Soviet antilanding defense: does it matter?

Abstract

The new national security strategy will have both short and long-range effects on all branches of the military. This requires a close examination of the implications that such dramatic changes could have on the military and their ability to respond to the broad spectrum of crises that could occur in today's dynamic political situation. Although the threat from the Soviet Union has diminished and while no one seriously believes that the U.S. and the Soviet Union will engage in conflict, especially on Soviet soil, the need still exists to examine Soviet doctrine and warfighting capabilities in relation to U.S. capabilities and strategies. We need to study Soviet antilanding doctrine because of the possibility of U.S. forces encountering Soviet-trained enemies or the remote possibility of contingency operations against the USSR in regional/local wars. Finally, it is necessary for U.S. strategic planners to continuously track Soviet antilanding concepts in the unlikely event of a reconstitution scenario resulting in a big war with the USSR of whatever replaces it,