4-4 147 A guarawhen Menage - wt e- fmhe-s AT THE E33 's 55 18 Sect 3 6 NATIONAL ARCHIVES a v- - I 1r Datemzw - 7 03 7 f OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE WASHINGTON D C 20301 1 0 APR 1974 A -meeyr-qe i FOR GENERAL SCOWCROFT SUBJECT Nuclear Weapons Employment Policy A copy of the nuclear weapons employment policy guidance issued by the Secretary of Defense as directed by NSDM 2M2 is attached John A Wickham Major General USA Eilitary Assistant for the information of the President Attachment UNCLASSIFIED WHEN ATTACHMENTS ARE DETACHED TOP SECRET DEF coma No - 'va fi-rl- Eggs m-wu rmwr nrws A i REPRODUCED AT THE NATIONAL Date DEOIARRVAR EHO 2958 3101 38 g POLICY GUIDANCE FOR THE OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS O 3 April 197A A 1 ClaSsified b' FROM GENERAL DECLASSIFICATION SCHEDI 0F EXECUTIVE ORDER 11652 EXEMPTION CATEGORY AT THE I 50 92353 3201 333 new 7 7-03 i 3 OF CONTENTS _Purpose and Scope 1 2 Objectives a Deterrence b Escalation Control ct General War Strategic Concepts 'Control of Escalation Relative Post-Attack Power and Influence h Planning Concepts a Pre Planning and Review Flexibility c Responsiveness to Political and Military Objectives d Crisis and Conflict Management e Attack Option Structure 5 Major and selected Attack Options a Objectives b Priorities for Weapon Allocation Limited and Regional Nuclear Options Limited Nublear Options b Regional Nuclear Options 7 Responsibilities and Review 1 Annek Ar Objectives and'Guidelines for Major Attack Options and Guidelines for Selected Attack Options A73 Guidelines for Targeting and Damage Criteria A h Guidelines for Prohibited Target Categories and Optional Withholds EE ES ENSEWE nu Mp-uzw - t a Ww J mm-anm u m A ir a - lr re q- gun n- Air- v - 7 5 FNATIONAL DatemZiC Z'fg POLICY GUIDANCE FOR THE EMPLOYMENT OF Purpose and Scope This document sets forth U S national policy for the employment of nuclear'weapons It includes planning assumptions objectives and guide lines which take into account current and near term military capabilities and foreign policy objectives of the United States The purpose is to provide guidance to the Joint Chiefs of Staff for the preparation of capabilities plans for the employment of strategic and anuclear capable theater forces in nuclear attacks against the territory or forces of the Soviet Union the People's Republic of China and their allies 'Air defense anti ballistic missile and anti-submarine warfare forces are not covered by this guidance This policy will be reflected 1' in the Single Integrated Operational Plan and other nuclear weapons employment plans - This guidance does not cover the policy for develOp- ment acquisition and deployment of U S forces These are set forth in the Defense Policy and Planning Guidance Objectives a Deterrence The principal objectives of U S strategy is the deterrence of nuclear anchonventional attacks or attempts at coercion under a threat of nuclear and conventional attacks against the United States its allies and any nation Whose security is vital to the U S interests b Escalation Control 7 To the extent that deterrence fails the major objectives'are to assure a U S position of power and influence and to limit the conflict and its-consequenCes to the United States and its allies These objec- tives are to be accomplished through control of escalation that is i by selected military operations to protect vital U S interests and tonoreclose enemy opportunities for further aggression' ii by attempting to limit the level and scope of violence and by vital enemy targets hostage and threatening their subsequent _destruction-in order to coerce the enemy into negotiating a war termina tion c General War To the extent that escalation cannot be controlled the U S Via objective is to maximize the resultant political economic and military my great swam E 33 1% u n I u I I AT THE ENQATIONAL ARCHIVES 59 55 DECMSSEFEED 12958 8901 3 6 is 7 03 power of thernited States relative to the enemy in the post war period in order to preclude enemy domination This is to be accomplished destruction of those political economic and'military resources critical w' to the enemy's post war power and influence and national and military recovery ii by limitation of damage to theggpited States and its allies through counterforce Operations and a strategic 'force in reserve for protection and coercion after the war 3 Strategic Concepts Control of Escalation In efforts to control escalation initial U S military operations should focus on actions to-protect those interests immediately threatened and actions to foreclose opportunities for further enemy aggression 1 Such actions if effective would serve to diminish enemy expectations of successful aggression Control of escalation requires both sides to _show restraint Such restraint could stem from a combination of self- interest and coercion In an effort to deter the enemy from escalation and to coerce him into negotiating a termination of the war acceptable _to the United States the U S should maintain the capability to effec- jtively withhold attacks from additional targets highly valued by the enemy ileaderships i eThe following concepts should be embodied in U S attack options to permit operations intended to control escalation Escalation Boundaries U S nuclear weapon employment plans should provide the National Command Authorities with the ability to con -duct nuclear war at various levels of intensity within clearly defined boundaries These boundaries are intended to signal to the enemy our desire to keep the war limited To complement escalation boundaries attack options should be developed which when selectively withheld by the United States and perceived by the enemy will serve to deter enemy escalation by holding high value targets hostage 1 unwr- 2 Trans-Attack Stability U S nuclear attack Options most likely to be withheld for the purpose of deterring further enemy escala- tion should be planned to provide trans attack stability That is there should be high confidence that these options can be withheld over an extended period of conflict and then executed in a timely effective manner 7 3 Avoidance of the Enemy's National Command and Control Options ShouldibegdevelOped to withhold attacks on the enemy's highest com mand structure including soft and hard command centers serving high civil or military authority and ii sensors and communications systems needed magmas SENSITIVE w- 4 Zn-IncUPC 3ng El REPRODUCED AT THE $38 520the enemy leaders to discern the nature of U S attacks ' The survival of these elements would facilitate control of enemy forces and negotiations to limit and end the war b Relative Post-Attack Power and Influence Targeting concepts fundamental to securing the relative power and influence of the United States and its allies include destruction of the national political controls of the enemy ii destruction of those urban industrial economic and other resources most necessary for the enemy s national and military recovery from nuclear'war destruc tion or neutralization of those enemy military forces which otherwise - 5could exercise internal control over the pest attack recovery secure external resources for the enemy's post attack recovery and continue to threaten the United States and its allies H Planning Concepts a jPre-Planning and Review It is desirable to pre plan nuclear employment options to the extent practical for several reasons to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness_of the forces used ii to provide for rapid and effective communication'of orders for execution from the National Command Authorities T4 and to provide a solid basis for estimating the consequences of 9T-executionL Periodic reviews of the risks limitations and effectiveness of nuclear employment plans by the National Command Authorities is critical to obtaining timely and appropriate decisions under crisis and combat conditions Fleribilitv Since the full range of politico military conditions cannot be anticipated nuclear employment plans should be designed to allow flexible adaptation as events unfold prior to execution Some sacrifice in overall force effectiveness may be necessary in order to provide optional with holds and adaptation of pre-planned options Where only general plans may be laid in advance appropriate organizations and procedures should be established and exercised for the rapid development assessment and execu tion of Specific options A z ResponSiveness to Political and Military Objectives Planning for the employment of nuclear weapons should take into account the overall objectives particularly of the United States the interests of friendly and allied states those on whose territory any such Operation might be undertaken CXisting arrangements for coordination it smart semen E r 1' 1 - periodically exercised and evaluated x V 7 Eeyiu'vza-L 153 7 3 AT THE JLDECLASSWED 5 AFFIONAL ARCHIVES - Pgt i SENSITWE with_allied forces and commands in appropriate geographical areas as well as the immediate and overall military situation d Crisis and Conflict Management To control escalation will require timely coordination between and control of _politieal and diplomatic actions and military actions in i the face of rapidly often obscurely unfolding events Accordingxy 'erisis management procedures and nuclear employment planning procedures 'should be developed to provide for substantial interaction during crisis and conflict between the National Command Authorities their political and_intelligence advisers the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Unified and Specified Commanders with nuclear forces Such procedures should be It should be assumed that military actions undertaken during 5 limited nuclear conflict will he conducted with a high degree of control and direction by the National Command Authorities e Attack Option Structure Employment plans will be structured according to four categories of attack Options as follows Major Attack Options ii Selected _able allocated nuclear forces the nuclear offensive capabilities of the 1 I -v n-nAttacn Gptluns nuelear options and lV neglonal Nuclear Options 7 5 Major and Selected Attack 0ptions Planning for Major and Selected Attack Options will be directed toward the following'objectives and governed by the priorities set forth below a w_0bjectives Destroy under all conditions of war initiation selected 1 economic and military resources of the enemy critical to post war i reCovery The level of such destruction should be sufficient to achieve a decisive reduction in-the enemy's economic power and influence and to prolong markedly the'duration of the enemy's postnwar recovery 1 2 Destroy the political leadership of the enemy its control resources and its military command structure to the_extent necessary or practicable in order to neutralize its ability to engage in effective warfare and to exercise internal political control 3 Destroy or neutralize to the entent practicable with avail Wt amen AT THE ARCHIVES _result from targeting that meets the above objectives A This integrated plan should provide for selective and sequential execution Vamong the objectives listed above is outlined below The relative emphasis a is different for the two sets of planning assumptions listed namely ES 12358 8801 313 enemy that threaten the United States and its allies in order to assist in limiting damage and to reduce the-enemy's forces for nuclear coercion Destroy or neutralize to the extent practicable with avail able allocated nuclear forces the enemy conventional forces in order to assist in the neutralization of the enemy's overall military capability and to assist in denying the enemy access to external resources It is not the intent of this policy guidance to target civilian population per se Accordingly planning directed toward the above objec tives will not include residential structures as Objective targets Sdb stantial damage to residential structures and population may nevertheless The Joint Chiefs of Staff should commit such forces to plans for major and Selected Attack Options as necessary and appropriate This commitment is for planning purposes and should not interfere with approm priate planning_and use of such forces in Limited and Regional Nuclear - Options Forces intended for maintenance of a strategic reserve with zhigh trans attack stability may be ineluded However such forces must be withheld unless explicitly authorized for execution and their use must not be cesential to meeting the above objectives major and Selected Attack Options_should be encompassed in one integrated plan of which individual options cover subusets of targets of individual options Annex A provides additional guidance for Major and Selected Attack Options i Eziorities for'Weapon-Allocation -The relative emphasis to be used in allocating committed weapons Alert forces with damage Dayuto day readiness posture tactical warning received maximum effort enemy attack on U S nuclear forces In this case allocate sufficient weapons to meet objective then allocate in order of decreasing emphasis to Objective objective and objective Set II Generated forces without damage Advanced readiness posture no pro launch damage to U S nuclear forces me man REPRODUCED AT THE NATIONAL ARCHIVESXX 12358 Sect 3 6 mingle NARA DatelZinZ In this case allocate sufficient-weapons te meet objective then allocate in order of decreasing emphasis to objective objective a 2 and objective Limited and Regional Nuclear Options a Limited Nuclear Options Options may be desired which are intended to observe different or more limited escalation boundaries or seek different or more limited objectives in order to persuade an enemy to terminate hostilities without resorting to larger nuclear exchanges Options of these characteristics and that attack fixed targets are termed Limited Nuclear Options They will be generally of lower intensity than attacks Specified in the Selected Attackaptions Limited Nuclear Options may be developed during the normal planning process in anticipation of criSis situations during the-course of crises and during hostilities The procedures for developing Limited_Nuclear Options may also be useful in developing specific modifi cations of major or Selected Attack Options that are requested by the 1 National Command Authorities Limited Nuclear Options should serve three principal objectives 1 To indicate to the Soviet Union or the Peeple s Republic of China that issues attendant to local conflicts are part of the vital interests of the United States 2 To provide options for establishing or increasing the military superiority of U S and allied forces in a local conflict and to inhibit further enemy military operations a To provide responses to limited nuclear attacks by the Soviet 'Union or the People's Republic of China on the United States its allies or its forces b ERegional Nuclear Options The use of nuclear-capable theater forces in preplanned or preplannable attacks on fixed'targets is covered by the guidance for Major Selected and Limited Nuclear Options However circumstances might arise in which the interests of the United States can best be served by responding directly against attacking enemy forces with forces and resources immediately available within a theater of operations and clearly committed to the tactical defense of that area Such options are designated Regional Nuclear Options The objective is to Counter deployed enemy military forces engaged in sass-mm REPRODUCED AT THE 31 as 12958 Sect 3 6 - of the lowest weapon yields necessary delivery vehicles with suitable um E-aggressive actions and to create a state of affairs permitting the contin nation or resumption of political arrangements to terminate the conflict -Plans developed for the defense of a specific geographic region or area should as appropriate include Regional Nuclear Options to provide selective coordinated nuclear strikes on deployed enemy combat and service units -reserves reinforcements tactical nuclear delivery systems local controls and field logistics facilities Every reasonable effort will be made to limit attacks in the vicinity of densely populated areas Further damage to non military targets and friendly military forces will be minimized through selection accuracies and alternative targets to accomplish the desired objective Responsibilities and Review Joint Chiefs of Staff The-Joint Chiefs of Staff will be-responsible for Transmitting this policy guidance together with necessary implementing guidance to appropriate Unified and Specified Commands 2 Directing and monitoring nuclear employment planning and evaluating the resultant operational plans and their impact on related and ancillary activities especially crisis management activities 3 Advising the President and the Secretary of Defense as required of actions taken and their overall evaluation ofsthe effectiveness utility limitations and risks of the resultant operational plansSENSITIVE 7 m 24 1'REPRODUCED AT THE I ARCHIVES Datemz e Planning Guidance 3 A11 Objectives and Guidelines for Major Attack Options An2 Objectives and Guidelines for Selected Attack Options a Guidelines for Targetinga and Damage Criteria if Guidelines for Prohibited Target Categories and Optional'Withholds March 19 197% Ef wi i il V 7 1wsee - - - ea- 3 inure 2 4 a 5 177ED Wilda 3601 36 5 REPRODUCED Byli kwm-m Datemwfg VII A l Objectives and Guidelines for Major Attack Options Note Overall guidance for Major Attack Options is given in the basic document The degree to which each set of objectives given below can be accomplished will be constrained by conformance to the guidelines for weapon allocation given in Section 5b Representative Target Categories are intended to amplify the stated objective The Prohibited Target Categories serve to prohibit certain targets from being included in attack options The Optional Withholds provide for a choice at the time of execution with respect to certain targets or types of over flight Definitions of the target categories listed as Prohibited Target Categories and Optional Withholds are given in Section A h below Ml Ob'ective As specified in the basic document Sections 5a 3 and Sai i with respect to the Soviet Union and its Eastern European allies an- Representative Target Categories A comprehensive military tar get system in the Soviet Union and its Eastern European allies to include a nuclear and conventional threats to the United States and its allies world wide and b the national and intermediate military controls over-these forces Prohibited Target Categories None Optional Withholds Urban Country National Government and National Military Control M2 Ob ectives As specified in the basic document Sections 5a l 5ai25 5ei3 and 5e u with respect to the Soviet Union and its Eastern European allies Representative Target Categories All target categories in Ml above plus the urban industrial political economic and military resources in the Soviet Union necessary to post war recovery as defined in Section below _Prohibited Target Categories None Optional Withholds Country nan ' 51 13 vuyiuglq lyiflgu II 5 1 2 Am 2 - - Www-d - v REPRODUCED AT THE ARCHIVES Lag EU i2 5 8681 it i we M3 Ob'ectives As Specified in the basic document Sections Sai35 and 5a H with respect to the People s Republic of China and its Asian allies Representative Target Categories A comprehensive military target system in the People's Republic of China and its Asian 9 allies to include a nuclear and conventional threats to the United States and its allies world-wide and b the national and intermediate military controls over these forces Prohibited Target Categories None Option l'Withholds Country Urban National Government National Military Control and Soviet Union overflight mm Ob'ectives As specified in the basic document Sections 5aili 5ai2 5a 3 and 5a H with respect to the People s Republic of China and its Asian allies Representative Target Categories All target categories in M3 above plus the urban industrial political economic and military resources in the People's Republic of China necessary to post war recovery as defined in Section A-3 below Prohibited Target Categories None Optional'Withholds Country and Soviet Union overflight A52 Objectives and Guidelines for Selected Attack Options Note Overall guidance for Selected Attack Options is given in the basic document _The degree to which each set of objectives given below can be accomplished will be constrained by con- formance to the guidelines for weapon allocation to target categories_given in Section 5b Representative Target Categories are intended to amplify the stated objective The Prohibited Target Categories serve to prohibit certain targets from being included in attack options The Optional Withholds provide for a choice at the time of execution with respect to certain targets or types of overflight Definitions of the target categories listed as Prohibited Target Categories and 'Optional'Withholds are given in section A-h below 5 me imam newsman - AT THE 5 so @2958 Sea 3 5 ARCHIVES 1 1 I40 - 4' By_ 22 31 Objective Neutralize the Soviet nuclear threat to the United States ' Representative Target Categories a ICBM sites b homeport locations submarine bases and shipyard facilities for missile - launching submarines c active bomber home bases related dispersal bases and arctic staging bases d national and regional nuclear storage facilities e sensors and associated communications that would allow the Soviet leaders to execute a timely launch of their strategic nuclear forces f Soviet national civilian and military contrOls including alternate command centers regional military headquarters and control over nuclear delivery forces but which are not collocated with these forces - rohibited Target Categories Urban Qgtional Withholds Country National Government National 43 Military Control Attack Assessment 52 Objective Neutralize the Soviet nuclear threat to major urban areas of members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization NATO other than the United States and Canada 7 Representative Target Categories a IRBM and MRBM sites b SS ll sites located in fields c SLBM homeports d bomber home dispersal and logistics bases e supporting national and regional nuclear storage facilities f Soviet national civilian and military controls including alternate command centers regional military headquarters and control over nuclear delivery forces but which are not collocated with those forces and g sensors and associated communi cations that would allow the Soviet leaders to execute a timely launch of their strategic nuclear forces Prohibited Target Categories Urban Optional Withholds Country National Government National a Military Control Attack Assessment 33 - Objectives Neutralize the nuclear and conventional aircraft threat_to NATO other than the United States and Canada g 1va 3 1 if aura 11112 12 5 6 a I - REPRODUCED AT THE 50 12358 Sect 3 6 QNATIQNAL ARCHIVES 3 a hr 4 aerm- Representative Target Categories Aircraft home dispersal and logistic bases together with associated support facilities and nudlear storage sites _Prohibited Target Categories Urban National Government National Military Controls Attack Assessment Optional Withholds Country particularly the Soviet Union S4 Objective Neutralize the groundwbased military threats to 1 Representative Target Categories a military controls and imajor military headquarters b transportation and other logistics facilities c major fixed ground forCe installations d and other military targets critical to the overall conduct and direction of conventional military operations Prohibited Target Categories Urban National Government 2 National Military Control Attack Assessment Optional Withholds SS Objective Neutralize the threat to NATO posed by the naval 1 forces of the Soviet Union and its Eastern European allies 'rRepresentative Target CategOries Homeports bases shipyards tand_support facilities for missile launching submarines and other naval forces A Prohibited Target Categories National Government National Military Control Attack AsseSSment Optional Withholds Urban Country particularly the Soviet Union S6 Objective Provide a nuclear defense of NATO except the United States and Canada Without the use of U S launched forces Representative Target Categories A comprehensive military target'system threatening NATO including nuclear missiles and associated storage sites and target categories listed under and SS spasm mammamr t REPRODUCED AT THE ARCHIVEs S7 88 EQ 12%8 Sect 3 6 a god 3 1 Prohibited Target Categories National Government National Military Control Attack Assessment thional Withholds Urban Gauntry Ob'ective Neutralize the Soviet nuclear threat to U S forces and U S allies in Asia Re resentative Tar at Categories a SLBM related facilities b SS lls c d e appropriate airfields f tactical nuclear missiles and g associated support facilities and nuclear storage sites This threat is generally based east of 55 degrees east longitude Prohibited Target Categories Urban National Government National Military Control Attack Assessment thional Withholds None Objective Neutralize-the Soviet conventional threat to U S forces and U S allies in Asia Representative Target Cate ories a appropriate airfields ' b major ground force installations and c naval facilities This threat is generally located east of 55 degrees east longitude - Prohibited Target Categories Urban National Government National Military Control Attack Assessment thional Withholds None Objective Neutralize the operational nuclear threat of the People's Republic of China to the United States U S forces and allies in Asia and the means necessary for rebuilding this threat separately or combined a Representative Target Categories a snbmarine related facilities b bomber bases c land based ballistic missiles d nuclear production and storage facilities and e research development and testing facilities for aircraft missiles nuclear weapons and chemical biological and radiological warfare f _Prohibited Target Categories National Government -National Military Control Attack Assessment thional Withholds Urban Soviet Union overflight '3 A45 mi Jr s-swunin-H- AT THE ARCHIVES DECLASSLNEIED i El WEE-8 Sect 3 6 I By ACW 7 03 - 5 uranium t Objective Neutralize the national civilian and military controls of the People's Republic of China 2 Representative Target Categories a national command centers regional military headquarters and control centers and communications facilities related to control over nuclear delivery forces but which are not collocated with these forces and b sensors and associated communication that allow the People's Republic of China leaders to discern the nature of nuclear attacks on the People's Republic of China and its allies Prohibited Target Categories ' None 0 tional Withholds Urban Attach Assessment Soviet Union overflight Sll Objective Neutralize the conventional threat from the People's Republic of China and its allies to forces and allies in Representative Target Categories a port facilities b major ground force installations and c airfields Prohibited Taroet Cateeories National Gov rrment National Military Control Attack Assessment - Optional Withholds Urban Soviet Union overflight Targeting and Damage Criteria The following general guidance applies when programming forces an Relative Target Importance Available forces will be programmed to permit attainment of damage expectancies consistent with target importance in achieving the attack objectives of this policy guidance Damage expectancy DE as used above is defined as the average damage that would be achieved if the attack were repeated many times When programming weapons which contribute only a small relative incremental increase in damage expectancy the application should be examined from the standpoint of possible alternative application to other targets with a view toward achieving more compensatory returns for the programmed effort b Measures to Increase Confidence Measures should be employed to increase confidence in our estimates of attack results cross targeting however in cases where such measures might conflict with other considerations tranSwattack stability measures egoson shall minimize such conflicts mm M 55 tr-I a veil L igm ai'q n f I Eli Mun 4 5 at GEMS-SEED ED 4 23358 8931 34 a 51- A c 93erall Damage Expectancy KThe overall damage expectancy to any Designated Ground Zero DGZ in an attack Option resulting from weapOns programmed for delivery bij S gri j and allied forces where appropriate should not normally exceed 93 teases a 3 cent Ihe determination or damage expectancy-on each DGZ ij-m fl collateral damage effects from weapons programmed on 37g within the same attack Option In addition fatalities due to fallog hf 5iqu will be included where appropriate Limited Nuclear Options s The gilggf programming of theater forces against DGZs programmed-for attack by'nther U S forces will not be precluded by the 90 percent restriction if such additional effort is required to reduce time of attack or cover targets' critical to theater commanders The cumulative damage expectancy to a DGZ resulting from forces programmed in a Limited Nuclear Optiondefense suppression attack may exceed 90 percent _ d Nuclear Threat Target'COVerage mm In a U S attack planned with fully generated undamaged forces on the Soviet nuclear threat to the United States and its allies not less than one warhead should be applied to each ICBM site each and MRBM site each base for heavy medium and light bombers and each base for missilewlaunching submarines even if a high damage expectancy cannot be achieved or only short term damage can be realized now WW r -4 - e Urban Industrial Political and Economic Base A very important purpose of attacks on urban industrial political and economic base of the Soviet Union and the People s 3 Republic of China9as described in the basic document is to minimize the strategic power and influence of these countries in the post war era and to prolong their post-war recovery To this and targeting will meet at least the following four criteria 1 inflict moderate damage on facilities comprising approximately 70% of each nation's warmsupporting economic base 2 program at least one weapon on an industrial facility in the top 250 urban areas in the Soviet Union and in the tap 125 urban areas in the Peeple's Republic of China ranked by economic worth 3 program at least one weapon on major centers of government and 4 neutralize other targets including military targets critical to postwattack recovery not covered above It is not the intent of this guidance to target civilian population per se Accordingly targeting to meet the above criteria will not include residential structures as objective targets It is recognized however that substantial damage to residential structures and population may result from targeting that meets the above criteria an ninth E '5 I 7 h v 3- r a jagdwfiry A liaise-cw Miler-tr a assesses AT THE to 12958 Sect 3 6 NATIONAL I '0 7493 ng irefercnces to Prohibited Target Categories and Optional Withholds The names and definitions of the Prohibited Target Categories and Optional Withholds used in Major and Selected Attack Options are given below The objectives and guidelines for Limited Nuclear Options and Regional Nuclear Options may contain additional Prohibited Target Categories and Optional Withholds 1 Urban To prohibit or withhold attacks on targets that are in or collocated with major urban areas of 100 000 or more population A target is defined to be collocated with a major urban area if attacking the target alone or in combination with other targets would result in moderate damage to 10 percent or more of the residential floor space Deviations from this guideline may be made in exceptional cases if necessary to avoid major degradation in acconplishing the political military objectives 2 Country To prohibit or withhold attack on targets in any country National Government To prohibit or withhold attack on the centers of government within the urban areas of Moscow and or Peking 4 National Military Control To prohibit or withhold attack on targets composing the national level military controls of the Soviet Union and or the People's Republic of China including communications facilities - 5 Attack Assessment To prohibit or withhold attack on - sensors and associated cemmunications used by the Soviet or People's Republic of China national leadership to assess the nature of nuclear 5 attacks against their own countries or forces t'f g 6 Soviet Union Overflight To withhold those sorties that 'f hgl Overfly the Soviet Union in attacks on the People's Republic of China lend its allies 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