Technical Information

File — Box: 1, Folder: 1

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

1: MX ICBM: This is a full scale mockup of the new MX Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) being developed by the U. S. Air Force. Major MX contractors include: Thiokol Corporation (Stage 1), Aerojet General Corporation (Stage 2), Hercules, Inc. (Stage 3), Rockwell International Corporation (Stage 4, flight computer, guidance and control system integrator) and Martin-Marietta Corporation (Assembly, Test and systems support). First MX flight test will be in 1983 with initial operational capability (ten missiles) in 1986 and full operational capability (200 missiles) in 1989.
2: MX Road Vehicle: Artist's conception of the transporter-erector-launcher road vehicle and a hardened horizontal shelter for the MX missile being developed by the U. S. Air Force. The cutaway shows a mobile shield which straddles the missiles during transit, thus denying potential enemies any certainty of the exact missiles location when it is being moved of when it is in a shelter. The MX system will consist of approximately 200 missiles and 4,600 shelters located in the southwest United States. The MX will be part of the U. S. strategic deterrent force, the Triad of missiles, bombers, and sea-launched ballistic missiles.
3: U.S./U.S.S.R. Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (projected through fifth generation) This illustration shows both the present and projected intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) inventories of both the U.S. and the U.S.S.R. While the U.S. has favored smaller, more accurate ICBM's, the U.S.S.R. had emphasized larger missies with heavier payloads with less accuracy. However, as the Soviet ICBM's become more accurate their capability to destroy our ICBM's will increase.
4: MX Basing Mode: this is an artist's concept of the horizontal basing mode for the mobile MX missile being developed by the U.S. Air Force. The key feature of the basing mode is survivability which will be achieved by moving approximately 200 missiles among 4,600 hardened horizontal structures without revealing actual missile locations. This basing mode will consist of approximately 200 closed loops, each having 23 shelters about 1-2 miles apart, and one transporter-erector-launcher (TEL) carrying only on missile. MX will be part of the U.S. strategic force, the Triad of missiles, bombers, and sea-launched ballistic missiles.
5: MX Basing Complex: This is an artist's concept of the horizontal basing complex for the MX missile being developed by the U.S. Air Force. The buildings (left) are the assembly area for the MX missiles which will move into the closed loops (roadways) by rail. At the end of the railway a single MX will be placed on a mobile transporter-erector-launcher road vehicle which will move among the 23 shelters around each loop to insure survivability by denying potential enemies any certainty of its exact location. Current plans call for one missile and 23 shelters and 4,600 shelters. MX will be part of the U.S. strategic deterrent force, the Triad of missiles, bombers, and sea-launched ballistic missiles.
6: MX Road Vehicle: Artist's conception of the transporter-erector-launcher road vehicle and a hardened horizontal shelter for the MX missile being developed by the U. S. Air Force. The cuaway shows a mobile shield which straddles the missiles during transit, thus denying potential enemies any certainty of the exact missiles location when it is being moved of when it is in a shelter. The MX system will consist of approximately 200 missiles and 4,600 shelters located in the southwest United States. The MX will be part of the U. S. strategic deterrent force, the Triad of missiles, bombers, and sea-launched ballistic missiles.
7: This is an artist's concept of a hardened shelter for the MX missile being developed by the U. S. Air Force. The four ports open comply with verification requirements of the Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty. The MX system will consist of approximately 200 missiles among 4,600 shelters. Each shelter will be surrounded by a 2 2 acre fenced area. The area outside the fence will be available for ranching, farming, hunting, mining and other public use. MX will be part of the U.S. strategic deterrent force, the Triad of missiles, bombers, and sea-launched ballistic missiles.

Dates

1985

Conditions Governing Access

Twenty-four hour advanced notice encouraged. Materials must be used on-site. Access to parts of this collection may be restricted under provisions of state or federal law.