Examines the value of deploying strategic missile defences to counter the threat of nuclear accidents. It concludes that the deployment of strategic defences in the 1990s will not be strategically desirable, technically feasible, or economically affordable.

Part 1 Deployment criteria for strategic defences: strategic desirability - deterrence, strategic stability, arms control; technical feasibility - effectiveness, survivability; economic affordability - opportunity costs, cost-effectiveness in relation to alternative, cost-effectiveness at the margin. Part 2 An accidental launch protection system: evaluation - strategic desirability, technical feasibility, economic affordability. Part 3 A ground-based defence of military targets: evaluation - strategic desirability, the impact of US ground-based defences on deterrence, the impact of mutual ground-based defences on deterrence, the impact of ground-based defences on stability and arms control; technical feasibility; economic affordability. Part 4 A phase-one strategic defence system: strategic desirability - the impact of a phase-1 defence on deterrence, the impact of a phase-1 defence on strategic stability, the impact of a phase-1 defence on arms control. Part 5 Strategic defence research in the 1990s.