What was the Missile Gap?
During the Cold War era, the concept of the "missile gap" emerged as a major concern for the United States and the Soviet Union. The term referred to the perceived imbalance in the number of ballistic missiles possessed by the two superpowers, with each side accusing the other of having a significant advantage in this regard.
Background
In the early 1950s, the United States was the leading military power in the world, with a significant advantage in terms of nuclear weapons and delivery systems. The Soviet Union, however, was rapidly closing the gap through its massive investment in nuclear research and development.
The Perception of the Missile Gap
By the mid-1950s, the United States began to perceive a growing imbalance in the number of intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) possessed by the Soviet Union. This perception was fueled by intelligence reports and estimates that suggested the Soviet Union was deploying a large number of ICBMs, while the United States was still struggling to develop its own ICBM capabilities.
Key Events and Developments
Several key events and developments contributed to the emergence of the missile gap myth:
- Sputnik Launch: In 1957, the Soviet Union launched Sputnik, the world’s first artificial satellite, which caught the United States off guard and raised concerns about the Soviet Union’s capabilities.
- ICBM Estimates: In 1957, the United States estimated that the Soviet Union had a significant lead in ICBM development, with around 200-300 operational ICBMs compared to the United States’ approximately 10-20.
- Cuban Missile Crisis: In 1962, the discovery of Soviet missile sites in Cuba brought the world to the brink of nuclear war, further highlighting the perceived missile gap.
Revelations and Re-evaluation
However, in the late 1950s and early 1960s, revelations and re-evaluations led to a significant shift in the understanding of the missile gap:
- Gorshkov’s Estimates: In 1958, Soviet Admiral Sergei Gorshkov revealed that the Soviet Union had only a handful of ICBMs, which contradicted earlier estimates.
- ICBM Development: The United States’ own ICBM development program, including the Atlas and Titan rockets, began to bear fruit, reducing the perceived gap.
- Satellite Imagery: The availability of satellite imagery allowed for more accurate assessments of the Soviet Union’s military capabilities, which revealed that the Soviet Union did not have as many ICBMs as previously thought.
Impact and Legacy
The missile gap myth had significant implications for US-Soviet relations and the broader Cold War landscape:
- Arms Race: The perceived missile gap led to an acceleration of the arms race, with both sides investing heavily in nuclear weapons and delivery systems.
- Space Exploration: The Sputnik launch and subsequent space exploration achievements highlighted the importance of technology and innovation in the space race.
- US-Soviet Relations: The missile gap myth contributed to the deterioration of US-Soviet relations, with each side accusing the other of aggression and a lack of transparency.
Table: Estimated ICBM Numbers
| Year | Soviet Union | United States |
|---|---|---|
| 1957 | 200-300 | 10-20 |
| 1958 | 10-20 | 20-30 |
| 1960 | 50-100 | 100-150 |
| 1962 | 100-200 | 200-300 |
Conclusion
The missile gap was a perceived imbalance in the number of ballistic missiles possessed by the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War era. While initially fueled by intelligence reports and estimates, the myth was later revealed to be overstated. The impact of the missile gap myth on US-Soviet relations and the broader Cold War landscape was significant, contributing to the acceleration of the arms race and the space race.
