strategic experimental government sponsored study conducted analyzed potential future nuclear force time soviet_union making significant nuclear weapons delivery constructing anti missile defenses protect strategic facilities address potential technological gap secretary defense entrusted classified study compiled volume report months report looked different weapons systems ultimately resulting intercontinental missiles ohio class submarines submarine launched missiles journalists regarded major influence course nuclear policy background mid-1960s reports received intelligence agencies indicated soviets planning deploy large numbers highly accurate powerful intercontinental missiles later entered service possessing greatest throw weight tonnes larger modern arsenal time size able carry high yield capable destroying hardened considered significant risk american result nuclear defense strategy reducing ability nuclear weapons attacked time soviets designing constructing increasingly sophisticated anti missile defense systems protect strategically important facilities moscow reducing threat posed american developments compelled secretary defense commission study look ways improving nuclear arsenal according book response deputy director service demanding large called suggests allowed proceed terminate study missile funding released secretary plans missile canceled study study named order reveal intentions eliminate land based systems conducted independent non profit conducted study early titled pen based chaired president general institution presided working panel panel included executives major independent corporations defense contractors boeing members military officers including november signed order authorizing officially initiating study working panel encouraged examine system concepts considerations potential management problems political influences secretary wanted new ideas path breaking weapons systems offensive defensive nature defense bureaucracy potential innovation air based missile systems investigated manned bombers systems group asked consider cost effectiveness systems predict possible soviet responses meet requirement series documents written perspective soviet minister defense general complete anti statements prediction eventual triumph socialism end volume report covered fewer different ideas missile systems reviewed great detail findings consequences prospective weapons systems land based rock system missiles stored hardened granite bedrock western similar system easily constructed system missiles transported deep underground networks emerging launch points soft tunnel similar tunnel built easily land mobile truck based system road traveled speeds miles hour constantly dedicated winding road system square miles km2 public land remaining sea based canal based systems missiles sailed canals confuse soviet military planners ship based system ships carrying missile travel world hiding traffic submarine based system missile submarines oceans carrying missile outside pressure hulls single air based based consideration air launched required large aircraft carrying missiles launch soviet_union despite numerous options investigated study fully implemented option resulted missiles fall communism late 1980s early 1990s resulted canceled prototype original missiles fielded study inspire number developments nuclear weapons delivery systems october successfully conducted air launch missile galaxy demonstrating credibility air launched option classes missile submarines submarine launched missile service study placed significant emphasis resulted enormous ohio class submarine ohio class carried study originally called dedicated slow moving missile carrying submarines instead converted attack submarines embark missiles outside hulls rely primarily stealth admiral director office wanted boat capable burst high speed order affect safe launching boat result ohio class designed accommodate enormous nuclear produce required speed ohio class submarines carry missiles inside hulls despite recommendation ohio class submarines missiles service weapons systems inspired legacy far reaching effects development deployment nuclear forces time strategic requirements addressed detailed manner report described influential analyses conducted journalist air_force magazine article described study wide ranging look future weapons shaped nuclear decades remains model efforts today noted introduction ideas concepts resulted ohio class submarines small mobile attributed use air launched cruise missiles particularly carried despite lack references study
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