From Polaris to Trident: The development of us fleet ballistic missile technology

By - Spinardi, Graham

Floor - Floor 2

Published - Cambridge University Press, Cambridge [England], 1994

ISBN 10 - 0521413575

ISBN 13 - 9780521413572

Book Status - 1 Qnty Available with us.

Subject - Armed Forces Submarine forces

Shelf No - 11

Call Number - 623.45197 SPI

Physical Description - ix, 253 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm

Notes - Includes Index

Book Information

This book provides a complete history of the US Fleet Ballistic Missile programme from its inception in the 1950s and the development of Polaris to the deployment of Trident II in 1990. Writing in an accessible yet scholarly manner, Graham Spinardi bases his historical documentation of FBM development on interviews with many of the key participants. His study confronts a central issue: is technology simply a tool used to achieve the goals of society, or is it an autonomous force in shaping that society? FBM accuracy evolved from the citybusting retaliatory capability of Polaris to the silo-busting 'first strike' potential of Trident. Is this a case of technology 'driving' the arms race, or simply the intended product of political decisions? The book provides a comprehensive survey of the literature on the role of technology in the arms race, and seeks to explain technological development using a 'sociology of technology' approach.

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