Soviets May Lead in ‘Star Wars’ Research, Jane’s Editor Writes

LONDON — The Soviet Union may be ahead of the United States in research into a space-based missile defense system, the authoritative military publication Jane’s Weapon Systems said today.

Bernard Blake, the publication’s editor, wrote in the review’s 1986-87 edition on Soviet opposition to the U.S. Strategic Defense Initiative, popularly known as “Star Wars”:

“Anyone who thinks that the Soviet Union is lacking a comparable SDI program should think again.”

The Soviet Union has the world’s only anti-satellite system and is building a new, more accurate radar network, he said.

Quoting U.S. defense sources, Blake said Moscow has an extensive laser program employing 10,000 scientists and engineers as well as other advanced weapons research projects.

“Such developments as these . . . take the concept of SDI out of a film producer’s dreams into the hard facts of metal and rivets,” Blake wrote. “This time, however, with a large red instead of white stars painted on the system.”