c. Conventional Airfield Attack Missile (CAAM)
The combination of the Warsaw Pact Air Force numerical
superiority, coupled with their opportunity to initiate an attack
against NATO airbases and other high-value targets continues to be a
difficult problem. Our efforts to counter the Pact advantage have
included aircraft sheltering, ground and air defenses, and a conventional
second-strike capability utilizing attack aircraft. The
interdiction of Pact main operating air bases (MOBs) to reduce their
aircraft sortie rate potential is difficult because of the combination
of airbase hardening, air defenses and weather. Technology now will
permit effective, immediate and virtually unstoppable counter attacks
with conventionally armed surface-to-surface missiles, regardless of
weather or defenses in the target area. Cost and operational
effectiveness analyses conducted during the past year have verified
that such a system would have a relatively high payoff for an initial
attack supported by follow-up aircraft attacks. A conceptual design
and feasibility demonstration activity for a PERSHING II version of a
Conventional Airfield Attack Missile (CAAM) was initiated last year.
We are requesting $5.0 million in FY 1979 to continue this feasibility
demonstration activity.
THE FY 1979 DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE PROGRAM FOR RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, AND ACQUISITION
