In 1961 the USSR, after many tries, successfully intercepted a ballistic missile with an anti-ballistic missile. As the author points out, this was a significant success for the Soviets, not just for the achievement itself but for what their scientists learned from the problem: headway was made in communications, computing, radar, rocketry, warhead design, etc.
The only flaw I find in the book is its redundancy. I have no doubt after reading Intercept that Mr. Gruntman is an expert, maybe even THE expert in the west, on the topic of Soviet ABM design. However, he goes back and forth in several chapters about the exact same topic in the exact same way. He also goes into excrutiating detail about how design bureaus worked in the USSR when I believe there must have been a simpler way to discuss these topics. And he also discusses individuals involved in ABM design which at first seemed to be too much detail but when the reader gets into the internal politics of the Soviet defense budget it makes it clear that petty feuds and disagreements steered Soviet defense thinking.
This book is well illustrated, provides links to online sources and explains a lot about the Moscow defense system. An important addition to anyone's library who is interested in antiaircraft and air defense.
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