As both the United States and Soviet Union continued through the 1960s to develop the Nike-X and Galosh ABM systems respectively, defense analysts soon came to realize the troubling ramifications that such systems would have upon the strategic nuclear relationship between the two countries.  Efforts to dissuade the Soviet Union from continuing to develop ABM systems saw little success.  With insight that remains particularly relevant today, U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara noted that the introduction of an ABM system would compel the opposing country to compensate by bolstering its offensive nuclear arsenal, thus leading to a defensive/offensive arms race; he also stated that any ABM system should be designed to address a limited nuclear arsenal, citing Communist China as an example.  The Sentinel system was thus considered a ‘thin’ defense, meant to protect major cities against a limited nuclear attack.  In 1969, President Nixon reoriented the nation’s ABM system to defend ICBM instillations and renamed it Safeguard.  That same year, the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT) between the Soviet Union and the United States began.

Timeline

March 4, 1961 – The Soviet Union reportedly completes the first interception and destruction of a target missile by an ABM missile.

December 22, 1962 – After two promising intercept tests, the Nike-Zeus ABM system is replaced by the Nike-X program, which employs two types of nuclear-tipped interceptors and the recently-developed phased array radar.

November 10, 1966 – Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara publicly confirms that the Soviet Union is deploying its Galosh anti-ballistic missile system to defend Moscow.

June 23, 1967 – At the Glassboro summit, President Lyndon Johnson and Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara attempt with no success to convince Soviet Premier Alexsei N. Kosygin that the Soviets should abandon their effort to deploy missile defenses as the US would be compelled to increase the number of warheads in its ICBM arsenal to overwhelm any defenses.   

September 18, 1967 – The Pentagon announces the decision to deploy the successor to the Nike-X system, the two-layer Sentinel ABM system, consisting of the nuclear tipped long range Spartan interceptor and the short-range Sprint.  This system is designed to defend major cities against a limited number of rudimentary ICBMs similar to those in China’s arsenal.   

February 6, 1969 – The Nixon Administration halts Sentinel deployment pending a full review of US strategic programs.

March 14, 1969 – President Nixon announces resumption of the deployment of the ABM system, renamed Safeguard, primarily focusing on ICBM site defense.

August 1969 – The Senate narrowly votes to deploy the Safeguard system, with Vice President Spiro Agnew casting the tie-breaking vote.

Continue to the 1970s

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