Conventional Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles - New Weapon, New World

Abstract

The U.S. Air Force is developing technology to place a variety of non-nuclear weapon payloads on intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs). These conventional ballistic missiles (CBM) would provide indirect fire with a quick reaction capability on fixed and potentially mobile targets. The use of these weapons necessitates a change in international notification policy and climate for long range missile launches from the United States. The near-term deployment of these weapons creates the potential for accidental or retaliatory launches of nuclear-tipped missiles from Russia and China. Far-term deployment increases this risk. The paper points out several other problems with CBM deployment and suggests some mitigation strategies. While some of the mitigation aids are technological in nature, the paper stresses that a new climate must exist before the CBM can be seriously considered as a viable weapon.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Apr 07, 2000
Accession Number
ADA378081

Entities

People

  • Jeffrey A. Randorf

Organizations

  • United States Army War College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Biomedical
  • Cyber
  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Human Systems
  • Materials and Manufacturing Processes
  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Defense
  • Arms Control
  • Arms Control Treaties
  • Ballistic Missiles
  • Defense Systems
  • Fighter Aircraft
  • Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles
  • Nuclear Warheads
  • Nuclear Weapons
  • Rocket Engines
  • Rockets
  • Strategic Weapons
  • Treaties
  • United States
  • War Colleges
  • Warning Systems
  • Weapons Effects

Readers

  • Aerospace Engineering
  • Missile Defense Systems.
  • Systems Analysis and Design