This paper is divided into two main chapters: 'words' and deeds'. The former charts Soviet commentary on BMD and the ABM Treaty from the 'Revolution in Military Affairs' of the late 1950s to the era of 'New Thinking' in international affairs that began in the late 1980s. Tracing the Soviet literature over several years highlights shifts in rhetoric that suggest changes in attitude. The 'deeds' chapter discusses five areas in which the USSR has juggled commitments to BMD programmmes and the ABM Treaty: the BMD applications; components for a rapidly deployable BMD system; large phased-array radars; and programmes to investigate exotic technologies, such as lasers.

Cover title. "Winter 1990." Adelphi Paper 255.

Introduction--I. Words: Soviet commentary on BMD and the ABM Treaty--II. Deeds: Soviet BMD programmes and the ABM Treaty--Conclusions.