When US - Soviet relationships were at their frostiest in the 1980s , there was no telling what sort of alien threat was about to come roaring through Russia ’s Iron Curtain . That ’s where the Defense Intelligence Agency came in .
This low - visibility intelligence agency — the DoD ’s response the the CIA — worked around the clock to discover emerge Soviet military threat and report them to Washington . Because of the Top hush-hush nature of these subject , the agency employed a team of artists to create extremely accurate renderings of each scourge , for function in insurance briefings and DIA publications like Soviet Military Power . These subjects were so top mystery that the renderings themselves were considered classified stuff .
Between 1965 and 1989 , DIA ’s artists create more than 1000 painting and drawings of Soviet terror — now known as the DIA Military Art Collection . Here are ten of the most intimidating weapons we thought the Soviets were developing .
Soviet Space - Based Strategic Defenses by Ronald C. Wittmann , 1987
Just because the Soviets were publically oppose to President Reagan ’s Strategic Defense Initiative , aka “ Star Wars , ” does n’t mean they were n’t feverishly working on their own edition . The Soviet Space - establish Strategic Defenses were part of a co-ordinated land , air , and space - establish cuticle against Moscow - bound ballistic missiles .
place Particle Beam by Ronald C. Wittmann , 1987
Rather than try out to collide with a midget satellite zooming G of miles an hour statute mile overhead with a ground - ground optical maser , why not just broadcast up another planet to dart it out of the sky ? The Soviets explore the mind of hunter - killer planet armed with particle - beam , kinetic , and laser - establish weaponry throughout the 1980s . None of the technologies were ever launched , though .
Soviet MI-24 HIND Delivering Chemical Spray by Edward L. Cooper , 1986
The MI-24 HIND is terrifying enough on its own . But when outfitted with chemical dispersal pods , these heavy assault choppers could rapidly graze dust death over a Brobdingnagian battlefield or metropolitan area . And it ’s not like the Soviets were running short on chemical weapons,—the USSR maintained a supply so deadly , it would make Syria ’s stockpiles look like a can of Altoids . Terrifyingly , every individual medium- and long - range weapon system arrangement in the Soviet armory could be re - purposed for chemic war .
Soviet Space Station and Shuttle by Brian W. McMullin , 1986
In what would have been an equivalent counter - punch to the US landing on the Moon and a devastating blow to American pride , the USSR planned to create both a permanent space post orb the Earth and a reusable birdie craft to service it . Thank seraphic babe Jesus ( and Reagan ) that this techno - political catastrophe never actually occurred .
Soviet Wing - In - Ground Effect Aircraft by Brian W. McMullin , 1988
By exploiting what ’s known as “ primer coat effect , ” wherein an aircraft ’s flank render extra lift and less drag when aviate nigh to a fix surface like the primer coat or the surface of water , Soviet researchers hop to grow a stratum of outsize land - force vehicles — like the Orlan - grade above — for coastal defence and amphibious assault .
Soviet Ballistic Missile Submarine Base by Brian W. McMullin , 1986
The Arctic Circle played host to a turn of strategical struggle between East and West during the Cold War . At one time , the USSR considered deploying its Typhoon and Delta IV strategic ballistic missile submarines there , using tunnels dug into the hillside to ply the most advanced nuclear torpedo in the Russian armada stack of auspices from counterattack . alas , they did n’t count on us send Clint Eastwood in to slip their ultrasonic spy sheet .
Soviet Mobile Lasers defend an Airfield by Edward L. Cooper , 1987
Since optical maser were clearly Russia ’s answer to everything in the 1980s , Soviet researchers examined the engineering science ’s possible use in field defence . These truck - mounted platforms would n’t simply blind incoming pilots like mod hand-held lasers do , they would melt the fuselage and set the plane on fire . The engineering science made it quite far through the prototype and testing process — to the point that a number of analysts at the time expected the USSR to actually field a production - quick exemplar within the next decennium . gratefully , the Soviets had no clue how to run an economy , and the entire regime collapse in upon itself before the fluid lasers could be utilized .
Pushinko ABM by Ronald C. Wittmann , 1983
The Soviet Yang to the American Atlas ’ Yin , the Pushinko ABM ( anti - ballistic missile ) was the first of its sort as well as the only in operation one . ABMs are missiles specifically design to intercept the multiple warhead of incoming Inter - Continental Ballistic Missiles . The Soviet organization was installed on the fringe of Moscow in the 1970s , but just a decade later , was upgraded with silo - based , nuclear - tipped Gazelle interceptor missile and larger radar to better supervise and overtop the ABMs as they streaked towards their targets .
Cosmos 389 ELINT by Brian W. McMullin , 1982
Space became a field of battle between the US and USSR well before Reagan float the Star Wars estimate . In the early 1970s , Russia launch the Cosmos 389 , the first of what would become known as “ ferret ” satellites . These small ballistic capsule lock on to radar and radiocommunication emissions that could identify US air defense sites and instruction centers , a boon to Soviet Intelligence .
Soviet Ground - Based Laser by Edward L. Cooper , 1986
During the eighties , the Soviet Strategic Defense Program invested hard in ground - base lasers equal to of clamber overhead satellite . And while US Intelligence argue that site likeTerra-3 in Kazakhstan were proof of a so - hollo “ optical maser gap , ” the Soviet engineering science never add up close to realization . A few modest prototypes were test , though .
The rest of these fascinating paintings can be seen at the quaternary floor museum area of the DIAC in in Washington , D.C. as well as at the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum . [ DIAviaFAS ]
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