D OFFICE OF THE DEPUTY SECRETARY OF DEFENSE 4 February NEMo FOR LTC Cade Executive Assistant to ASD O Ar Ellsworth opposes a Minuteman Launch on warning demonstration at this time Please ensure that his view Is conveyed to the appropriate decision level 'XVG - M CARTER CAPTAIN USN MILITARY ASSISTANT cc Mr Jordan Acting ASD ISA Dr Wade SALT Task Force DECLASSIFIED JUL 2 4 2008 Authority EO 12958 as amended Chief Records Declass Div WHS SKIS ICD Uc i ' I -s3 DOCU -c3'i L-scJh ES t R e S i a i Gsr' r' i o- ok r -t s Ohs- - X9$3 do OFFICE-OF THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF DEFENSE WASHINGTON 0 C 20301 DECLASSIFIED ' JUL 2 4 2006 Authority EO 12958 as amended ' Chief Records Declass Div WHS INTELUIGENCE a 0 sk y X976 MEMORANDUM F Q MR ELLSWORTH i ' DC MR LATIME MR GOULDER SUBJECT Minuteman Launch orfirii-ing Demonstration U INFORMATION MEMORANDUM The Air Force has contracted for the development of an operational plan for a Minuteman Launch on warning demonstration The demonstration would be a Minuteman'op ational training launch from Vandenberg in response to a 0 detection of a Soviet missile launch Test objec ves would be demonstration of a Minuteman launch reaction time less than the nominal 25 minute flight time of a Soviet ICBM attacking the U S OSD 3 3 b l This demonstration would add credibility to the statements in the SECDEF Posture Statement last year and this year stating that we have a launch on warning capability Such a demonstrated capability could mitigate arguments on the low survivability oEUR Minuteman in the face of increasing Soviet ICBM throw weight and accuracy On the negative side it could revive emotional responses in Congress to discussion of Launch on Warning Tom Reed is apparently guiding the demonstration planning You- mav T tish to discuss timing and or SALT implications with him Wallace D Henderson Director Indications and Warning Claw Exempt f rom Ji'S o Dgal lrEr n 4r c r hot be ciet4 hilt D ' er INVOLVED V at 91315338 x 5 - I llm- 'me um mid-in32 V 3' 33 3 17 Capmall-m ' Qbr'r mm r wm w - 323 silk - 3 5 - mile - Wt Nm iia 1mnt In 17 sax - 5-1 when hhm Authority DECLASSIFIED 2 4 2008 E0 12958 as amended Chief Records Declass Div WHS r 1 INFORMATION COVER SHEET TcosTSa NIRMEg S OFFICE Of THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE INCLOSURE S TAPIJWM 1 04 NTION COVER SHEET The attached 711111101M information contains data t aeurity tispact of which i paramount and unauthel red disclosure of which would cause L PTIONAL CRAVZ nilfl0 R TO TW NATIOA SPebial cave In the handling custody and store e of the attached informstion must be e arclead in aeleordance with the security regulations This cover sheet is NOT A ZMIPr but a record of persons who have read all sr any part of the document s idea tilled by number above Each rerAnn receiving the attaehede74JAplARfi information shall sign nd fill in the information required below y I SECEIVEa I aEEAALa I rwd o ri 10 1 11 12 13 is 15 EL tT m m 20 31 FM 1 l9 4 PREVIOUS EDITIONS OF-T#15 room AK Oi alrE louse seemcha nee are retired this fora is sasiassilisd INFORMATION COVER SHEET DECLASSIFIED JUL 2 4 2008 Authority EO 12958 as amended Chief Records Declass Div WHS This document is from the holdings of The National Security Archive Suite 701 Gelman Library The George Washington University 2130 H Street NW Washington D C 20037 Phone 202 994-7000 Fax 202 994-7005 nsarchiv@gwu edu