HARMONIZATION: THE WESTERN RANGE, ITS USERS, AND START

Abstract

The Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) introduces an important new element into the Mission planning and operation processes of the Western Range and its users. In the past, safe and successful completion of a ballistic or space operation was the primary mission of the Range. Under START, the Western Range has the added responsibility of playing a major role in the verification process necessary for a safe reduction of the world's ballistic nuclear weapons. This paper describes the impact of the Treaty on both the Western Range and its users while outlining how the Range has adapted to meet the challenges introduced by the Treaty.