ABSTRACT
The Defensive Technologies Study reviewed, evaluated, and placed priorities on the technological issues underlying the ballistic missile defense of the United States and its allies. Also reviewed was a set of strategic defense system concepts and supporting technologies in various states of development. Several new technologies and concepts emerged from the work of the Defensive Technologies Study Team that illustrate how far defensive technology has progressed. A variety of potential threats were considered, ranging from an attack with fewer than 100 ballistic missiles and a few hundred warheads to a simultaneous launch attack with more than 3,000 missiles and over 30,000 warheads. Near-term demonstrations of some system components were identified that could provide options for early deployment and meaningful levels of effectiveness against constrained threats. The Study Team selected a defense-in-depth approach because of die stress imposed by a maximum, unconstrained ballistic missile offense.
