Ballistic missile defense systems seek to defend a given area from attack by locating and tracking an incoming ballistic missile and then launching an interceptor to destroy the missile before it can reach its target. All U.S. interceptors are made up of a booster rocket and a kill vehicle. While most interceptors are “hit-to-kill,” meaning […]
Factsheets on Missile Defense
Conference Outcomes of the FY 2021 National Defense Authorization Act
Note: The final bill, which Congress plans to vote on in the coming days, faces President Trump’s twin veto threats over renaming U.S. military bases that honor Confederate Generals and the failure to repeal social media legal protections. Topline Funding Nuclear Weapons and Related Programs Columbia Class Strategic Submarine House: $4.33 billion, the requested amount Senate: $4.51 billion, an increase of $175 million Conference Outcome: $4.46 billion, an increase of $130 […]
Conference Report on FY 2019 NDAA: Major Nuclear Provisions
<span data-mce-type=”bookmark” style=”display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;” class=”mce_SELRES_start”></span><span data-mce-type=”bookmark” style=”display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;” class=”mce_SELRES_start”></span> Topline President’s Request House Approved Senate Approved Conference Report Department of Defense base budget $617.1 billion $616.7 billion $617.6 billion $616.9 billion Atomic Energy Defense Programs $21.6 billion $22.1 billion $21.6 billion […]
Fact Sheet: Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) Treaty
Updated March 2021 The Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) Treaty was an agreement between the United States and the Soviet Union that limited the number of ground-based anti-ballistic missile systems and sites that each side could have. Both parties also agreed not to develop sea-based, air-based, or space-based ABM systems. After the fall of the Soviet Union, […]
Fact Sheet: Ballistic vs. Cruise Missiles
Ballistic missiles are powered initially by a rocket or series of rockets in stages, but then follow an unpowered trajectory that arches upwards before descending to reach its intended target. Ballistic missiles can carry either nuclear or conventional warheads. There are four general classifications of ballistic missiles based on their range, or the maximum distance […]
