ACCESSION NUMBER:321192
FILE ID:TXT506
DATE:01/14/94
TITLE:U.S., RUSSIA WILL DE-TARGET STRATEGIC NUCLEAR MISSILES (01/14/94)
TEXT:*94011406.TXT
U.S., RUSSIA WILL DE-TARGET STRATEGIC NUCLEAR MISSILES

(Text:  White House statement on joint plans)  (535)
Moscow -- The United States and Russia have decided to de-target strategic
nuclear missiles under their respective commands by May 30, the White House
says.

"For the first time since the earliest days of the nuclear age, the two
countries will no longer operate nuclear forces, day-to-day, in a manner
that presumes they are enemies," said a statement issued in Moscow January
14.

It said three U.S. strategic missile systems will no longer contain
targeting information, while the fourth weapon system computer control
system will be set to target ocean areas.  Russian de-targeting measures
are comparable.

Following is the text of the White House statement:
(begin text)
U.S. and Russian experts have discussed for several months possible measures
to improve strategic stability, increase mutual confidence, and step back
from Cold War nuclear force postures.  These discussions have included
proposals for mutual detargeting of strategic nuclear systems.  Based on
these talks, the president announced that they will direct the detargeting
of strategic nuclear missiles under their respective commands.  This means
that by May 30, 1994, no country will be targeted by the strategic forces
of either side.  For the first time since the earliest days of the nuclear
1ge the two countries will no longer operate nuclear forces, day-to-day, in
a manner that presumes they are enemies.

ICBMs and SLBMs are capable of being launched against one of several targets
or sets of targets stored in weapon system computers.  Historically, a
target setting associated with actual war plans had been the routine alert
assignment of U.S. missile systems.  Detargeting will involve changing
weapon system control settings so that, on a day-to-day basis, no country,
including Russia, Ukraine or any other former Soviet territory, will be
targeted by U.S. strategic forces.  Russia has told us their detargeting
measures are comparable.

For three of the four U.S. strategic missile systems -- the Trident I,
Trident II, and Peacekeeper -- the missiles will contain no targeting
information.  The older technology Minuteman III missile computers, which
require a constant alignment reference, will be set to ocean area targets.

This action directly affects only the strategic nuclear forces under the
command of the United States and Russian Federation.  However, as no
country will be targeted on a day-to-day basis by U.S. and Russian
strategic forces, any country whose territory may have been of targeting
interest to U.S. and Russian forces is affected.

This initiative builds on previous steps taken unilaterally to reduce
strategic nuclear arsenals, withdraw and eliminate certain tactical nuclear
weapons, and discontinue strategic bomber ground alert and continuous
airborne command post operations.

This will not affect commitment of U.S. forces to NATO contingency plans.
Discussions between Russia and the United States on strategic stability will
continue.  In addition, the United States is conducting a comprehensive
Nuclear Posture Review to take into account rapidly changing strategic
circumstances.  This review is to be completed later this year.  It is
possible that other measures along these lines may be recommended in the
future.

(end text)
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