Anti-ballistic missile
An anti-ballistic missile (ABM) is a surface-to-air missile designed to counter ballistic missiles (missile defense). Ballistic missiles are used to deliver nuclear, chemical, biological, or conventional warheads in a ballistic flight trajectory. The term "anti-ballistic missile" is a generic term for a system designed to intercept and destroy any type of ballistic threat; however, it is commonly used for systems specifically designed to counter intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs).
The Russian (upgraded in 2017 to A-235)[1] is used for the defense of Moscow. It became operational in 1995 and was preceded by the A-35 anti-ballistic missile system. The system uses Gorgon and Gazelle missiles previously armed with nuclear warheads. These missiles have been updated (2017) and use non-nuclear kinetic interceptors instead, to intercept any incoming ICBMs.[1]
A-135 anti-ballistic missile system
The Israeli system entered operational service in 2017. It is designed for exo-atmosphere interception of ballistic missiles during the spaceflight portion of their trajectory, including those of ICBMs.[2] It may also act as an anti-satellite weapon.
Arrow 3
The American (GMD) system, formerly known as National Missile Defense (NMD), was first tested in 1997 and had its first successful intercept test in 1999. Instead of using an explosive charge, it launches a hit-to-kill kinetic projectile to intercept an ICBM. The current GMD system is intended to shield the United States mainland against a limited nuclear attack by a rogue state such as North Korea. GMD does not have the ability to protect against an all-out nuclear attack from Russia, as there are currently only 44 ground-based interceptors available to counter projectiles headed towards the US.[6][7] (This interceptor count does not include the THAAD, or Aegis, or Patriot defenses which provide shorter range defence against incoming projectiles.)
Ground-Based Midcourse Defense
[8]
2010 Chinese anti-ballistic missile test
Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense System
Atmospheric entry
Command systems in the United States Army
Comparison of anti-ballistic missile systems
Indian Ballistic Missile Defence Programme
Kinetic kill vehicle
Missile defense
Anti-torpedo torpedoes
Multiple Kill Vehicle
National Missile Defense
Nuclear disarmament
Nuclear proliferation
Nuclear warfare
Safeguard/Sentinel ABM system
Spartan (missile)
Sprint (missile)
Terminal High Altitude Area Defense
(1974), Defense Policy Formation: A Comparative Analysis of the McNamara Era. SUNY Press.
Murdock, Clark A.
and David Wright, "Broken Shield: Missiles designed to destroy incoming nuclear warheads fail frequently in tests and could increase global risk of mass destruction", Scientific American, vol. 320, no. no. 6 (June 2019), pp. 62–67. "Current U.S. missile defense plans are being driven largely by technology, politics and fear. Missile defenses will not allow us to escape our vulnerability to nuclear weapons. Instead large-scale developments will create barriers to taking real steps toward reducing nuclear risks—by blocking further cuts in nuclear arsenals and potentially spurring new deployments." (p. 67.)
Laura Grego
Article on Missile Threat Shift to the Black Sea region
Archived 16 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine