The proliferation of missile threats has made air and missile defense interceptors the table stakes for entry into future conflicts, forcing the Department of Defense to either ante up and buy the necessary interceptors, or fold on its regional interests and bear the consequences.
Missile Defense As hypersonic missiles, cruise missiles, and unmanned aircraft systems become increasingly common on the battlefield, focusing on the full spectrum of missile threats is crucial, especially as the missile threat from China and Russia grows. CSIS research seeks innovative means to counter the full spectrum of global missile threats.
The Missile Defense Project at CSIS looks at a wide range of policy, program, and strategic issues related to missile defense. Technological and geopolitical factors have driven increased global supply and demand for high-velocity, unmanned, missile-based weapons and their corresponding counters.
Nuclear-powered cruise missiles are not a new idea—they’re just a bad idea. While Russia’s Burevestnik missile is grabbing headlines, it does not fundamentally change Russia’s ability to hold the U.S. homeland at risk or the strategic balance between the two states.
The released data show a pronounced decline in launches after the first few days. This drop occurred as the U.S. and Israeli strike campaign actively attacked Iran’s missile and drone inventories, manufacturing capacity, and launchers; the Israel Defense Forces reported 70 percent of Iran’s ballistic missile launchers were disabled by Day 16.
To help navigate the wide world of missilery, the CSIS Missile Defense Project recently released a newly upgraded website to track and explain both missile threats and missile defenses alike.
Additional damage. On the missile front, one of Iran’s key missile bases at Khorramabad, it’s a major underground missile base believed to house many missile silos. This is a before picture. And then another image. Thank you, Vantor, for providing us these images. You see after, the tunnel to that underground facility was struck.