Final answer:
The question discusses Air Defense Artillery (AD), the strategic defense perimeter of SAM sites, the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) 'Star Wars' program, and the Cold War doctrine of Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD) against the backdrop of the nuclear arms race between the US and the Soviet Union.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question pertains to Air Defense Artillery (AD), which is a branch of military science concerned with defending against aerial attacks, including the interception or destruction of incoming missiles and aircraft. An effective air defense perimeter is a calculated area around a point that is protected by air defense systems. When considering the radius of an effective air defense perimeter (estimated at 30 nautical miles), it applies to both confirmed and possible surface-to-air missile (SAM) sites. SAM sites are strategically placed to intercept incoming enemy aircraft or missiles that enter this zone.
The Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI), commonly known as 'Star Wars,' was a proposed missile defense system intended to protect the United States from attack by ballistic strategic nuclear weapons. It envisioned a space-based missile defense system that would have the capability to shoot down incoming missiles before they could reach their targets. This was in response to the threat posed by the Soviet Union's intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), which had the potential to deliver nuclear warheads across great distances.
The concept of Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD) was a deterrent strategy during the Cold War where both the US and the Soviet Union possessed enough nuclear firepower to assure the other of total destruction in the event of a nuclear exchange. The intent behind MAD was to prevent either side from starting a nuclear war due to the guaranteed catastrophic consequences.
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Air Defense Artillery (AD)