Carry Hard ICBM basing: A technical assessment

Carry Hard is a deceptive, multiple-aimpoint ICBM basing concept in which hardened, encapsulated missiles are shuttled among several thousand, low-cost, water-filled vertical shelters. Since most of the essential launch and operational support equipment is carried with the missile (not provided with each shelter), the overall system costs are reduced. High system hardness permits relatively close shelter spacing, which in turn allows Carry Hard to be deployed on a comparatively small piece of land (a few hundred square miles) that could be removed from public access. Controlled access to the deployment area helps in maintaining concealment of the missiles among the shelters. If concealment is successfully maintained, the system is believed to be survivable against plausible Soviet threats, regardless of whether attack-warning information is received or acted upon. Thus, Carry Hard holds high promise as a feasible, affordable, and survivable means of ICBM deployment, and a high priority should be given to developing the concept to the point that an informed decision on full-scale engineering development can be made. 33 refs., 4 figs., 5 tabs.