Missiles for Asia? : the need for operational analysis of U.S. theater ballistic missiles in the Pacific / Jacob L. Heim.

Format:

Book

Government document

Author/Creator:

Heim, Jacob L., author.

Contributor:

Arroyo Center, issuing body.

Series:

Research report (Rand Corporation)

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Ballistic missiles--United States--Evaluation.

Ballistic missiles.

Ballistic missiles--Asia--Evaluation.

Ballistic missiles--Pacific Area--Evaluation.

Security, International--East Asia.

Security, International.

Security, International--Pacific Area.

Treaty Between the United States of America and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics on the Elimination of Their Intermediate-Range and Shorter-Range Missiles (1987 December 8).

Treaty Between the United States of America and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics on the Elimination of Their Intermediate-Range and Shorter-Range Missiles.

United States. Army--Operational readiness.

United States.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (19 pages)

Place of Publication:

Santa Monica, CA : RAND Corporation, 2016.

Summary:

"The Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, which the Soviet Union and the United States signed in 1987, prohibits conventional and nuclear-armed land-based ballistic and cruise missiles with ranges between 500 and 5,500 km. The U.S. Department of State concluded in 2014 that Russia is in violation of its treaty obligations, raising doubts about the treaty's durability and how the United States should respond. At the moment, U.S. policy remains committed to the treaty and seeks to encourage Russia to return to compliance by eliminating prohibited systems, but attempts to revive the treaty could take several years and might not succeed. While arguing that it is too soon for the United States to withdraw from the treaty, the author suggests that, in the meantime, the U.S. Army should start a rigorous assessment of the potential military value of conventional land-based theater ballistic missiles (TBMs). No rigorous analysis thus far has measured how land-based TBMs could contribute to solving key operational challenges in relevant scenarios. This report focuses on potential operations in East Asia, showing that TBMs offer both benefits and risks. If a strong, evidence-based case can be made for the military value of TBMs, a strategic assessment could weigh whether the military benefits plausibly exceed the risks to structural stability, crisis management, regional access, and proliferation. By beginning to analyze these questions now, the Army will be prepared to offer well-considered options if current U.S. policy fails to revive the INF Treaty"--Publisher's web site.

Contents:

Summary Introduction Deploying theater ballistic missiles to the Pacific region Potential negative consequences of theater ballistic missile deployment A way forward