“Space-Strike Weapons” and the Soviet Response to SDI*

The International History of the Strategic Defense Initiative: American Influence and Economic Competition in the Late Cold War

“…For example, some of the Soviet opposition to SDI stemmed from suspicions that SDI technologies were offensive, not defensive, and that space‐based lasers could strike ground targets without warning. American policy dismissed such concerns, and the resultant disconnect between US and Soviet views affected the diplomatic debate (Westwick, 2008; see also Podvig, 2004).…”

“…14 14 Recent efforts from historians of science include Doel, 1997; Krige and Barth, 2006; Westwick, 2008; Hamblin, 2008. …”