– see Missile Defense

– see Anti-Satellite Weapons

Countering an adversary’s strengths by focusing on its weaknesses. This allows a weaker opponent to level the playing field by using unorthodox means, such as the use of chemical weapons. Pentagon pla [..]

The bomb dropped on Nagasaki (“Fat Man”) utilized the fission of plutonium, created by detonating an explosive around a ring of pie-shaped masses of plutonium, driving them to collide simultaneously i [..]

A rocket-powered delivery vehicle that has some form of guidance system, and that travels a large portion of its flight in a ballistic (free-fall) trajectory. For some longer range missiles, the fligh [..]

A ballistic missile launched from a nuclear submarine. Current submarines may carry several SLBMs, each with multiple warheads. The accuracy of such missiles was greatly improved over the course of th [..]

A broad term to describe the technologies and policies used in defense against ballistic missiles. See Missile Defense

Breakout refers to the violation, either covertly (through cheating) or overtly, of an abolition agreement by an aggressor that then proceeds, as the sole possessor of nuclear arms, to exert its will [..]

In the context of missile defense, countermeasures are decoys released by a missile to confuse potential interceptors and radar. These can be as simple as “chaff” – a cloud of debris, or can be more s [..]

A nuclear doctrine in which weapons are directed at the enemies nuclear missiles and military forces, in order to pre-empt an opponent’s strike. Countervalue