US General Hap Arnold predicted in 1943 the development of powerful explosives that could wipe out entire cities, foreshadowing the future technology of intercontinental ballistic missiles.

German V-2 missiles with one-ton payloads and supersonic speed strike London during World War II, marking the beginning of the Missile Age. The Germans also had plans to develop intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs).

In July 1945, military officers recommend the U.S. to start researching and developing ways to defend against incoming ballistic missiles.

In December 1945, a military advisory group discusses the idea of using an 'energy beam' to defend the U.S. against ballistic missiles.

In January 1951, the Air Force initiated 'Project Atlas' with Convair Corporations to develop an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) capable of delivering an atomic bomb.

On September 18, 1952, Ogden Air Depot began supporting the Snark missile, the first operational intercontinental cruise missile in the United States. It utilized a nuclear warhead and solid propellant fuel for a range of approximately 5,000 miles.

In the summer of 1954, the Air Force began rapid studies on the Titan I as a backup to the Atlas ICBM. This was due to the acknowledged limitations of the Atlas.

In October 1955, the Air Force awarded the Titan I contract to the Glenn L. Martin Aircraft Company of Baltimore. The Titan I was America's first multi-stage ICBM.

The first launch of the R-7 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) took place on May 15, 1957, resulting in an unintended crash 400 km from the site. This event marked the beginning of the development of the world's first ICBM.

The first flight of the Atlas A missile took place on June 11, 1957, lasting only about 24 seconds before the rocket exploded. This event marked the early development phase of the Atlas missile program in the United States.

On August 21, 1957, the R-7 ICBM successfully flew over 6,000 km, becoming the world's first operational ICBM. This achievement was a significant milestone in the arms race between the Soviet Union and the United States.

On November 6, 1957, the SM-62 'Snark' missile arrived at Hill Air Force Base for repair. This event marked a significant moment in the development and maintenance of the country's ICBM arsenal during the Cold War era.

In December 17, 1957, four months after the Soviets' ICBM test, the U.S. successfully launches its own ICBM, the Atlas ICBM.

On November 28, 1958, the first successful flight of an Atlas missile to full range occurred, demonstrating progress in the development of intercontinental ballistic missiles by the United States.

The SM-80 Minuteman missile model was introduced on January 6, 1959, as part of the Minuteman series of Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs).

The successful launch of the Titan I missile on February 5, 1959, with Titan I A3 marked a milestone in the development of two-stage intercontinental ballistic missiles by the United States. The Titan I showcased advancements in engine technology and guidance systems.

On February 9, 1959, the first strategic-missile unit became operational at Plesetsk in north-west Russia. This marked a crucial advancement in the deployment of intercontinental ballistic missiles by the Soviet Union.

The first test flight of the Atlas D missile was carried out on July 9, 1959, leading to its acceptance for service on September 1. This event marked a significant advancement in the operational capability of the Atlas missile program.

The first Titan I squadron was activated in April 1960 at Lowry Air Force Base in Colorado. The Titan I was a significant advancement in ICBM technology.

In March 1961, President John F. Kennedy ordered the discontinuation of the Snark missile program, opting to focus on the more advanced Atlas and Titan Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs). This strategic shift reflected the rapid advancements in missile technology during the Cold War.

In July 19, 1962, the U.S. conducted a test of its Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) system. An Army's Zeus missile interceptor launched from Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands nearly intercepted a mock warhead fired from California, demonstrating the system's capability to potentially destroy incoming warheads.

Malmstrom became the sole base to house the Minuteman 1A, receiving the first missile on July 23, 1962.

On December 22, 1962, the U.S. conducted another successful test of its Army interceptor missile. The missile came within 200 meters of a mock warhead, demonstrating the system's accuracy and potential to neutralize incoming threats.

The Air Force initiated the Minuteman II program on Oct. 2, 1963, aiming to enhance the capabilities of the Minuteman I models.

In 1964, China conducted its first test of a nuclear weapon that was domestically built, marking a significant milestone in the country's nuclear program.

Boeing Aerospace was awarded a contract on July 15, 1965, to start the research and development of the Minuteman III ICBM. This new weapon featured a redesigned guidance system, upgraded third stage, and improved warhead section, allowing it to be stored in existing Minuteman II silos without the need for reconstruction.

The first tested silo launch of the Minuteman II was successfully conducted on Aug. 18, 1965.

US Defense Secretary McNamara reveals that the Soviet Union has successfully deployed its Galosh missile defense system.

Malmstrom removed the last Minuteman 1A and started replacing them with the improved Minuteman 1B on Feb. 12, 1969.

The 1972 Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT) treaty froze the number of intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) launchers of both the United States and the Soviet Union at existing levels. It also allowed for the deployment of new submarine-based ballistic missile launchers under certain conditions.

In 1975, China repurposed its DF-5 Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) as a satellite launch vehicle, showcasing its dual-use capabilities in space technology.

The production of the Minuteman officially ended in December 1978, but Hill Air Force Base continues to provide support for the program.

The MX missile system, also known as the Peacekeeper, was a land-based intercontinental ballistic missile system developed by the United States. It was designed to replace older missile systems and enhance the country's nuclear capabilities.

On March 23, 1983, U.S. President Ronald Reagan delivers a nationally televised address calling for research and development into missile defenses, urging the scientific community to work towards rendering nuclear weapons impotent and obsolete. The following day, opponents of the plan mockingly refer to it as 'Star Wars.'

On March 25, 1983, President Reagan solidifies his missile defense policy by issuing National Security Decision Directive 85, outlining the formalization of his stance on strategic defense.

On January 6, 1984, Reagan's Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) is officially established through National Security Decision Directive 119, emphasizing a research-focused approach to develop technologies for effective strategic defense against missile attacks.

The Army successfully tests its Homing Overlay Experiment (HOE), in which a 'kill vehicle' launched atop a booster rocket homes in on its target -- an ICBM launched from Vandenberg A.F.B. in California -- and destroys it. However, a report later indicates that the test had been partly rigged.

The Titan II, the largest deployed ICBM in the U.S., was retired in 1987 after being in service for several years. It stood at 103 feet tall and weighed 330,000 pounds.

The Peacekeeper ICBM, capable of carrying 10 independent warheads, was developed in 1990 as a replacement for the Minuteman series. However, after the signing of the START II agreement, the United States and Russia agreed to reduce the number of warheads on ICBMs with MIRV capability.

The Pentagon's Exoatmospheric Reentry Vehicle Interceptor System (ERIS), a part of the 'Star Wars' program, achieved its first interception of a mock warhead in space. This success came after seven years of research and significant spending.

In his State of the Union address, President Bush scales back SDI and proposes GPALS, or Global Protection Against Limited Strikes, focusing on providing protection from limited ballistic missile strikes.

President Bush and Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev conclude the first Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START I), agreeing to reduce their arsenals to 6,000 warheads and 1,600 total ICBMs, submarine-launched ballistic missiles, and heavy bombers.

President Bush signs the Missile Defense Act of 1991, mandating the development of a cost-effective, operationally effective, and ABM Treaty-compliant anti-ballistic missile system by 1996.

The National Intelligence Council releases the 1995 NIE, stating that no country, other than major nuclear powers, will develop a ballistic missile threatening the US in the next 15 years. Republicans accuse a leak to hinder missile defense and order an investigation.

Republican leaders Gingrich and Dole introduce the Defend America Act in 1996, proposing the deployment of a national missile system by 2003 to defend all 50 states against limited missile threats.

During a summit between President Clinton and Russian President Boris Yeltsin in Helsinki, an agreement is reached to amend the ABM Treaty to allow for 'theater' missile defenses. This comes amid Russian concerns over U.S. efforts to mandate a national missile defense system.

A bipartisan bill introduced by Sen. Thad Cochran mandates the deployment of a National Missile Defense system to defend the U.S. territory against ballistic missile attacks.

After the nuclear tests in South Asia, the attempt to debate Sen. Cochran's American Missile Protection Act fails due to heightened concerns over other countries' technical capabilities in missile development.

The bipartisan Commission to Assess the Ballistic Missile Threat to the United States, known as the Rumsfeld commission, challenges the NIE 1995 findings. The report highlights the need to assume that there may be no strategic warning about the development of a capability to hit the United States.

North Korea demonstrates three-stage rocket technology for the first time in an attempt to launch a satellite into orbit. The test results in the destruction of the satellite due to the explosion of the third stage, impacting U.S. policy.

In response to North Korean launch, Senate Republicans attempt to restart debate on the American Missile Protection Act. The vote to proceed to debate fails by one vote, similar to their previous attempt in May.

Eight Republican congressional leaders express doubts about the relevance of the ABM Treaty post the Soviet Union's dissolution in a letter to President Clinton.

President Clinton states his strong opposition to unilaterally abrogating the ABM Treaty, emphasizing his commitment to it.

On September 12, 1999, North Korea agrees to suspend further long-range missile testing after negotiations with U.S. officials. This pledge marks a temporary halt in North Korea's missile testing activities.

On October 2, 1999, the first successful hit-to-kill test of Clinton's National Missile Defense (NMD) system is conducted. Despite initial challenges, the kill vehicle successfully intercepts and collides with the warhead, demonstrating the system's capability.

On June 13, 2001, President Bush met with NATO leaders where some NATO states like Spain, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Czech Republic, and Britain showed varying degrees of approval for the National Missile Defense (NMD) plan, while France, Germany, and others opposed it, emphasizing the need for arms control.

The first summit between President Bush and President Putin took place in Slovenia on June 16, 2001, where they discussed missile defense and the Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) Treaty without reaching concrete agreements.

On July 14, 2001, the fourth intercept test (IFT-6) of the ground-based midcourse system successfully intercepted a mock warhead, with reports later revealing the use of a homing beacon in the warhead.

On December 3, 2001, the fifth intercept test (IFT-7) demonstrated a successful interception by the kill vehicle, using one decoy balloon. This test was a repetition of IFT-6.

On June 13, 2002, a successful sea-based midcourse defense test was conducted by the U.S. where an experimental rocket shot down a mock warhead in the Pacific Ocean. This test coincided with the U.S. withdrawal from the ABM Treaty.

A system was deployed on December 11, 2002.

The intercept test of the ground-based midcourse system failed as the booster carrying the interceptor did not launch from Kwajalein atoll to hit a target from Kodiak, Alaska.

A repeat of the failed intercept test on December 15, 2004, where the interceptor once again failed to leave the silo.

In this intercept test of the ground-based midcourse system, a target ballistic missile was successfully intercepted over the Pacific. The interceptor was launched from Vandenburg Air Force Base to intercept a missile from the Kodiak Launch Complex in Alaska, without the use of decoys.

The planned test of the ground-based midcourse system, FTG-3, was canceled as the target vehicle launched from Kodiak, Alaska did not reach the designated interceptor range in the Pacific.

On September 28, 2007, the Ground-based Midcourse System successfully intercepted a target, marking a significant milestone in its development. This test contributed to the system's overall success rate of seven successful intercepts out of 16 attempts.

The test initially planned for an intercept attempt was changed to test the tracking capabilities of four sensors due to faulty parts in the interceptor. Sensors included the Sea-based X-band radar, AN/TPY-2 X-band radar in Juneau, Aegis Long-Range Surveillance and Track system, and an upgraded early warning radar in Beale Air Force Base.

An intercept test (FTG-5) of the ground-based midcourse system took place where an interceptor launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base intercepted a target launched from Ft. Greely, Alaska. The countermeasures used in the test failed to deploy, and even if they had, they were reported to be less sophisticated than previous tests.

The RS-28 Sarmat, also known as SATAN 2, is a Russian liquid-fueled, MIRV-equipped, super-heavy thermonuclear armed intercontinental ballistic missile developed by the Makeyev Rocket Design Bureau from 2009. It is intended to replace the previous R-36 missile and has a large payload capacity.

In the intercept test (FTG-6), a target missile was successfully launched from the U.S. Army’s Reagan Test Site at Kwajalein Atoll in the Republic of the Marshall Islands. However, the interception failed as the Sea-Based X-band radar did not perform as expected.

A two-stage Ground-Based Interceptor (GBI) was launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California. The GBI successfully delivered an exoatmospheric kill vehicle to a designated point in space and executed various maneuvers to collect data.

An intercept test (FTG-6A) took place where an intermediate-range ballistic missile target was launched from the Ronald Reagan Test Site on Kwajalein Atoll and a long-range interceptor missile was launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base. The missile interception failed despite the successful performance of the Sea Based X-Band radar and all sensors.

The Minuteman ICBM was introduced, becoming the first ICBM to use solid fuel. It featured advancements such as the Minuteman 1B model which improved range, firepower, and guidance system capabilities.

On April 19, 2012, India successfully test-fired the Agni V missile with a strike range of more than 5,000 km, signaling its entry into the Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) club.

On December 12, 2012, North Korea successfully put a satellite into space using the 32-meter-tall Unha-3 rocket, which raised concerns internationally as it was seen as a potential test for an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM).

In July 2013, a test known as FTG-7 was conducted where a Ground-Based Interceptor missile was launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base to intercept a target missile launched from the U.S. Army's Reagan Test Site. The test aimed to demonstrate the capability of an exoatmospheric kill vehicle to maneuver and collide with the target, but the kill vehicle failed to separate from the booster.

In July 2014, the Pentagon revised its assessment of Iran's intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) prospects. The assessment shifted from the belief that Iran could develop an ICBM capable of reaching the U.S. with foreign assistance by 2015 to acknowledging Iran's plans to launch a space launch vehicle that could potentially be configured as an ICBM.

On September 30, 2014, the Ground-based Midcourse System celebrated its 10th anniversary. The system achieved a limited deployment option capability in 2004 under the George W. Bush administration, signifying its readiness for potential use.

On November 5, 2014, Admiral Jonathan Greenert and General Raymond Odierno proposed a new approach to missile defense strategy. They emphasized the need for a more sustainable and cost-effective long-term plan for both homeland and regional missile defenses, criticizing the existing acquisition-based strategy.

The Ground-Based Strategic Deterrent (GBSD) program is a modernization effort by the United States to replace the aging Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missiles. It aims to enhance the country's nuclear deterrence capabilities.

On May 30, 2017, a successful Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD) test designated as FTG-15 was conducted, intercepting an ICBM-range target at a distance of approximately 5,800 km. This marked the ninth successful target destruction out of 18 attempts.

On March 25, 2019, a successful Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD) test named FTG-15 involved two interceptors engaging a target. This test introduced a 'salvo' engagement and was the first operational test of the system, resulting in the destruction of the target, making it the tenth successful intercept out of 19 attempts.

In July 2023, North Korea fired a suspected intercontinental ballistic missile that was expected to land short of Japanese waters. The launch was seen as a response to alleged spy plane incursions by the US.

India announced its capability to fire multiple warheads on a single ICBM after successfully testing multiple independently targetable reentry vehicle (MIRV) technology.