Computer technology is absolutely essential to modern military and space technology and strategy. Modern weapons systems cannot be built, integrated, tested, deployed, kept combat-ready, or operated without computers.
Computers are an actual part of the armament of missiles, aircraft, tanks, satellite-based surveillance systems, ABM defense systems and submarines. Missile accuracy and avionics depend on computers. Even helicopters are equipped with computers to obtain real-time information for use against battlefield tanks.
A missile force or a major meteorological service requires several large general-purpose computers, plus field computers on mobile units such as ships, planes, missiles, and space vehicles.
At least 150,000 general-purpose computers were in operation in the United States by 1976, 80 percent of which are third- and fourth-generation systems. America is the unquestioned leader in this essential technology.
The Soviet Union is believed to have had by 1976 about 16,000 computers, 80 percent of which are first- and second-generation systems. Nearly all the Soviet computers are allocated to the military establishment, and a few to scientific institutions.
Although the U.S.S.R. could not have developed MIRVs or sent space vehicles to the moon, Venus or Mars without computer technology, American experts believe that a large number of Soviet computers are obsolete as well as inadequate in memory devices, peripheral equipment, and time-sharing.
The Soviets have so far been unable to master the technique of large-scale mass production of high quality computer components or systems. The better Soviet computer systems are custom-made, not mass produced. U.S. experts estimate that the Soviets are 10 to 12 years behind the United States in developing their own computer hardware technology, and 10 to 15 years behind us in computer software technology.
Soviet computer technology minus Western assistance would be virtually zero. Computer technological advances that are pioneered in the West appear in the U.S.S.R. 5 to 12 years later. The West has produced all computer technological innovations.
Although the Soviets have been unable to develop their own advanced computer technology, they are confidently expecting the West to provide them with large computer systems, miniaturized computers, and computer manufacturing technology. Western companies are eagerly offering to sell computers and testing machinery to the U.S.S.R., license their manufacture inside the U.S.S.R. , install complete plants, assist in the setting up of production lines, and launch joint developments with Communist governments.
Should we permit U.S. companies to sell our advanced computer technology to the Soviet bloc even though this will enhance Soviet strategic capabilities, or at least free domestic computers for use by the military sector? The U.S. State Department says yes under the rationale of “detente” and “reduction of tensions.”
The reality of the transfer of computer technology, however, is that the fruits of American technological achievement and the private-enterprise production are accelerating Soviet military capability. This transfer is assisting the Soviets to develop an ABM system similar to the one we stopped when SALT I was signed, to perfect their MIRV capability, and to upgrade inertial-guidance systems for their missiles.
Those who want to learn more depressing facts about the folly of selling strategic goods to the Soviet Union should read the new booklet by Miles M. Costick called “The Strategic Dimension of East-West Trade” published by the American Council for World Freedom. Mr. Costick and Congressman Robert K. Dornan persuaded 309 Congressmen to join in asking President Carter to stop the sale of our latest computer, the Cyber 76, to the Soviet. Fortunately they succeeded.
