ou
=.
aa (NN
ENCLOSURE "A"
DRAFT LETTER TO THE PRESIDENT
1, A number of nuclear devices for early entry into our
defense stockpile, or important to the most rapid advancement
of later weapons désignss will require testing in calendar year
1957.
Such tests would include:
a. The proof~firing of certain air defense and antisubmarine warheads scheduled for early production,
Included in this category are a warhead for the TALOS-W
missile, two warheads for the NIKE-B missile and an
atomic depth charge.
b, Development tests of components and mockups which
provide design information for thermonuclear devices,
which we plan to test in the Eniwetok Proving Ground in
1958. These include an ICBM warhead and devices directed
toward a higher yield-to-weight ratio.
c. Exploratory and development tests directed toward
achieving more efficient use of active material and
warheads of smaller size and weight.
a. Tentatively a deep underground test designed to
explore this manner of testing. This test would be
conducted only 1f the results of an extensive investigation now in progress indicate that the shot would
result in no hazardous off-site effects.
2. In addition, the Department of Defense and the Federal
Civil Defense Administration have indicated a need to secure from
any test series in 1957 certain effects data important to the
protection of our populace and military forces.
A portion of
this data can be secured from diagnostic shots.
However, two
special shots designed specifically to secure such effects
information may be required, one of which would be a DOD test
involving an airburst of the nuclear warhead in the new USAF
air-to-air rocket following 1lts launching from an interceptor
alrcraft.
-3-
Enclosure "a"