Comparison of anti-ballistic missile systems

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This is a table of the most widespread or notable anti-ballistic missile (ABM) systems intended in whole or part to counter ballistic missiles. Since many systems have developed in stages or have many iterations or upgrades, only the most notable versions are described. Such systems are typically highly integrated with radar and guidance systems, so the emphasis is chiefly on system capability rather than the specific missile employed. For example, David's Sling is a system that employs the Stunner missile.

Legend for ABM system status in below table:   Operational   In development   Inactive   Unknown status

System name Country of origin Period of use Intercept Role Weight Warhead types Range (max) Ceiling (max) Speed Launcher
A-35M/A-350 (5V61R)[1][nb 1]  Soviet Union 1978–1995 Exo-atmospheric[1] ICBM 32,700 kg Nuclear 2-3 MT 320–350 km[1] 120 km Mach 4 Fixed launcher
A-135 ABM (51T6 Gorgon)[1]  Russia 1995–present Exo-atmospheric MRBM, ICBM[3] 33,000–45,000 kg Nuclear 10 KT 350–900 km Mach 7 Silo
A-135 ABM (53T6 Gazelle)[1]  Russia 1995–present Re-entry MRBM, ICBM[1][3] 10,000 kg Nuclear 10 KT 80–100 km 80–100 km Mach 17 Silo
A-235 Nudol[4][5]  Russia In development Re-entry, terminal ICBM,[4] ASAT[5] Conventional[4][5] 150 km[4] 5–80 km[4] (ASAT 700 km)[5] Mobile, silo
S-300 (V/SA-12B/9M82 Giant)[6][7][nb 2]  Russia 1983–present[7] Terminal MRBM, IRBM 5800 kg[6] Blast[6][7] 40 km[6][7] 30 km[6] Mach 5+[6] Mobile[6]
S-400 (48N6DM Triumf)[4][8][9]  Russia 2007–present[9] Terminal SRBM, IRBM[8] 1800–1900 kg[8] Blast[9] 80–250 km[4][8] 30 km[4][8] Mach 14 Mobile
S-500[4][10][11]  Russia 2021–present IRBM, MRBM, ICBM,[4] ASAT[11] 600 km[11] 200 km Mobile
HQ-9/HQ-19[12][13]  China 2018–present[14] Terminal SRBM, MRBM,[14] IRBM[13] 1300 kg 25 km[12] 15 km[12] Mobile
Aster (30 1N, SAMP/T)[15][16]  France  Italy 2011–present[16] Terminal SRBM, MRBM 450 kg[15][16] Blast[15] 150 km[15] 25 km[15] Mach 4.5[15] Ship silo, mobile[15]
Prithvi ADV Phase I[17][18]  India Awaiting deployment? Exo-atmospheric[19] MRBM, IRBM Blast 300–>1000 km 50–180 km[15] Mach 5
AAD/Ashwin Phase I[17][18]  India Awaiting deloyment? Terminal[19] MRBM, IRBM 1200 kg Kill vehicle 200 km 15–50 km[15]
AD-1 Phase II[17][18][20]  India In development Endo-exo-atmospheric MRBM, IRBM 18,000 kg
AD-2 Phase II[17][18][20]  India In development Terminal IRBM
David's Sling/Stunner[21][22]  Israel 2018–present[23] Terminal SRBM, MRBM[21] Kill vehicle[21][22] 250 km[24] 15 km[22] Mach 7.5 Mobile
Arrow 2 (Block 4)[21][25][nb 3]  Israel 2012–present Re-entry[25] MRBM, IRBM 2800 kg Blast[25] 90 km + Exo-atmospheric[26] Mach 9 Mobile
Arrow 3[21][27][28]  Israel 2017–present[27] Exo-atmospheric,[21] ASAT MRBM, IRBM less than 1400 kg[27] Kill vehicle[28] 2400 km[27] 100 km[27] Mach 9+ Mobile[27]
L-SAM (Block I)[29]  Republic of Korea In development Exo-atmospheric SRBM Kill vehicle[29] 150 km 40–60 km[30] Mobile[29]
Sky Bow III/Tien-Kung III[31]  Republic of China 2014-present Terminal SRBM[32] 40 km Mobile
Strong Bow I[33]  Republic of China In development Exo-atmospheric SRBM 70 km[34] Mobile
Violet Friend/Bloodhound Mk. III  United Kingdom Canceled 1965 Terminal Nuclear low KT[35] 120 km[36] 9 km+ Mobile
Patriot (PAC-3)[37][38][39][nb 4]  United States 2009–present Terminal[38] SRBM, MRBM[38] 312 kg[39] Kill vehicle[38] 40 km + 24 km + Mobile
THAAD[37][40][41]  United States 2008–present Re-entry SRBM, MRBM, IRBM[37][40] 900 kg[42] Kill vehicle[40][42] 200 km +[42][41] 150 km[42] Mach 8.2 Mobile[40]
Aegis SM-6 ERAM[43][44][45][nb 5]  United States 2009–present Terminal[43] MRBM, IRBM 1500 kg[46] Blast[46] 240–370 km[44][46] 33 km[46] Mach 3.5 Ship silo
Aegis SM-3 (IIA)[44][47][48][49][nb 6]  United States 2014–present Boost (naval), mid-course MRBM, IRBM,[47] ICBM,[49][50] ASAT[48][49] 1500 kg[51] Kill vehicle[51] 1500 km[44] 160 km +[51] Mach 13.2 (IIA) Ship and land silo
Nike Zeus (B)[52][nb 7]  United States Canceled 1963, ASAT role to 1964[53] Re-entry ICBM,[52] ASAT[53] 10,300 kg[52] Nuclear 400 KT[52] 400 km[52] 280 km[52] Mach 4+ Silo
Safeguard/Spartan[nb 8]  United States 1975–76[56][52] Exo atmospheric[57] ICBM[52] 13,100 kg[52] Nuclear 5 MT[52] 740 km[52] 560 km[52] Mach 3–4 Silo
Safeguard/Sprint[nb 9]  United States 1975–76 Terminal ICBM[6] 3,500 kg[6] Nuclear low KT[6] 40 km[6] 30 km[6] Mach 10+[6] Silo
Sentry/Overlay[58][59]  United States 1977–83 (study) Exo-atmospheric ICBM Exo-atmospheric[58][59] Silo
Sentry/LoAD[60][59][nb 10]  United States 1977–83 (study) Terminal ICBM Conventional[60] or nuclear[61] 15 km[60][59] Silo
Ground-Based Midcourse Defense/GBI[62][63][nb 11]  United States 2010–present Mid-course ICBM[62] 21,600 kg Kill vehicle[62] Silo
Next Generation Interceptor[64][65]  United States In development Mid-course ICBM Kill vehicle Silo

Notes[edit]

  • System name: Many systems have numerous iterations or block upgrades, or have had multiple names. The primary or current system in use is described and noted, with the specific weapon iteration noted as appropriate.
  • Period of use: ABM systems have protracted development periods. The time the system is or was in operational use is described.
  • Intercept: Most systems can be used in different phases of ballistic missile flight, i.e., boost[66] (where surface or air-launched anti-aircraft missiles might also be effective because the ballistic missile is moving relatively slowly at low altitude), requiring proximity to the launch site and immediate response, mid-course/exo-atmospheric,[67] and re-entry/terminal.[68] The principal intended phase of ballistic missile interception is noted. Other phases may be tried, with less effect. The earlier in flight that a missile is intercepted, the greater area a system may defend. Mid-course interception requires an ABM launch position between the ballistic missile launch site and the area defended. Terminal defense usually protects a relatively small area (i.e., Moscow, Minot Air Force Base missile fields) from projectiles in the re-entry phase.[64][69]
  • Role: Ballistic missile speed roughly corresponds to range. MRBMs move faster than SRBMs, IRBMs faster than MRBMs, and ICBMs faster than IRBMs.[64][70] Each iteration demands greater speed, range, and targeting capability (either in accuracy or warhead power).
  • Weight: Weight roughly correlates to one or more of range/ceiling, speed/acceleration, or warhead size.
  • Warhead type: Lacking precision guidance systems, early systems relied on nuclear blast to destroy ballistic missiles.[71] Systems intended for dual-role anti-aircraft/anti-SRBM and MRBM systems typically use blast/fragmentation warheads. Newer systems intended for IRBMs and ICBMs with high-altitude interception typically use hit-to-kill kinetic intercept profiles.[72]
  • Range and ceiling: Maximum range does not necessarily coincide with maximum ceiling.
  • Speed: Speed, along with ceiling, correlates to intercept capability, with ICBMs demanding the greatest speed and acceleration.[73] The terminal defense role of the Sprint system demanded extraordinary acceleration over a very brief period to intercept ICBMs that leaked through higher-altitude defense systems, or which were revealed when decoys disappeared at lower altitudes.[74] A high speed at low altitude (as with Sprint) is much more challenging that a high speed at high altitude.[75]

The Israeli Iron Dome system is not specifically an anti-ballistic missile system, as it is intended primarily to counter unguided rockets and artillery projectiles, rather than guided missiles on trajectories that take them above Earth's atmosphere, re-entering at extreme velocities.[76]

Footnotes[edit]

  1. ^ The original A-35 was introduced in 1972 with the A-350Zh missile. It was replaced by the A-350R in 1974, and then by A-350M in 1978.[2]
  2. ^ The S-300 requires specific missile models to be used in the ABM role. Most missiles are optimized for anti-aircraft use.
  3. ^ The Arrow 1 (Hetz) never went into service, as it was quickly overtaken by the smaller Arrow 2.
  4. ^ Patriot initially was solely an anti-aircraft missile. with no capability against ballistic missiles. The PAC-1 upgrade introduced this capability as a software upgrade. PAC-2 improved this capability, and the GEM+ upgrade introduced separate versions optimized for cruise missiles or ballistic missiles. PAC-3 is a new design, intended primarily for ABM use.
  5. ^ SM-6 is a general-purpose weapon that can be used against ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, aircraft, and surface targets.
  6. ^ SM-3 is a specialty weapon intended solely for ABM use .
  7. ^ The U.S. ABM concepts proposed in the 1950s, 60s and 70s share a common genesis, with overlapping technologies and often confusingly similar names. Refer to the individual articles on these topics for fuller discussions of their histories and characteristics.
  8. ^ The precursor programs to Safeguard (or follow-on to Nike-Zeus) were Nike-X and then the Sentinel programs. These projects incorporated most of the same systems and concepts, differing chiefly in scope of coverage and defensive philosophy. Nike-X emphasized close-range interception using small, fast missiles with low-yield neutron-enhanced weapons for the terminal defense component. These became Sprint. Sentinel resurrected Nike-Zeus, now named Spartan, alongside Sprint, using large x-ray-enhanced nuclear warheads for the Spartan exo-atmospheric component, allowing the system to operate with significantly loosened accuracy requirements due to the much greater kill radius of an x-ray-enhanced nuclear explosive outside the atmosphere compared to pure blast or neutron effects.[54][55] After China demonstrated a nuclear capability in 1967, Nike-X became the Sentinel program, using both Spartan and Sprint, but in a scaled-back scope.
  9. ^ Sprint was the principal component of Nike-X, and was combined with Spartan for Sentinel.
  10. ^ LoAD used a Sprint-like missile.
  11. ^ The GBI uses a three-stage booster based on the Minotaur-C launch vehicle, itself a derivative of the Peacekeeper/MX ICBM.

See also[edit]

References[edit]

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