CIA HISTORICAL REVIEW PROGRAM RELEASE AS SANITIZED
to Holders of35
MEMORANDUM
To Holders of
NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE ESTIMATE
3
Soviet Capabilities and Intentions With Respect to Chemical Warfare
by lit. DIRECTOR OF CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE
n byUNITED STATES INTELLIGENCE BOARD A,95
I, ii-iI
TflSLLEB OH
Memorandum to Holders of NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE ESTIMATE
3
Soviet Capabilities and Intentions With Respect to Chemical Warfare
mitr
MEMORANDUM TO HOLDERS OF
OVIET CAPABILITIES AND INTENTIONS WITH RESPECT TOWARFARE (Secret,
New evidenceevision of lhe discussion of the Soviel toxic agent stockpile infe have nowD depots which we believe are devoted priniariiy to the storage of toxic agents; these have an estimated total maximum storage capacity ofons. Wcestimateduch depotsotal capacityons. These estimates of total storage capacity do not take account of other possible depots or of field storage on which we do not have conclusive evidence.
Five of these depots, with an estimated total capacityons, are confirmed toxic agent storage sites. Evidence of anof facilities at three of these suggests that present storage capacity is fully utilized or nearly so. In3 we thought il prudent to assume that the total toxic agent stockpile, both in depots and available to tactical units, was altons. The new evidence, which suggests full utilization of certain confirmed storage sites, leads us to conclude that this stockpile is probably atons and could be considerably larger.
On this basis, wc would revisef3 to read as follows:
A. Our evidence indicates lhat Soviet organization, equipment, stocks, training, and research and development can support substantial toxic chemical warfare operations. There is insufficient evidence-ofntproductten-iates-orn-stock toould conduct-tlWe^poratiem. Main
tisnw
Research
and development are continuing, including efforts to develop nonlethal incapacitating agents.
e reaffirm the other Conclusions ofhich are reproduced below.
B. The Sovietsariety of chemical munitions for theater operations, but we believe that their useong-range strategic role is not now planned.
equipment for defense against chemical warfare, but they stillatisfactory means of timely nerve agent detection. Civil defense capabilities are considerably lower than those of the military.
believe that the Soviet leaders think of chemicalessentially tactical weapons, but they consistently group (hemweapons as "weapons of masshethus probably consider them subject to the sameas those imposed on nuclear weapons, and anytheir initial use almost certainly wouldmade atpolitical level.
Soviet leaders almost certainly would authorize the usechemical agents by their theater field forcesimited war in which no nuclear weapons were beingwould probably not initiate the use of chemical weapons.
nrnET
THE CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
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hite Housa
National Security Councilof Statu Department of Defense Atomic Energy Commlulon Federal Bureau of
Original document.
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