In 1979 the United States Air Force announced plans for a new intercontinental ballistic missile system (the M-X missile system) that would be deployed on a circular railroad track so that more than 200 missiles could be moved into 4,600 "soft" shelters to be constructed along the track. The Air Force considered sites in Nevada and Utah, and western Beaver County (Utah) became a top candidate for the project. However, after the First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints issued a statement that M-X was not wanted in Utah, it became clear that the project would have a difficult time proceeding. By 1981, President Reagan had canceled the soft shelter plan and advocated the deployment of a limited number of M-X missiles in super hardened Titan II or Minuteman silos. On November 1982, Reagan announced "Closely Spaced Basing" as the final solution to the M-X basing problem and indicated his preference for "Peacekeeper" as the name of the M-X missile. In 1985, Congress limited Peacekeeper (M-X) deployment to 50 missiles until the administration could produce a more survivable basing plan. Finally, in testimony before the House Armed Services Committee June 28 2001, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld said that both he and the Air Force had concluded that the Peacekeeper missile (M-X), was not needed. October 2005 is the projected date for final deactivation of the Peacekeeper (M-X) missiles.
From the description of [Reports on the M-X missile in Utah and Nevada] 1980-1981. (Utah State University). WorldCat record id: 60757279
