Publication

15 Aug 2014

This paper provides an overview of US missile defense systems and the threats these systems are designed to counter. More specifically, the author examines 1) how ballistic missile defenses work; 2) the history of US missile defense; 3) the US' primary missile defense systems; 4) the missile threats posed by Iran and North Korea to the US; 5) how the US collaborates with its allies on missile defense.

Download English (PDF, 6 pages, 215 KB)
Author Jonathan Masters
Series CFR Backgrounders
Publisher Council on Foreign Relations (CFR)
Copyright © 2014 Council on Foreign Relations (CFR)
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