1. Military Technology

After WW2 the USA led the world in military
technology

The USA was the only country with an atom
bomb

The USA was determined to maintain its
position as the leading military power on the
planet

2. Why did the US want to be
dominant

The USA believed it was essential to stay
ahead of the USSR in the Cold War

The USA regarded itself as the defender of the
'free world' against communist expansion

The US economy was very strong and the
government put massive resources into the
research and development of military
technology

A majority of the US population supported the
government – defend the 'American way of life'

3. Nuclear Weapons

1945 – beginning of the nuclear age

1949 – USSR develops an atom bomb

Truman approves programme to develop
Hydrogen Bomb

A super bomb 1,000 more powerful than
normal atom bombs

1952 – USA tests hydrogen bomb

4. B-52s

USA needed planes capable of dropping
nuclear bombs on Russia

Built B-52 Stratofortress

Used for dropping conventional bombs on
Vietnam

5. Rockets

Nazis developed rockets during WW2

USA used the work of the Nazis to expand their
rocket programme

Early 1960s developed the medium range
Pershing missile with a range of 650KM

ICBMs developed under Eisenhower

The Minuteman had a range of 1,600Km

Poseidon could carry multiple warheads and a
range of 6,000 Km

Replaced by Trident in 1979

6. Early Warning Systems

USSR matched developments in nuclear
and missile technology

USA believed that an Early Warning System
was vital

All USA to counter-attack with its nuclear
arsenal

Distant Early Warning System (DEW) – radar
stations across Northern Canada and
Alaska

Airborne Warning and Control Systems
(AWACS) – airborne 24 hours a day.

7. Non-Nuclear Technology

Development of Jet airplanes

Air-to-Air missiles – Sidewinder

Reconnaissance / spy planes – U2

Unmanned drones in 1970s & 80s –
advances in computer technology

Helicopters – Korean and Vietnam Wars

Large Aircraft Carriers

8. Military Industrial Complex

1950 – total US budget = $40bilion

$12billion spent on military expenditure

1960 – total US budget = $92bilion

$60billion spent on military expenditure

Major industry developed as a result of this
spending

Boeing, Lockheed, IBM

Eisenhower – Military Industrial Complex

The military, industry and politicians had a
vested interest in stoking Cold War fears and
an aggressive foreign policy