Assessing the Capabilities of Strategic Nuclear Forces
The Limits of Current Methods
ResearchPublished 1980
The purpose of this Note is to assess the nature and validity of the various procedures used in assessing strategic forces capabilities. Problems of assessment and the limitations of procedures are illuminated and, in some cases, more appropriate measures are illustrated. The review also suggests the complexity involved in making such assessments and the difficulties of arriving at specific conclusions about force capabilities. The following topics are addressed: bases for evaluating strategic forces; estimating countermilitary capabilities; estimating countervalue capabilities; aggregate measures; and assessing strategic force capabilities in off-design scenarios. The final section presents a sample analysis of Soviet capabilities in the mid-1980s and considers some of the difficulties of trying to apply the methodologies described earlier in the report.
Document Details
- Copyright: RAND Corporation
- Availability: Available
- Year: 1980
- Print Format: Paperback
- Paperback Pages: 146
- Paperback Price: $35.00
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.7249/N1441
- Document Number: N-1441-NA
Citation
RAND Style Manual
Chicago Manual of Style
Bennett, Bruce W., Assessing the Capabilities of Strategic Nuclear Forces: The Limits of Current Methods, RAND Corporation, N-1441-NA, 1980. As of September 13, 2024: https://www.rand.org/pubs/notes/N1441.html
Bennett, Bruce W., Assessing the Capabilities of Strategic Nuclear Forces: The Limits of Current Methods. Santa Monica, CA: RAND Corporation, 1980. https://www.rand.org/pubs/notes/N1441.html. Also available in print form.
This publication is part of the RAND note series. The note was a product of RAND from 1979 to 1993 that reported miscellaneous outputs of sponsored research for general distribution.
This document and trademark(s) contained herein are protected by law. This representation of RAND intellectual property is provided for noncommercial use only. Unauthorized posting of this publication online is prohibited; linking directly to this product page is encouraged. Permission is required from RAND to reproduce, or reuse in another form, any of its research documents for commercial purposes. For information on reprint and reuse permissions, please visit www.rand.org/pubs/permissions.
RAND is a nonprofit institution that helps improve policy and decisionmaking through research and analysis. RAND's publications do not necessarily reflect the opinions of its research clients and sponsors.