ABSTRACT
The elite sector of the Soviet science system is often equated with the military sector. Many observers are convinced that the best scientists and the best facilities in the USSR perform work for the military. Clearly, the conventional wisdom regarding the superiority of military research and development (R&D) must be refined by closer analysis. The issue of differing levels of performance in military and civilian technology has been recognized in Western literature for some time. Since military research is widely diffused among many different types of research organizations, the mechanism by which military R&D work is separated from the civilian economy varies. Some respondents indicated that they welcomed military interest and sponsorship as a way to acquire additional resources. Along with indications that the military share of the R&D effort is larger than official statistics indicate, the interviews also provided clear evidence of an obsessive concern for secrecy resulting from military involvement in so many institutions.
