Strategic Weapons: May 29, 2000

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The Ballistic Missile Defense Organization rejects Chinese threats to increase its missile arsenal in response to US defenses, noting CIA reports that China is already planning to expand its missile force from the current 20 CCS4s (up from a dozen five years ago) to over 100 missiles that could reach the US by 2015, including the DF31 and the JL-2 submarine-launched missile. The BMDO has confirmed its tactical doctrine of launching four interceptors at each incoming target, feeling this is enough to virtually guarantee a hit regardless of what decoys and maneuvers the enemy warheads use.--Stephen V Cole