MacIntyre Predicts Missile Era Will Hasten Armed Forces Unity

New concepts in missile technology will create a trend toward unifying the three branches of the Armed Forces, Malcolm A. MacIntyre, Undersecretary of the Air Force, told members of the Young Republican Club last night.

Discussing "Defense Policy in the Missile Age," MacIntyre pointed out that with Russia "only 30 minutes away from a ballistic missile launching site," future warfare will demand a unified command chain.

In addition, all three of the armed forces will need a highly trained core of "electronics tacticians" to operate the missile fleet, MacIntyre noted. This core--to be composed of career men, rather than draftees--will enable the Defense Department to employ less manpower than it does at present.

America, now developing tactics to ward off enemy ballistic missiles, will have a "crude but effective defense," MacIntyre commented. Although this system will not be in operation for several years, he claimed that "there is no substantial long-range missile threat because our defense system will be ready by the time the Soviet Union can mass produce an effective weapon."

It is "only a question of time" until the missile rather than the airplane, dominates the Air Force, MacIntyre said. Submarines carrying Polaris missiles will, for example, become more important than aircraft carriers, he explained.