Regional Ballistic Missile Defense in the Context of Strategic Stability

As ballistic missile technology proliferates, and as ballistic missile defenses are deployed by both the Russian Federation and the United States, it is increasingly important for these two countries to seek ways to reap the benefits of systems that can protect their own national security interests against limited missile attacks from third countries without undermining the strategic balance that the two governments maintain to ensure stability. Regional Ballistic Missile Defense in the Context of Strategic Stability examines both the technical implications of planned missile defense deployments for Russian and U.S. strategic deterrents and the benefits and disadvantages of a range of options for cooperation on missile defense.Table of ContentsFront MatterSummary1 Introduction2 Regional Missile Threats to the Russian Federation and the United States3 Current Russian and U.S. Ballistic Missile Defense Systems4 Ballistic Missile Defense in the Absence of Cooperation5 Cooperation on Information Sharing of Satellite and Radar Systems6 Additional Future Possibilities for Cooperation7 Findings and RecommendationsAppendix A: Abbreviations and AcronymsAppendix B: Events Relating to U.S.-Russian Cooperation on Missile Defense in Europe: A Selective Chronology*Appendix C: Impacts of Regional Missile Defense on U.S. and Russian Nuclear DeterrentsAppendix D: Biographies of the National Academy of Sciences and Russian Academy of Sciences Joint Committee MembersAppendix E: Meeting of the Joint Committees Public AgendaNotes