New Soviet ‘Silent Submarine’ Reported
The Soviet Union is building a new type of submarine designed to defeat the U.S. “Star Wars” defense program by firing missiles that “skim the sea” en route to targets in the United States, a newspaper said today.
The Sunday Telegraph said tests are now under way on the submarine, which would carry SS-NX-24 cruise missiles capable of striking anywhere in the United States after being launched off either the Atlantic or Pacific coasts.
” . . . Soviet naval planners are now believed to be concentrating on speeded-up production of a new race of silent submarines capable of launching cruise missiles with a 1,600-mile and greater range,” said the report, attributed to unidentified Western intelligence experts.
“These would be fired from torpedo tubes to skim the sea before striking at targets far inland, completely beneath the notice of Mr. Reagan’s Strategic Defense Initiative--the futuristic, space-base based laser defense system known as ‘Star Wars,’ ” the newspaper said.
The Sunday Telegraph said the “major change” in Soviet planning was the brainchild of the new Soviet navy commander, Adm. Vladimir Chernavin.
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