This is a table of the most widespread or notable anti-ballistic missile (ABM) systems, intended in whole or part, to counter ballistic missiles. Since many systems have developed in stages or have many iterations or upgrades, only the most notable versions are described. Such systems are typically highly integrated with radar and guidance systems, so the emphasis is chiefly on system capability rather than the specific missile employed. For example, David's Sling is a system that employs the Stunner missile. THAAD employs the Talon interceptor missile.
Legend for ABM system status in below table:
System name Country of origin Period of use Intercept Role against Weight Warhead types Range (max)Ceiling (max) SpeedLauncherCost/round (2024) A-35M/A-350 (5V61R) 1978–1995 Exo-atmospheric ICBM 32,700 kg Nuclear 2-3 MT 320–350 km 120 km Mach 4 Fixed launcher A-135 ABM (51T6 Gorgon) 1995–2006 Exo-atmospheric MRBM, ICBM 33,000–45,000 kg Nuclear 10 KT 350–900 km Mach 7 Silo A-135 ABM (53T6 Gazelle) 1995–present Re-entry MRBM, ICBM 10,000 kg Nuclear 10 KT 80–100 km 80–100 km Mach 17 Silo A-235 Nudol In development Re-entry, terminal ICBM, ASAT Conventional 150 km 5–80 km (ASAT 700 km) Mobile, silo S-300 (V/SA-12B/9M82M) 1983–present Terminal MRBM, IRBM 5800 kg Blast 40 km 30 km Mach 7.8+ Mobile$1,000,000 (48N6) S-400 (48N6DM Triumf, 40N6, 9M96E/E2)NAS, pp. 38-39 2007–present Terminal SRBM, IRBM 1800–1900 kg Blast 80–250 km (48N6DM) 400 km (40N6), 120 km (9M96E/E2) 30 km Mach 5.9 Mobile S-500 2021–present IRBM, MRBM, ICBM, ASAT 600 km 200 kmMach 12 Mobile Project 640-1 1966–1977 Terminal ICBM Silo HQ-9 2001–present Terminal SRBM, MRBM 1300 kg 250 km 50 km Mobile HQ-22 2019–present Terminal SRBM Mobile HQ-19 2018–present Terminal, Mid-course MRBM, IRBM, ICBM, ASAT Kill Vehicle 200 km Mobile HQ-26 In development Mid-course IRBM Ship silo HQ-29 2025–present Mid-course IRBM, ICBM, ASAT Kill Vehicle 500–1200 km Mobile Dong Neng-3 In development Mid-course ICBM, ASAT Kill Vehicle Mobile SAMP/T (Aster 30 1N) 2011–present Terminal SRBM, MRBM 450 kg Blast 150 km 25 km Mach 4.5 Ship silo, mobile$2,000,000 Prithvi ADV Phase I Awaiting deployment? Exo-atmospheric MRBM, IRBM, ICBM, ASAT Blast 300–>1000 km 50–180 km Mach 5 AAD/Ashwin Phase I Awaiting deloyment? Terminal MRBM, IRBM 1200 kg Kill vehicle 200 km 15–50 km AD-1 Phase II In development Endo-exo-atmospheric MRBM, IRBM 18,000 kg AD-2 Phase II In development Terminal IRBM David's Sling/Stunner 2018–present Terminal SRBM, MRBM Kill vehicle 250 km 15 km Mach 7.5 Mobile$1,000,000 Arrow 2 (Block 4) 2012–present Re-entry MRBM, IRBM 2800 kg Blast 90 km + Exo-atmospheric Mach 9 Mobile$3,500,000 Arrow 3 2017–present Exo-atmospheric, ASAT MRBM, IRBM, ICBM less than 1400 kg Kill vehicle 2400 km 100 km Mach 9+ Mobile$2,000,000Arrow 42021-presentKM-SAM (Block II)(Block II with ABM capabilities) 2017–presentTerminalSRBM400 kgKill Vehicle50 km20 kmMach 4.5+Mobile L-SAM (Block I) In production Exo-atmospheric SRBM Kill vehicle 150 km 40–60 km Mach 9 Mobile Sky Bow III/Tien Kung III 2014–present Terminal SRBM 200 km 45 km Mach 7 Mobile Strong Bow/Chiang Kung IV Production 2025 Exo-atmospheric SRBM Blast 70 km Mobile Violet Friend/Bloodhound Mk. III Canceled 1965 Terminal Nuclear low KT 120 km 9 km+ Mobile Patriot (PAC-3) 2009–present Terminal SRBM, MRBM 312 kg Kill vehicle 160 km 24 km + Mobile$3,729,769 THAAD/Talon 2008–present Re-entry SRBM, MRBM, IRBM 900 kg Kill vehicle 200 km + 150 km Mach 8.2 Mobile$12,600,000 (2017) Aegis RIM-174 SM-6 ERAM 2009–present Terminal MRBM, IRBM 1500 kg Blast 240–370 km 33 km Mach 3.5 Ship silo$3,901,818 (IA) Aegis RIM-161 SM-3 (IIA) 2014–present Boost (naval), mid-course MRBM, IRBM, ICBM, ASAT 1500 kg Kill vehicle 1200 km 900 – 1,050 km (depending on the type of target) Mach 13.2 (IIA) Ship and land silo$27,915,625 (IIA), $9,698,617 (IB) Nike Zeus (B) Canceled 1963, ASAT role to 1964 Re-entry ICBM, ASAT 10,300 kg Nuclear 400 KT 400 km 280 km Mach 4+ Silo Safeguard/Spartan 1975–76 Exo atmosphericWalker, Bernstein, Lang, p. 56 ICBM 13,100 kg Nuclear 5 MT 740 km 560 km Mach 3–4 Silo Safeguard/Sprint 1975–76 Terminal ICBM 3,500 kg Nuclear low KT 40 km 30 km Mach 10+ Silo Sentry/OverlayWalker, Bernstein, Lang, p. 95 1977–83 (study) Exo-atmospheric ICBM Exo-atmospheric Silo Sentry/LoADWalker, Bernstein, Lang, p. 94 1977–83 (study) Terminal ICBM Conventional or nuclear 15 km Silo Ground-Based Midcourse Defense/GBI 2010–present Mid-course ICBM 21,600 kg Kill vehicle Silo$70,000,000 Next Generation Interceptor In development Mid-course ICBM Kill vehicle Silo$111,000,000
See also Missile defense systems by country Anti-ballistic missile defense countermeasure
Notes System name: Many systems have numerous iterations or block upgrades, or have had multiple names. The primary or current system in use is described and noted, with the specific weapon iteration noted as appropriate. Period of use: ABM systems have protracted development periods. The time the system is or was in operational use is described. Intercept: Most systems can be used in different phases of ballistic missile flight, i.e., boost (where surface or air-launched anti-aircraft missiles might also be effective because the ballistic missile is moving relatively slowly at low altitude), requiring proximity to the launch site and immediate response, mid-course/exo-atmospheric, and re-entry/terminal. The principal intended phase of ballistic missile interception is noted. Other phases may be tried, with less effect. The earlier in flight that a missile is intercepted, the greater area a system may defend. Mid-course interception requires an ABM launch position between the ballistic missile launch site and the area defended. Terminal defense usually protects a relatively small area (i.e., Moscow, Minot Air Force Base missile fields) from projectiles in the re-entry phase.NAS p. 98 Role: Ballistic missile speed roughly corresponds to range. MRBMs move faster than SRBMs, IRBMs faster than MRBMs, and ICBMs faster than IRBMs. Each iteration demands greater speed, range, and targeting capability (either in accuracy or warhead power). Weight: Weight roughly correlates to one or more of range/ceiling, speed/acceleration, or warhead size. Warhead type: Lacking precision guidance systems, early systems relied on nuclear blast to destroy ballistic missiles.Walker, Bernstein, Lang, p. 46 Systems intended for dual-role anti-aircraft/anti-SRBM and MRBM systems typically use blast/fragmentation warheads. Newer systems intended for IRBMs and ICBMs with high-altitude interception typically use hit-to-kill kinetic intercept profiles. Range and ceiling: Maximum range does not necessarily coincide with maximum ceiling. Speed: Speed, along with ceiling, correlates to intercept capability, with ICBMs demanding the greatest speed and acceleration. The terminal defense role of the Sprint system demanded extraordinary acceleration over a very brief period to intercept ICBMs that leaked through higher-altitude defense systems, or which were revealed when decoys disappeared at lower altitudes. A high speed at low altitude (as with Sprint) is much more challenging than a high speed at high altitude.Walker, Bernstein, Lang, p. 59 Cost: Selected approximate costs are indicated for specific versions/blocks. These may vary significantly depending on the years procured and which upgrades they may incorporate. For instance, the cost of an SM-6 may vary by more than 100% depending on which version is examined, from about $4.25 million for Block I/IA to about $8.5 million in 2024 costs for Block IB. Costs in general appear to decline over time for United States weapons of the same version. Hypersonic weapons: Nearly all ballistic missiles reach hypersonic speeds during re-entry, leading to assertions that they are "hypersonic weapons." Strictly speaking, hypersonic weapons are not purely ballistic in their action, and use aerodynamic maneuvering to complicate or defeat interception by anti-ballistic missiles, rather than minor maneuvering to refine targeting accuracy, as advanced ballistic missiles may do.
The Israeli Iron Dome system is not specifically an anti-ballistic missile system, as it is intended primarily to counter unguided rockets and artillery projectiles, rather than guided missiles on trajectories that take them above Earth's atmosphere, re-entering at extreme velocities. Iron Dome uses principles that are similar to a true anti-ballistic missile system to intercept slower-moving short-range rockets and artillery projectiles, employing the Tamir missile at ranges of up to 70 km and altitudes to 10 km, at a cost of about $50,000 per missile. Iron Dome also has an anti-aircraft capability.
The U.S. Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) investigated a variety of missile defense strategies, many involving exotic technologies such as the X-ray lasers envisioned by Project Excalibur, or the Brilliant Pebbles kinetic-kill satellite system. None of the more exotic systems were pursued to prototyping.
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