Directed Energy Weapon System for Ballistic Missile Defense

摘要

Ballistic missiles carrying nuclear weapons and the proliferation of nuclear weapons and related technologies represent two of the gravest threats to the security of the United States and its service members deployed overseas. The threat environment the U.S. will be confronted with will be fundamentally different from the Cold War period and the period characterized by today's global fight against terrorism. The international environment shaped by rogue states, the withdrawal of Cold War-era security guarantees, and concerns about the availability of advanced weapons to terrorist organizations ensure that the growing ballistic missile threat environment and the proliferation of nuclear weapons remain central to U.S. security concerns. The list of international actors who either possess ballistic missiles or seek to procure this technology has grown exponentially over the years. Take for instance, in 1972; just nine countries had a ballistic missile aresenal. Today, that number has grown to 33 countries which include hostile regimes with ties to terrorist organizations. Rogue states, chief among them North Korea and Iran, have placed a premium on the acquisition of nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles of increasing range. Syria possesses one of the largest ballistic missile force structures in the Middle East and has an active program conducting research and development of nuclear technologies. Both India and Pakistan have active nuclear programs and North Korea confirmed its position in the world as a nuclear-capable state after detonating a 1-kiloton weapon in 2006.