Hardened UHF Antenna | Cold war artifacts Scattered about landscape Unnoticed overlooked ignored |
F
ollowing World War II, the U.S. defensive policy of strategic deterrence initially relied upon squadrons of long-range aircraft equipped with nuclear bombs. This method of defense was unresponsive to global threats and wasn't a sufficiently intimidating disincentive. Technological developments in the 1950's led to the deployment of the intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) system. Much more powerful thermonuclear weapons with enormous destructive power, potent booster engines for multistage rockets, and sophisticated inertial guidance systems for long range targeting evolved. As a result, ballistic missiles became sufficiently accurate and powerful to destroy targets 6000 miles away (the earth's circumference is 24000 miles.)
A ballistic missile is a rocket-propelled weapon that briefly fires its engines and then allows gravity to carry its payload to an intended objective. Compared to other delivery systems, ballistic missiles are much faster and thus have short flight times to target destinations. Ballistic missiles can therefore attack without warning and are liable to penetrate an enemy's defenses.
An extensive system of underground missile silos and associated control facilities was established throughout the continental U.S., especially in the rural heartland. Many of these have now been deactivated, but their remnants remain as nondescript decaying buildings or concrete slabs enclosed in rusting chain link/barbed wire fences in the middle of farm fields.
“Whether you like it or not, history is on our side. We will bury you.” - Nikita Khruschev
