Intercontinental Ballistic Missile

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.

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 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.

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 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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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 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.

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.