Missile defense systems by country
Missile defense systems are a type of missile defense intended to shield a country against incoming missiles, such as intercontinental ballistic missiles or other ballistic missiles. United States, Russia, China, India, France, Israel, Italy, United Kingdom and Iran have all developed missile defense systems.
Definitions
- The term "Missile defense system" broadly means a system that provides any defense against any missile type by any country.
- Any mechanism which can detect and then destroy a missile before it can cause any harm is called a missile defence system.
China
The People's Liberation Army of the People's Republic of China operates multiple layers of missile defense systems.During the Cold War, China initiated Project 640, a ballistic missile defense project, which resulted in the testing of the experimental FJ ABM series. The project was ultimately cancelled.
Four versions of the S-300 are in service: the PMU, PMU1 and PMU2, and the navalised S-300FM Rif. Based on the S-300PMU1, the Rif equips the PLAN's two Type 51C Luzhou air-defense destroyers, enabling them to contribute to the protection of a coastal site against SRBM attack. The S-300PMU2 has the best chance of intercepting an SRBM missile as it employs the 48N6E2 missile, which has a warhead optimized for destroying ballistic missiles, and better kinematics compared to earlier 48N6 missiles.
The HQ-9 provides terminal interception against short- and medium-range ballistic missile targets. It entered service in 2001. The lastest variant, HQ-9C, has a large magazine depth.
The HQ-16 is effective in intercepting tactical ballistic missiles. The system entered service in 2008.
The HQ-19 is designed to intercept medium, intermediate, intercontinental ballistic missiles at terminal or mid-course phase. The missile system can also target satellites at the lower orbit. It entered operation in 2018.
The HQ-22 can provide interception against short-range ballistic missiles at their terminal phase. The system entered operation in 2019.
The HQ-26 is a naval-based ballistic missile defense system under development.
The HQ-29 is designed to intercept intermediate and intercontinental ballistic missiles, as well as targeting satellites. The system was announced in operation in 2025.
The Dong Neng-3 is an experimental mid-course interceptor designed for targeting intercontinental ballistic missiles and satellites under development.
On 11 January 2007 the Chinese successfully performed an anti-satellite missile test using a KT-1 missile with a Kinetic Kill Vehicle mounted.
In 2010, China successfully tested its exoatmospheric interception capabilities, being the second country after the United States to do so. The system was again successfully tested on 27 January 2013 and 8 September 2017.
Europe
France, Italy, and UK
The UK, France and Italy developed a programme called PAAMS in the late 1990s. It was developed to arm the Horizon-class frigate. The UK dropped out of the frigate programme after collective differences remained unsolved, and instead decided to design and build its own Type 45 destroyer which would still use the PAAMS missile system. France and Italy, following this departure, incorporated a ground-launched anti-ballistic missile system into the plans, and developed SAMPT – a truck-launched anti-ballistic missile system which used PAAMS technology.Germany and other countries
Since October 2022, 22 European states have joined the German-led European Sky Shield Initiative for procuring and maintaining air defence systems collectively. European NATO members—most notably Germany—have begun adopting more layered and interoperable Integrated Air and Missile Defense architectures in response to growing threats from drones, cruise missiles, and ballistic systems. The concept draws from the U.S. IBCS approach but adapts it to a multinational, geographically dispersed alliance framework, often under the umbrella of NATO’s Integrated Air and Missile Defence System. Additional offensive proposals include European Sky Shield for Ukraine, which would station European fighter jets beyond the frontlines of Ukraine, rather than ground-based systems alone.India
Two systems are in planning and testing stages. The air defence network has two principal components – the 'Air Defence Ground Environment System' and the 'Base Air Defence Zones'. The ADGES network provides for wide area radar coverage and permits the detection and interception of most aerial incursions into Indian airspace. The BADZ system is considerably more concentrated with radars, interceptors, SAMs and AAA units working together to provide an intense defensive barrier to attacks on vital targets.The Indian Air Defence is deployed as a tiered system.
- Indian Ballistic Missile Defence Programme
- Long-range Air Defence – S-400, Project Kusha
- Medium-range Air Defence – Barak 8, Akash NG
- Short-range Air Defence – QRSAM, Akash, S-125 Pechora and others
Ballistic missile defence
India is pioneer in defence dome system, The program was launched in year 1999 after kargil war.
Introduced in light of the ballistic missile threat from Pakistan, it is a double-tiered system consisting of two interceptor missiles, namely the Prithvi Air Defence missile for high-altitude interception, and the Advanced Air Defence Missile for lower altitude interception. The missiles mentioned was developed as a part of Phase 1. The two-tiered shield should be able to intercept an incoming missile having a range of up to 2,000 kilometers.
PAD was tested in November 2006, followed by AAD in December 2007. With the test of the PAD missile, India became the fourth country to have successfully developed an Anti-ballistic missile system, after United States, Russia and Israel. On 6 March 2009, India again successfully tested its missile defense shield, during which a test "enemy" missile was intercepted at an altitude of 75 km.
On 6 May 2012, it was announced that Phase-I is complete and can be deployed to protect two Indian cities at a short notice. New Delhi, the national capital, and Mumbai, had been selected for the ballistic missile defence shield. After successful implementation in Delhi and Mumbai, the system will be used to cover other major cities in the country. This shield can destroy incoming ballistic missiles with range up to 2,000 km. When the Phase II is completed and PDV is developed, the two anti-ballistic missiles can intercept targets up to range 5,000 km both at exo- and endo-atmospheric regions.
Apart from DRDO's endeavour to develop a potent missile defense, India is reportedly examining the Israeli Arrow, the Almaz design bureau's S-300 PMU-1/-2 and S-400 and the Antey design bureau's Antey 2500/S-300VM. India has procured a squadron of S-300V systems which are in use as an 'anti-tactical ballistic missile screen'.
India also purchased S-400 system from Russia for US$5.4 billion in 2018.
Cruise missile defence
Defending against an attack by a cruise missile on the other hand is similar to tackling low-flying manned aircraft and hence most methods of aircraft defence can be used for a cruise missile defence system.In order to ward off the threats of nuke-tipped cruise missile attack India has a new missile defence programme which will be focused solely on intercepting cruise missiles. The technological breakthrough has been created with an Advanced Air Defence missile.
DRDO Chief, Dr V K Saraswat stated in an Interview "Our studies have indicated that this AAD will be able to handle a cruise missile intercept,"
Furthermore, India is acquiring airborne radars like AWACS to ensure detection of cruise missiles in order to stay on top of the threat.
Barak-8 is a long-range anti-air and anti-missile naval defence system which has been developed and tested successfully by Israel Aerospace Industries and the Defence Research and Development Organisation of India. The Indian Army has inducted a variant of Barak 8 missile to meet its requirement for a medium-range surface-to-air air defence missile. The naval version of this missile has the capability to intercept incoming enemy cruise missiles and combat jets targeting its warships at sea. India has a joint venture for this missile with Israel.
On 17 November 2010, in an interview Rafael's Vice President Mr. Lova Drori confirmed that the David's Sling system has been offered to the Indian Armed Forces. But, as of July 2024, India does not have plans to acquire the system.