When did the the Soviets reach nuclear parity with the US? When did they put the "M" in MAD?

[raharris1973]

I've been privy to many discussions about the Korean War and the Cuban Missile Crisis, and although the Soviets had atomic and nuclear weapons at that time, the consensus is overwhelmingly that in all-out escalation of either situation the nuclear damage is heavily one sided against the Soviets.

By the 1980s, or even during the DEFCON countdown during the Yom Kippur war of 1973, that definitely doesn't seem to be the case, North America was going to be as toasted as Eurasia.

When did the decisive change to a thorough Soviet intercontinental destructive capability occur?

 

[Buba]

I'd wager a wild guess that it had something to do with ICBMs? And/or sub-launched missiles?
Free fall bombs from bombers and V2 derivates allowed the Soviets to glass Europe but left CONUS immune.

 

[raharris1973]

<deletion- me being an asshole>I Thanks, I was looking for the year that the Soviets got enough reliable versions of these platforms to glass North America.

 

[ATP]

Don't take this the wrong way, but "no shit, Sherlock" of course it was ICBMs & SLBMs. I was looking for the year that the Soviets got enough reliable versions of these platforms to glass North America.

In 1961 they had about 30 compare to american >300.
1968? they supported North Vietnam thet offensive and taken Czech.So,they must be sure that they are capable of glassing USA if they start fighting.

 

[bintananth]

In 1961 they had about 30 compare to american >300.
1968? they supported North Vietnam thet offensive and taken Czech.So,they must be sure that they are capable of glassing USA if they start fighting.

Parity was reached in the early 70s. By then the UK, France, and China had nukes. By '74 India definitely had nukes while Israel and South Africa* are question marks.

* South Africa used to have nukes. Everyone who knows when they got their first one is keeping their mouth shut.

 

[paulobrito]

South Africa program is helped by Israel, so a bit later than Israel.
Israel's program was greatly helped by France.

 

[bintananth]

South Africa program is helped by Israel, so a bit later than Israel.
Israel's program was greatly helped by France.

They probably got them at the same time and no later than 22 September 1979 when an American spy satellite spotted something which looked awfully similar to a nuclear detonation.