Comparison of anti-ballistic missile systems

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 nameCountry of originPeriod of useInterceptRoleWeightWarhead typesRange (max)Ceiling (max)SpeedLauncher
A-35M/A-350 (5V61R)[1][nb 1] Soviet Union1978–1995Exo-atmospheric[1]ICBM32,700 kgNuclear 2-3 MT320–350 km[1]120 kmMach 4Fixed launcher
A-135 ABM (51T6 Gorgon)[1] Russia1995–presentExo-atmosphericMRBM, ICBM[3]33,000–45,000 kgNuclear 10 KT350–900 kmMach 7Silo
A-135 ABM (53T6 Gazelle)[1] Russia1995–presentRe-entryMRBM, ICBM[1][3]10,000 kgNuclear 10 KT80–100 km80–100 kmMach 17Silo
A-235 Nudol[4][5] RussiaIn developmentRe-entry, terminalICBM,[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] Russia1983–present[7]TerminalMRBM, IRBM5800 kg[6]Blast[6][7]40 km[6][7]30 km[6]Mach 5+[6]Mobile[6]
S-400 (48N6DM Triumf)[4][8][9] Russia2007–present[9]TerminalSRBM, IRBM[8]1800–1900 kg[8]Blast[9]80–250 km[4][8]30 km[4][8]Mach 14Mobile
S-500[4][10][11] Russia2021–presentIRBM, MRBM, ICBM,[4] ASAT[11]600 km[11]200 kmMobile
HQ-9/HQ-19[12][13] China2018–present[14]TerminalSRBM, MRBM,[14] IRBM[13]1300 kg25 km[12]15 km[12]Mobile
Aster (30 1N, SAMP/T)[15][16] France  Italy2011–present[16]TerminalSRBM, MRBM450 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] IndiaAwaiting deployment?Exo-atmospheric[19]MRBM, IRBMBlast300–>1000 km50–180 km[15]Mach 5
AAD/Ashwin Phase I[17][18] IndiaAwaiting deloyment?Terminal[19]MRBM, IRBM1200 kgKill vehicle200 km15–50 km[15]
AD-1 Phase II[17][18][20] IndiaIn developmentEndo-exo-atmosphericMRBM, IRBM18,000 kg
AD-2 Phase II[17][18][20] IndiaIn developmentTerminalIRBM
David's Sling/Stunner[21][22] Israel2018–present[23]TerminalSRBM, MRBM[21]Kill vehicle[21][22]250 km[24]15 km[22]Mach 7.5Mobile
Arrow 2 (Block 4)[21][25][nb 3] Israel2012–presentRe-entry[25]MRBM, IRBM2800 kgBlast[25]90 km +Exo-atmospheric[26]Mach 9Mobile
Arrow 3[21][27][28] Israel2017–present[27]Exo-atmospheric,[21] ASATMRBM, IRBMless than 1400 kg[27]Kill vehicle[28]2400 km[27]100 km[27]Mach 9+Mobile[27]
L-SAM (Block I)[29] Republic of KoreaIn developmentExo-atmosphericSRBMKill vehicle[29]150 km40–60 km[30]Mobile[29]
Sky Bow III/Tien-Kung III[31] Republic of China2014-presentTerminalSRBM[32]40 kmMobile
Strong Bow I[33] Republic of ChinaIn developmentExo-atmosphericSRBM70 km[34]Mobile
Violet Friend/Bloodhound Mk. III United KingdomCanceled 1965TerminalNuclear low KT[35]120 km[36]9 km+Mobile
Patriot (PAC-3)[37][38][39][nb 4] United States2009–presentTerminal[38]SRBM, MRBM[38]312 kg[39]Kill vehicle[38]40 km +24 km +Mobile
THAAD[37][40][41] United States2008–presentRe-entrySRBM, MRBM, IRBM[37][40]900 kg[42]Kill vehicle[40][42]200 km +[42][41]150 km[42]Mach 8.2Mobile[40]
Aegis SM-6 ERAM[43][44][45][nb 5] United States2009–presentTerminal[43]MRBM, IRBM1500 kg[46]Blast[46]240–370 km[44][46]33 km[46]Mach 3.5Ship silo
Aegis SM-3 (IIA)[44][47][48][49][nb 6] United States2014–presentBoost (naval), mid-courseMRBM, 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 StatesCanceled 1963, ASAT role to 1964[53]Re-entryICBM,[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 States1975–76[56][52]Exo atmospheric[57]ICBM[52]13,100 kg[52]Nuclear 5 MT[52]740 km[52]560 km[52]Mach 3–4Silo
Safeguard/Sprint[nb 9] United States1975–76TerminalICBM[6]3,500 kg[6]Nuclear low KT[6]40 km[6]30 km[6]Mach 10+[6]Silo
Sentry/Overlay[58][59] United States1977–83 (study)Exo-atmosphericICBMExo-atmospheric[58][59]Silo
Sentry/LoAD[60][59][nb 10] United States1977–83 (study)TerminalICBMConventional[60] or nuclear[61]15 km[60][59]Silo
Ground-Based Midcourse Defense/GBI[62][63][nb 11] United States2010–presentMid-courseICBM[62]21,600 kgKill vehicle[62]Silo
Next Generation Interceptor[64][65] United StatesIn developmentMid-courseICBMKill vehicleSilo

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]

The U.S. Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) investigated a variety of missile defense strategies, many involving exotic technologies such as the X-ray lasers[77] envisioned by Project Excalibur, or the Brilliant Pebbles kinetic-kill satellite system.[78] None of the more exotic systems were pursued to prototyping.

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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