Defense: New Look

For weeks, the air in the Pentagon had a kind of tense expectancy as the Kennedy Administration made its promised hard-boiled study of U.S. military might. The promise in the air, bolstered by the President’s own words, indicated a movement toward a radical strengthening of the Navy’s Polaris submarine force and a sharper concentration on conventional warfare needs. This week the promise flowered when the President sent his New Look to Congress. Recommendations:

¶ Ten additional Polaris subs (making a total of 29 authorized and under construction), quicker development of a boost in Polaris missile range from the current 1,200 miles to 2,500 miles.

¶ One hundred and fifty additional Minuteman missiles, as well as new fixed-base Minuteman squadrons.

¶ Fifty-percent increase in the Strategic Air Command’s ground-alert program and maintenance of a twelve-plane airborne alert (TIME, March 17). SAC base warning systems will be improved, and various satellite-borne detection programs (e.g., Samos, Midas) and command-post communications networks will get a shot in the arm.

¶ More spending for non-nuclear weapons and equipment, including antisubmarine warfare capabilities, airlift, sea transport, and ship rehabilitation and modernization.

Kennedy called for a sizable cut ($138 million) in Eisenhower’s $354 million request for the 6-70 program, the Air Force’s Mach 3 bomber of the future, and hacked $50 million more from nuclear airplane development. Unexpected was the severe hatcheting of military installations: the Pentagon hopes to close down no fewer than 73 posts both in the U.S. and overseas, plans to reassign the 24,000 civilians who work at them.