intercontinental ballistic missile
Long-range nuclear weapon
An intercontinental ballistic missile is a long-range nuclear weapon capable of traveling between continents—typically defined as having a range of at least 5,500 kilometers.
ICBMs follow a ballistic trajectory, launching into space before descending on their targets.
The term usually appears in discussions of nuclear deterrence and arms control: The treaty limits the number of intercontinental ballistic missiles each nation can deploy.
Often abbreviated ICBM.
- nuclear warheadFission-based explosive device
- nuclear triadThree-platform weapons delivery system
- launcherDevice that sends projectiles
- weaponInstrument for inflicting harm
- ICBMOcean-spanning nuclear delivery system
launch sequence · red button · solid fuel · launch vehicle · mutual assured destruction · dead man's switch · reentry vehicle · liquid fuel · first strike · second strike · arms race · arms control · Cold War · launch platform · payload capacity · command center · nuclear diplomacy · Trident
intercontinental ballistic missiletactical missile
Short-range military projectile
mortar · cruise missile · tactical nuclear weapon · artillery shell · grenade
intercontinental ballistic missileanti-ballistic missile
Defensive projectile destroyer
interceptor missile · THAAD · missile shield · Patriot missile · Iron Dome
intercontinental, ballistic, missile, continental, continent, continents, transcontinental, subcontinental, incontinent