Full Description
In the 40 years that followed the end of World War II, the Western democratic governments and the Eastern Bloc Communist powers were locked in the Cold War. The United States and the Soviet Union led the way in the development of missile systems designed to play both a defensive role and a potential offensive role, which was parlayed to the public as deterrent against attack by the rival bloc. This book provides a detailed overview of the fixed-launch-site strategic missile systems of the United States, documenting the importance of technological progress during this period for posterity.
Contents
Introduction; The principles of defense; Early Air Force programs; Program Development Defensive Missile Systems 1945-1960; Program Development ICBM Missile Systems 1950-1980; Program Development Antiballistic Missile Systems 1958-today; The end of the Cold War; Impact on modern technology; Bibliography / further Reading; Glossary; Index
