The U.S. Air Force is developing technology to place a variety of non-nuclear weapon payloads on intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs). These conventional ballistic missiles (CBM) would provide indirect fire with a quick reaction capability on fixed and potentially mobile targets. The use of these weapons necessitates a change in international notification policy and climate for long range missile launches from the United States. The near-term deployment of these weapons creates the potential for accidental or retaliatory launches of nuclear-tipped missiles from Russia and China. Far-term deployment increases this risk. The paper points out several other problems with CBM deployment and suggests some mitigation strategies. While some of the mitigation aids are technological in nature, the paper stresses that a new climate must exist before the CBM can be seriously considered as a viable weapon.


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    Title :

    Conventional Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles - New Weapon, New World


    Contributors:

    Publication date :

    2000


    Size :

    32 pages


    Type of media :

    Report


    Type of material :

    No indication


    Language :

    English