April 1983 - Maritime Reporter and Engineering News

Updated Report Cites Continuing Rise Of Soviet Military Power

The Department of Defense recently released its second edition of Soviet Military Power.

The 107-page booklet describes the Soviet Armed Forces and outlines their continuing growth since the first edition of the report in September 1981.

Like its predecessor, the new Soviet Military Power was prepared by the Defense Intelligence Agency. The document was reviewed by the Office of the Secretary of Defense, The Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the U.S.

Military Services, the Department of State, the National Security Council staff, and other U.S. Government agencies.

The new booklet contains much newly declassified material.

Where possible, photographs of new Soviet weapon systems are included.

Responding to suggestions received after the first edition was published, the Department has included comparisons with U.S.

and NATO forces to provide a better perspective for the general public. Nevertheless, the publication remains principally a description of Soviet military power.

To quote from the preface of both editions of Soviet Military Power, "There is nothing hypothetical about the Soviet military machine. Its expansion, modernization and contribution to projection of power beyond Soviet boundaries are obvious. A clear understanding of Soviet armed forces, their doctrine, their capabilities, their strengths and their weaknesses is essential to the shaping and maintenance of effective U.S. and Allied armed forces.

Copies of the new Soviet Military Power will be available from U.S. Government Printing Office bookstores (GPO stock number 008-000-00389-1) or by mail from the Superintendent of Documents, Washington, D.C. 20402, for $6.50. Overseas, copies will be available through U.S. Embassies or U.S. Information Agency offices.

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