote his initials in the upper right-hand corner of the memorandum. A stamped notation at the top of the memorandum reads: “Signed.”↩
  2. Scheduled for publication in Foreign Relations, 1981–1988, vol. XLIII, National Security Policy, 1981–1984.↩
  3. Printed as Document 51.↩
  4. Reagan indicated his approval by writing a checkmark and his initials. Tabs A and B are printed as Document 51.↩