Foreign Relations of the United States, 1964–1968, Volume X, National Security Policy

161. Memorandum From the President’s Special Assistant (Rostow) to President Johnson¹

Washington, December 22, 1966, 4:10 p.m.

Mr. President:

You are aware of the debate about whether the massive Tallinn system is or is not ABM.

The latest evidence from the CIA,² summarized below, suggests it is not ABM-associated.

“The identification of six new complexes since July provides further evidence that the Tallinn system will be extensively deployed. Three of the new complexes are too far East to receive inputs from known ABM radars; this supports the view that the intended mission of the system is defense against aerodynamic targets. It is estimated that 75 complexes containing 240 launch sites will be deployed by 1971.”

Walt

1. Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Intelligence File, TKH August 66–July 67, Box 1. Top Secret; Sensitive.
2. Reference is to Intelligence Memorandum, “Extension of Long-Range SAM Deployment to Siberia, December 1966” (TCS–8524/66). (Ibid.)