An Anti-Ballistic missile is a surface-to-air missile is a missile designed to defend against Ballistic missiles. Ballistic missiles are used to deliver nuclear, chemical, biological, or conventional warheads in a ballistic flight trajectory. Anti-Ballistic missiles are commonly used for systems that can counter Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMS). According to Wikipedia, there are a limited number of systems worldwide that can intercept Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles. The systems are the Russian A-135 (upgraded to A-235 in 2017) anti-ballistic missile system, the Israeli Arrow 3 system, the American Ground-Based Midcourse Defense (GMD) system, and the Aegis ballistic missile defense-equipped SM-3 Block II-A missile system.
The Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty (ABM Treaty), is a treaty between the Soviet Union which is now Russia and the United States that limits deployment of missile systems that could theoretically be used to destroy incoming intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMS). According to Britannica.com in related stories, Negotiations to prohibit ballistic missile defense were first proposed by the United States in 1966 but didn’t begin until late 1969, as part of the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT). The ABM treaty was signed by Former U.S. President Richard Nixon and Soviet Leader Leonid Brezhnev in May 1972. It was ratified into law by Congress and the Supreme Court the same year. The Treaty said that each side could only have two ABM sites, one to protect the national capital and one to protect an ICBM launching site. Each ABM site has 100 launch systems and 100 interceptor missiles.
Related Stories:
Anti-ballistic missile – Wikipedia
Antiballistic missile (ABM) | Missile Defense, Nuclear Deterrence & Arms Control | Britannica
Anti-Ballistic Missiles: The Shield Against the Ultimate Threat | New Space Economy
MDA – The Ballistic Missile Defense System
Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty (ABM Treaty) | Britannica
Take Action:
Arms Control Association | The authoritative source on arms control since 1971.
