Nuclear Ballistic Missiles

Latest in Nuclear Ballistic Missiles

Whether or not the U.S. Air Force's new Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM) will carry multiple warheads remains to be seen now that a key arms control treaty has expired, but the service is otherwise hopeful that the Sentinel program is now on the right track.
LGM-30 Minuteman III

Number Of Nuclear Warheads New Sentinel ICBMs Will Carry Now An Open Question

By Joseph Trevithick, Howard Altman

Posted on Feb 25, 2026

The construction of new silos for the U.S. Air Force's future LGM-35A Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM) means that units charged with defending them will have to update their tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs).
LGM-30 Minuteman III

Security Forces Guarding ICBMs Need Fresh Tactics To Defend New Sentinel Silos

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Feb 19, 2026

U.S. Air Force Global Strike Command says it is prepared to load more warheads onto Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM) and restore nuclear weapons capability to the entire B-52 bomber fleet, if called upon to do so.
LGM-30 Minuteman III

USAF Ready To Make All B-52s Nuclear-Capable, Load ICBMs With Multiple Warheads If Directed

By Joseph Trevithick, Howard Altman

Posted on Feb 12, 2026

A key nuclear arms control treaty between the United States and Russia has expired today, creating the potential for significant changes in U.S. force posture.
Nuclear Ballistic Missiles

What The Sunset Of Key U.S.-Russia Nuclear Deal Could Mean For America’s Stockpile

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Feb 5, 2026

The U.S. Air Force general who oversees America's intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) force sees a long future ahead for the new LGM-35A Sentinel after it eventually enters service, but has also acknowledged challenges.
LGM-30 Minuteman III

Troubled Sentinel ICBM Program Still Being Restructured Nearly Two Years After Cost Breach

By Joseph Trevithick, Howard Altman

Posted on Jan 27, 2026

A screen grab from a video shows installation of the Oreshnik missile system on December 30, 2025 in Belarus. Belarus has placed a military unit equipped with the Russian-made Oreshnik mobile ground-based missile system on combat duty, according to official information. The unitâs launch, communications, security, and technical crews completed additional training before becoming operational. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has previously said that up to 10 Oreshnik ballistic missile systems could be deployed in the country.
Nuclear Ballistic Missiles

Russia Claims Oreshnik Intermediate-Range Ballistic Missile Now “On Combat Duty” In Belarus

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Dec 30, 2025

China's growing weapons programs puts pressure on intelligence community.
ICBMs

Can U.S. Intel Keep Up With China’s Tsunami Of Weapons Developments?

By Howard Altman, Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Nov 7, 2025

MOSCOW, RUSSA - SEPTEMBER 02: The warhead cruise missili (1977) on display during an exhibition titled "70 Years of the Atomic Industry: A Chain Reaction of Success" organised by Rosatom agency at Manege Central Exhibition Centre in Moscow, Russia, on September, 02,2015. (Photo by Sefa Karacan/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)
Nuclear Ballistic Missiles

Experts Explain How Long It Would Take Russia To Resume Nuclear Weapons Detonation Tests

By Howard Altman

Updated on Nov 5, 2025

Nuclear test done underground at the Nevada Test Site.
Nuclear Ballistic Missiles

Experts Explain How Reviving Nuclear Weapons Tests Would Actually Happen

By Howard Altman

Posted on Oct 30, 2025

South Korea has launched its biggest and most ambitious submarine yet, the Jang Yeong-sil, as the first of the second batch of its locally designed and built KSS-III program.
SLBMs

South Korea Has Launched Its Most Advanced Submarine Ever

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Oct 23, 2025

A Russian strategic nuclear forces (SNF) officer inspects a launching tube in the launching center of intercontinental ballistic missiles 20 March 1992 in Drovjanaja, near Cita, in Siberia. The strategic nuclear forces of the Russian Federation consist of ground intercontinental ballistic missiles (IBM) stationary, and also mobile, earth and railway variants of basing, sea and aviation strategic nuclear arms.
ICBMs

Soviets Tested ICBM Silo Defense System That Showered Incoming Warheads With Clouds Of Metal Darts

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Oct 17, 2025

India’s Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO), the country’s main military research and development agency, announced the successful test firing of an Agni-Prime from a rail-based mobile launcher system, on September 24. The test, which the DRDO says involved a “full operational scenario,” was carried out at an undisclosed site in the country in collaboration with India’s Strategic Forces Command (SFC).
Nuclear Ballistic Missiles

India Just Launched A Ballistic Missile From A Train

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Sep 25, 2025

China officially unveiled a nuclear-capable air-launched ballistic missile (ALBM) called the JL-1 at its sprawling military parade in Beijing yesterday.
Nuclear Ballistic Missiles

China’s JL-1 Air Launched Ballistic Missile’s Official Debut Is A Big Deal

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Sep 4, 2025

China’s New DF-61 Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Breaks Cover
ICBMs

China’s New DF-61 Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Breaks Cover

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Sep 3, 2025

WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 20: U.S. President Donald Trump speaks in the Oval Office at the White House on May 20, 2025 in Washington, DC. President Trump announced his plans for the "Golden Dome," a national ballistic and cruise missile defense system. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
Nuclear Ballistic Missiles

Trump’s Golden Dome Missile Shield: What We Just Learned And Its Implications

By Howard Altman, Tyler Rogoway

Updated on May 21, 2025

A detail model has provided what’s likely our best idea of how the U.K. Royal Navy’s new Dreadnought class nuclear ballistic submarine, or SSBN will appear. The four Dreadnought ‘bombers’ represent one of the most important U.K. defense programs for many years and it’s notable to see how many advanced features the design includes, as the Royal Navy seeks to find the optimum balance between speed, stealth, and firepower. The four new SSBNs will replace the Vanguard class that entered service in the 1990s.
UGM-133 Trident II (D5)

Our Best Look Yet At Britain’s New Dreadnought Class Ballistic Missile Submarine Design

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Jan 31, 2025