THE RACE FOR 'STAR WARS' WEAPONS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90-00965R000100160095-3
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: January 3, 2012
• Sequence Number: 95
• Publication Date: May 25, 1981
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

ST"T
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/01/03: CIA-RDP90-00965R000100160095-3
ARTICLE APPEARED
ON PAGE.
Galactica-like battleships that may "Similar U.S. programs suggest that. these controlled "lightning bolts&" can
cruise in space. But if the United the kinds of tests most likely ... solve a- wide range of scientific and
States is ahead in developing a reus- performed at these sites are those industrial problems, the report states.-
able- spaceship, the Kremlin's scien- most suitable for ground or air-based But it adds ominously. "Soviet work'
tists may have the edge in other cru defense, including air-to-air combat, (on- CPBs] is strong in exactly those
THE WASHINGTON POST
25 May 1981
JACK ANDERSON
The Race for 'Star Wars' Weapons
The United States and ; Soviet at developing lasers with weapons ap- As for the awesome particle-beamm
Union are engaged in a deadly race to plications," reports a top-secret Cen- weapons, the report says, the Soviet
develop "Star: Wars" weapons, like fret Intelligence Agency document Union is believed to have had a re laser beams and man-made lightning The CIA identified several possible search and development effort under
bolts. The top-secret plans call for Soviet lase. ranges and one probable way for possibly 20 years.
mounting them aboard future space-, at Golovino, about 100 miles east Charged particle beam devices? or
ships. of Moscow. "It is similar in length and CPBs, represent "a new phase in? .the-
Indeed, . the space shuttle Columbia layout to U.S.. high-energy, laser test historical development of technology,
may be. the forerunner of 'future ranges," the CIA' explained, adding: the study reports. When perfected;
parently caught up in the -sophistica-' :'..ballistic missile, anti-satellite or laser been pointed toward military appl'
"
tion of its strategic missiles, the guided munitions."'
Reagan administration is likely to de- Who's ahead? An assessment of the cetioce'
cide that the United States should U.S.-Soviet balance in laser and other The report continues: "It is believed
concentrate on keeping ahead in the directed=energy weapons is contained, that the Soviets are ahead of the U.S.
field of laser technology. One intelli - in a highly classified study conducted in many other critical PBW technol-
. and that the present Soviet
gence expert who attended a secret last year by the Arms Control and ogles..
laser briefing called it. "the hottest Disarmament Agency. It was shown to level of effort should permit them to
" my, associate continue to advance in these technol `
.. Dale Van Atta
briefing in to!~
What makes these "directed energy" "Overall, the U.S. and U.S.S.R. high oW' areas at a rapid rate ",,....,_
weapons so, hot is. that., they are ex- energy,,, laser (HEL) programs are
pected to make strategic missiles ob- roughly equal at the present time,"
solete within the' next 20 years. Laser the secret report says, "although the
beams can be-thwarted by clouds and U.S. is believed to have an advantage
other atmospheric disturbances, but a, ' _ in., the pointing, tracking, optics and
similar ray gun called a "particle beam control technologies ....."
weapon" would be virtually unstop- The Russians "appear to be ahead
pable, Both super,powers are trying to in short pulse lasers and electrical
perfect them. discharge lasers, which could be useful
"The Soviets have had a research . for military applications in the
program under way since 1970 aimed atmosphere."
Now that the Soviet union has ap-,user u ror programs concerning anu- whereas U.S. work to date has not
cial areas of research although the results would also be areas needed for weapons applicafign
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/01/03: CIA-RDP90-00965R000100160095-3