Missile defense
From Biocrawler, the free encyclopedia.
Missile Defense is a term referring to systems, weapon programs, or technology involved in the defense against a missile. As an open ended term, its precise meaning has changed over the years and been modified by specialized communities. Historically, Missile Defense has been part of the Air Defense systems.
In the 1950s and 60s, the term meant defense against strategic (usually nuclear armed) missiles. The technology mostly centered around detecting offensive launch events, tracking in-bound ballistic missiles but with limited ability to actually defend against the missile.
In the late 1960s, technology had matured to the point to allow limited rudimentary missile defense by using anti-ballistic missiles. At first, these anti-ballistic missiles were armed with their own nuclear weapons, since precision technology to "hit-a-bullet-with-a-bullet" did not exist. However, these missiles were slow and vulnerable to attack.
Soon after, lasers were being considered to shoot down the warheads. This was unprobable as the warheads were already designed to resist the heat of reentry into Earth's atmosphere. A system of new radars and Sprint missiles was created and named Nike-X.
Eventually, the Nike-X program was scaled back and renamed Sentinel. This program focused more on China, allowing tensions with the Soviet Union to ease. This new program consisted of mounting warheads on Spartan missiles around major cities.
Missile defense systems were still being designed even during the SALT I and SALT II talks. McNamara stated,
"Let me emphasize -- and I cannot do so too strongly -- that our decision to go ahead with a limited ABM deployment in no way indicates that we feel an agreement with the Soviet Union on the limitation of strategic nuclear offensive and defensive forces is in any way less urgent or desirable."
In the early 1980s, under the Reagan SDI program, technology had matured to consider space based missile defense options, and precision hit-to-kill systems where the anti-ballistic missile physically hits the inbound ballistic missile. The history of the program was covered under an umbrella of National Missile Defense.
In the early 1990s, the term expanded to include Theater Missile Defense, as dramatically seen in the Gulf War.
In the late 1990s, and early 2000s, the issue of defense against Cruise Missiles became more visible.
In the United States of America, the Missile Defense Agency has assumed a lead role in all phases of missile defense.
George W. Bush withdraws the US from the Anti-Ballistic missile treaty, allowing further designing and testing of ABM.
