U.S. Ballistic Missile Defense Programs

The global proliferation of ballistic missile technology and weapons of mass destruction is one of the most immediate and dangerous threats to U.S. national security in the post Cold War era. As the use of Scuds during the Persian Gulf war demonstrated, we cannot rely on traditional notions of deterrence to prevent the use of ballistic missiles by hostile countries. The development and deployment of defenses to protect against ballistic missile threats - initially against theater ballistic missiles and later, if necessary, against long-range threats to the United States that could emerge after the turn of the decade - are important parts of a U.S. defense strategy that emphasizes response to a wide spectrum of potential challenges and regional conflicts. Ballistic Missile Defense BMD programs are also an integral and complementary part of the U.S. counter-proliferation strategy.