Arms Reduction : Where The U.S. and Soviets Stand

The United States and the Soviet Union both have launched major new initiatives for arms-reduction steps involving tactical and strategic nuclear weapons and related issues that would radically reshape their nuclear arsenals and transform the system of nuclear deterrence that has dominated U.S., Soviet and European military thinking since 1945.

In particular, President Bush and Soviet President Mikhail S. Gorbachev have made sweeping proposals in two areas: first, deep cuts in long-range nuclear missiles, and, second, unprecedented U.S.-Soviet cooperation on a scaled-down “Star Wars” defensive system. Next week’s Madrid summit meeting between the two leaders will be their first chance to talk through their ideas face to face.

On ICBMs, the two have presented sharply conflicting ideas--Bush wants to get rid of all multiple-warhead missiles, while Gorbachev advocates halving the current limits allowed by the START treaty. On “Star Wars,” the two countries are suddenly talking about cooperation after years of angry disagreement; Bush says he’s willing to restrict the program to small-scale defense, and Gorbachev has hinted for the first time that he’s willing to consider amending the Anti-Ballistic Missile treaty to allow such systems.

U.S. officials have noted that no formal new agreements are likely to result from the impromptu summit meeting, which is scheduled to take up less than a full day. Instead, they say, they will be pleased if the two presidents can arrive at some general agreement on how to go about bringing future cooperation.

Moreover, as the past few weeks have shown, both Washington and Moscow are opting increasingly for arms control by declaration, rather than by negotiation.

For example, Bush unilaterally declared last month that the United States would withdraw (and either store or destroy) all tactical nuclear weapons that are ground- and sea-based--4,300 artillery shells, torpedoes, depth charges, short-range missiles and the like.

Gorbachev followed suit, declaring that Moscow would wipe out an estimated 12,000 such battlefield and naval weapons. He then proposed that both countries also remove air-dropped bombs and missiles from their aircraft and place them in storage.

Thus, with two brief U.S. and Soviet statements, the tactical nuclear weapons arsenals of the two superpowers were slashed far beyond what had been agreed in the painfully negotiated Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty known as START.

Here is a rundown of what the two sides have proposed, compiled by The Arms Control Association, a Washington-based group that has followed the situation closely:

TACTICAL (SHORT-RANGE) NUCLEAR WEAPONS United States: Land-based: Cut 2,150 warheads by withdrawing all U.S. nuclear artillery shells and short-range ballistic missiles, dismantling those and others already stored in the U.S. Sea-based: Cut 2,175 warheads by removing all tactical nuclear weapons, including cruise missiles, from U.S. naval vessels, land-based aircraft. Cuts would amount to about half U.S. Navy’s nuclear stockpile. Air-based: Total: 1,400 warheads in Europe. U.S. has no proposal, but has announced that it will reduce its stockpile of nuclear bombs in Europe by 50%, to about 600-800 weapons.

Soviet Union: Land-based: Cut up to 10,000 warheads by destroying all Soviet nuclear artillery shells and mines, removing from deployment areas all warheads for air-defense missiles, destroying others and placing the rest in storage. Sea-based: Cut up to 2,000 warheads by removing all tactical nuclear weapons from surface ships, “multipurpose” submaries and land-based naval aircraft. Also propose destruction of all tactical nuclear weapons used by the Soviet navy if the U.S. agrees to do the same. Air-based: Fewer than 5,000 warheads remaining in Europe. Proposal: Remove all nuclearbombs and missiles from active tactical aviation units and place them in storage if the U.S. agrees to do the same.

STRATEGIC (LONG-RANGE) NUCLEAR WEAPONS United States: Strategic warheads: No proposal to reduce number below the levels permitted under the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START). Multiple-warhead (MIRV) ICBMS: Both sides would eliminate all ICBMs with mulitiple warheads. Fewer than 950 of U.S. warheads permitted by START would be affected. Rail-based ICBMs: U.S. has none deployed, has said it will kill MX rail-garrison program and propose that all Soviet rail-mobil ICBMs remain in their garrisons. Road-mobile ICBMs: U.S. has none but proposes terminating mobile portions of its Midgetman program. It also proposes that Soviets keep their roadmobile ICBMs in garrisons. ICBM Stand-down: U.S. will rescind alert status for crews of 450 Minuteman II missiles and speed elimination of these missiles once START treaty is ratified. SLBM Stand-down: Washington will end alert status for 10 Poseidon submarines, each carrying 160 C-3 missiles with 10 warheads apiece. Bomber modernization: U.S. will cancel SRAM II, SRAM-T short-range attack missile programs. Bomber Stand-down: U.S. has ended alert status for strategic bombers and is returning their weapons to storage areas. Soviet Union: Strategic warheads: Cut 1,000 warheads by reducing the total to 5,000 below the START limit. Multiple-warhead (MIRV) ICBMS: No proposal. In the past, Soviets have argued that any limits on MIRVed missiles should include submarine-launched ballistic missiles as well as ICBMs. U.S. proposal would affect about 2,500 of Soviet warheads permitted by START. Rail-based ICBMs: Soviets have 360 warheads on rail-based ICBMs, have said they will freeze number of launchers at current 36, halt modernization efforts, keep all rail-based missiles in garrisons. Road-mobile ICBMs: Moscow has 315 warheads on road-mobile launchers, has said it will stop development of small mobile ICBM, presumably successor to SS-25. ICBM Stand-down: Moscow has agreed to drop alert status for 503 ICBMs, including 134 that are MIRVVed. Soviets have more than 1,000 warheads on ICBMs. SLBM Stand-down: Soviets to decommission 6 submarines with 92 single-warhead missiles. Bomber modernization: Soviets will halt further development of modified nuclear short-range missile for heavy bombers. Bomber Stand-down: Moscow has issued similar orders to its crews.

OTHER INITIATIVES United States: Nuclear testing: No U.S. proposal First use of nuclear weapons: No U.S. proposal. TOTALS: 1,325 tactical nuclear warheads destroyed or stored--almost one-fourth of a total arsenal estimated at 18,000 warheads. Soviet Union: Nuclear testing: The Soviets have announced a unilateral one-year moratorium on nuclear tests, to pave the way for a complete ban on nuclear testing. First use of nuclear weapons: Moscow is proposing that all nuclear powers sign a declaration promising not to be the first to use nuclear weapons. TOTALS: 13,000 tactical and strategic nuclear warheads destroyed or stored--almost half of a total arsenal estimated at 27,000 warheads.

Source: The Arms Control Association, Washington, D . C.