| ID | 114245 |
| Title Proper | Ballistic missiles and space launch vehicles in regional powers |
| Language | ENG |
| Author | Mistry, Dinshaw ; Gopalaswamy, Bharath |
| Publication | 2012. |
| Summary / Abstract (Note) | International security concerns about ballistic missile proliferation have frequently highlighted the links between ballistic missiles and space launch vehicles. This article examines the extent of these links through a comprehensive survey of ballistic missile and space rocket programs in regional powers. It notes that missiles were derived from existing space launchers in just a small fraction of these cases. In a slightly greater fraction, space launchers were drawn from existing missile programs. This analysis suggests that though security concerns about space launchers being used as ballistic missiles are valid, the reverse trend, that of ballistic missiles being used as space launch vehicles, cannot be ignored. At the same time, as long as regional powers are limited to short-range and medium-range systems, their missile and space projects would only raise limited missile proliferation and space security concerns. |
| `In' analytical Note | Astropolitics Vol. 10, No.2; May-Aug 2012: p.126-151 |
| Journal Source | Astropolitics Vol. 10, No.2; May-Aug 2012: p.126-151 |
| Key Words | International Security ; Ballistic Missiles Proliferation ; Space Rocket Programs ; Regional Power ; Space Launch Vehicles ; Space Security |