SALT I (1972) SALT II (1979)

SALT I (1972) SALT II (1979)

1. Treaty on the Limitation of Anti-Ballistic Missile Systems - the USSR and the USA attempt to limit the nuclear hazard and reduce hostility.

   • The treaty limited each side to only one ABM deployment area, and 100 interceptor missiles.
   • The interim agreement froze each sides number of ICBMs and submarine-launched ballistic missiles at current levels for five years.

2. SALT II negotiations opened late in 1972 and set limits on the number of strategic launchers. Limits were put on a number of MIRVed ICBMs, MIRVed SLBMs and the total number of strategic launchers. The treaty set an over-all limit of 24,000 weapon systems for each side.

   • The SALT II treaty was signed by Jimmy Carter and Leonid Brezhnev in Vienna in 1979.
     • The US chose not to ratify the treaty due to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.