Budgetary and Military Effects of the Strategic Arms Reduction Talks (START) Treaty

Abstract : This memorandum summarizes an analysis of the costs and military effects of the proposed Strategic Arms Reduction Talks (START) treaty currently being negotiated by the United States and the Soviet Union. The proposed treaty would limit the total number of strategic warheads in various categories that each country could deploy. For the most part, however, the treaty would not limit production or deployment of particular weapon systems. Thus, by altering the number of older systems that are retired, the United States could accommodate the proposed START treaty while pursuing varying amounts of modernization of strategic offensive forces.