NUCLEAR-POWERED BALLISTIC MISSILE SUBMARINES
CIA-STARGATE
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The documents from the CIA's Stargate program provide information about the modernization of the Soviet Union's strategic missile submarine force. The majority of the nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines (SSBN) are of the DELTA I, II, and III submarines armed with intercontinental-range missiles. The Soviets have introduced the TYPHOON and DELTA IV submarines with more accurate and longer-range missiles, increasing their SLBM weapons delivery capabilities by nearly 30% without increasing the overall size of their SSBN force. The Soviet Navy has also shown increased interest in operating SSBNs in the Arctic ice zone for greater security and protection. They have improved their submarine command, control, and communications (C3) systems and deployed extremely low-frequency (ELF) communications systems for better communication with their SSBN/SLBM assets. The Soviets may also begin testing modified versions of their missiles for improved accuracy and larger warhead yield. Additionally, the documents mention the development of the ALEXANDER BRYKIN, a missile support ship designed to reload SSBNs, thus enhancing Soviet wartime capabilities. The documents also provide some details about the Soviet intercontinental bomber force, particularly the BLACKJACK bomber and the BEAR H long-range bomber. These developments suggest the Soviets' interest in diversifying their strategic forces with a manned-bomber attack force.
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YANKEE l 130m 1Tubes SS N 11
DELTA-Class
1+--DELTA II 155m 16 Tubes SS N-B
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Modernization of Sovietk ICBMs Warhead Mix
Submarine-Launched Ballistic
Missile Force Developments
The Soviet Navy operates the world's largest strategic
missile submarine force. Although it includes some
older submarines, the majority of the nuclear-powered
ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) force consists of more
Part 1, Chapter IV 47
modern DELTA I, II, and III submarines armed with
intercontinental-range missiles that can reach North
America from Soviet ports and coastal waters.
Within the last seven years, the Soviets have in-
troduced the TYPHOON and the DELTA IV, both
equipped with more accurate, longer range MIRVed
intercontinental missiles. The introduction of these
systems has enabled the Soviets to increase their SLBM
weapons delivery capabilities by nearly 30 percent with-
out increasing the overall size of their SSBN force.
At the same time, submarine survivability was being
significantly enhanced.
Based in the Pacific Ocean and Northern Fleet areas,
the Soviet ballistic missile submarine force is equipped
with over 3,000 warheads on submarine-launched bal-
listic missiles (SLBMs). In wartime, a portion of these
forces is expected to serve as a survivable nuclear
reserve. In the last decade, the deployment of multiple-
warhead SLBMs with ranges sufficient to reach the
United States from waters near the USSR has allowed
the Soviets to plan to operate the majority of their
SSBNs in protected "bastions," or havens, near the
Soviet Union. Mixed groups of naval air, surface, and
submarine assets, along with fixed sensors and mine-
fields, will operate in wartime to protect these SSBN
bastion areas against US/NATO antisubmarine forces.
Additionally, within the last several years the Soviet
Navy has increased greatly its interest in the Arctic as an
area of military operations, particularly for its SSBNs.
The Soviets think that SSBN operations in the Arctic ice
zone could increase submarine survivability, based on
their belief that operations under and near the Arctic ice
pack might provide their deployed SSBNs with greater
security and protection than in more exposed waters.
To ensure that they can communicate with their
SSBN/SLBM assets, the Soviets have recently improved
their submarine command, control, and communica-
tions (C3) systems by deploying an extremely low fre-
quency (ELF) communications system. Newly deployed
BEAR J aircraft offer an additional means of effective
SSBN communication redundancy by providing very
low frequency (VLF) communication transmissions to
SSBNs on patrol.
The Soviets may begin at-sea flight testing of a
modified version of the SS-N-20 missile sometime this
year. A modified version of the SS-N-23 missile will
probably complete testing in 1988. Improved accu-
racy of the Soviets' latest SLBM systems, as well as
possible efforts to increase SLBM reentry vehicle size
and warhead yield, would confirm Moscow's plans to
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s t` ;,. ~ ;,- ...
Modernization omof ;Soviet ICBMs Warhead Mix
New
Heavy ICBM
modern DELTA I, II, and III submarines armed with
intercontinental-range missiles that can reach North
America from Soviet ports and coastal waters.
Within the last seven years, the Soviets have in-
troduced the TYPHOON and the DELTA IV, both
equipped with more accurate, longer range MIRVed
intercontinental missiles. The introduction of these
systems has enabled the Soviets to increase their SLBM
weapons delivery capabilities by nearly 30 percent with-
out increasing the overall size of their SSBN force.
At the same time, submarine survivability was being
significantly enhanced.
Based in the Pacific Ocean and Northern Fleet areas,
the Soviet ballistic missile submarine force is equipped
with over 3,000 warheads on submarine-launched bal-
listic missiles (SLBMs). In wartime, a portion of these
forces is expected to serve as a survivable nuclear
reserve. In the last decade, the deployment of multiple-
warhead SLBMs with ranges sufficient to reach the
United States from waters near the USSR has allowed
the Soviets to plan to operate the majority of their
SSBNs in protected "bastions," or havens, near the
Soviet Union. Mixed groups of naval air, surface, and
submarine assets, along with fixed sensors and mine-
fields, will operate in wartime to protect these SSBN
bastion areas against US/NATO antisubmarine forces.
Additionally, within the last several years the Soviet
Navy has increased greatly its interest in the Arctic as an
area of military operations, particularly for its SSBNs.
The Soviets think that SSBN operations in the Arctic ice
zone could increase submarine survivability, based on
their belief that operations under and near the Arctic ice
pack might provide their deployed SSBNs with greater
security and protection than in more exposed waters.
To ensure that they can communicate with their
SSBN/SLBM assets, the Soviets have recently improved
their submarine command, control, and communica-
tions (C3) systems by deploying an extremely low fre-
quency (ELF) communications system. Newly deployed
BEAR J aircraft offer an additional means of effective
SSBN communication redundancy by providing very
low frequency (VLF) communication transmissions to
SSBNs on patrol.
The Soviets may begin at-sea flight testing of a
modified version of the SS-N-20 missile sometime this
year. A modified version of the SS-N-23 missile will
probably complete testing in 1988. Improved accu-
racy of the Soviets' latest SLBM systems, as well as
possible efforts to increase SLBM reentry vehicle size
and warhead yield, would confirm Moscow's plans to
48 Approved For Release 2000/08/08 : CIA-RDP96-00789R003500170003-3
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Modernization of Soviet SLBMs Warhead Mix
DELTA-Ill,
16EI:TA/
As illustrated in the 1987 edition of Soviet Military Power, (middle right), the ALEXANDER BRYKIN is specially designed to reload Soviet
SSIBNs away from their homeports, thereby increasing SSBN survivability and enhancing Soviet wartime capabilities. The lead unit of
this new class of missile support ship was photographed last year, providing a detailed view of SLBM storage and handling areas.
Part 1, Chapter IV 49
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mod'ified to carryhe SS-N-21 sea-launched c u senmi S'~ leto cruise missile
vert As newer classes ~e ~,ANKEEPhon ballistic which sebee submarines
carriersp such as
US and Soviet SLBM Launcher and Reentry
'Vehicle (RV) Deployment 1981-1988
Soviet SLBMs
1,000
Soviet Strategic Aviation Developments
The Soviet intercontinental bomber force has his-
torically lagged behind the SRF and navy in systems
i
on.,
development. Recent Soviet efforts in strategic aviat
however, particularly with the BEAR H and BLACK-
JACK long-range bombers, signal heightened interest in
a manned-bomber attack force to diversify the character
of their strategic forces.
.The BLACKJACK is the world's largest and heaviest
bomber. Designed to carry bombs and air-launched
cruise missiles (ALCMs), the BLACKJACK can cruise
subsonically over long ranges, perform high-altitude
supersonic dash, and attack utilizing low-altitude, high-
subsonic penetration maneuvers. As with the B-1, the
BLACKJACK has a blended wing-body design with
a variable-sweep wing and a single vertical stabilizer.
It has an unrefueled combat radius of about 7,300
kilometers and a maximum speed of Mach 2.0. Eleven
r-*- BLACKJACK bombers have been produced, and the
1987 1988 first BLACKJACK regiment should begin forming this
year. The backbone of the modern Soviet interconti-
nental bomber force of the 1980s, however, will remain
armed with the AS-l5/KENT ALCM.
the BEAR H
,
develop a hard-target-kill capability for its SLBM force. The Soviets also have in their inventory about 100 other
The new missile support ship class, the ALEXANDER BEAR bombers and air-to-surface missile carriers.
BRYKIN, is designed to reload SSBNs with these BEAR was first produced in the late 1950s, but some
modern missiles. This capability will allow Soviet of these aircraft have been updated in subsequent years
with new technology.
SSBIVs to hold additional targets at risk.
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