@Baldric 01:22
I read that intellingence sources, of the past, grossly overestimated the numbers of MiGs, tanks and long range bombers (pre-ICBM age) and the USA was bricking it to such a degree that Strategic Air Command was massively scaled up (nuke-equipped Buffs airborne 24/7) and their eventual ICBM arsenal was massive. Russia went into panic mode, trying to keep up. Ironically, it was later thought that some of conventional weapons, mentioned above, were dummy objects, intended to be seen by spy planes. Visible Forces was the old-fashioned method of deterrence.
One way or another, merely causing the USA to burn masses of fuel and spend billions on manpower, bomber fleets and ICBMs for the relatively low outlay of dummy weapons meant that massive economic damage had been inflicted with no blood spilt. Americans got rich, regardless and ended up with their space program and some of the most effective weapons systems known to man. Russia opted for numbers over equipment quality as they had population advantage: To beat a 4-missile fighter, you only needed 5 fighters.