Technological claims support Soviet conventional deterrence

Rapid introduction of new aircraft and missiles could make the Soviet Union appear technologically ahead before testing was complete. In this explanation of Soviet deterrence, apparent superiority or a technological advantage was intended to make a conventional attack look disproportionately costly. Nuclear weapons could protect national survival, but attracting and defending allies required options that did not depend on transferring those weapons to them. That alliance problem helps explain the pressure to field new conventional equipment quickly. Advertised performance also deserves scrutiny because it may describe the best result under ideal conditions. Early service entry and impressive claims therefore do not establish how reliably a weapon will perform in ordinary operations.