World’s Top 10 intercontinental ballistic missiles, China has 3, Pakistan 0, India has…, US on top with…

Almost all intercontinental ballistic missiles are equipped with nuclear weapons.

New Delhi: All the major powers of the world are developing intercontinental ballistic missiles, each more advanced than the other. Some of these are capable of striking anywhere in the world. Almost all intercontinental ballistic missiles are equipped with nuclear weapons, many of which have the ability to target multiple objectives simultaneously. In this context, let’s learn about the top 10 intercontinental ballistic missiles in the world.

1. UGM-133A Trident II, or Trident D5, is a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM). It was developed by Lockheed Martin Space. This missile can strike at a range of 7,800 kilometers with a full load and up to 12,000 kilometers with a lighter load. It is deployed with the United States and the Royal Navy. It was first deployed in March 1990 and is still in service.
2. The LGM-30G Minuteman III is an American intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) that has been in service with the United States Air Force since the 1970s. It is a three-stage, solid-fueled missile with a maximum range of 13,000 kilometers and can carry multiple reentry vehicles. The Minuteman III is a key component of the American nuclear triad and is deployed in silos across the country.
3. The R-36 intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) and space launch vehicles were designed by the Soviet Union during the Cold War. The range of the R-36 M2 Voyevoda missile is 11,000 kilometers. The original R-36 was deployed under the GRAU index 8K67 and was given the NATO reporting name SS-9 Scarp. It was capable of carrying three warheads and was the first Soviet MIRV (Multiple Independently targetable Reentry Vehicle) missile. Russia specifically designed this missile for attacking the United States.
4. The Yars missile is officially known as RS-24 Yars or Topol-MR. It is a Russian intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). It is a thermonuclear-armed missile equipped with MIRV, and it was first tested in 2007. It is also known by the NATO reporting name SS-29 or SS-27 Mod 2. The Yars missile can strike targets up to 12,000 km away. The RS-24 has been operationally deployed since 2010, with over 50 launchers active as of June 2017.
5. The R-29RMU2.1 Lainer is a Russian liquid-fueled submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM). It is the newest member of the R-29 missile family, developed by the Makeyev Rocket Design Bureau and manufactured by the Krasnoyarsk Machine-Building Plant. This missile is capable of striking targets at a range of 8,300 km with a full payload and 12,000 km with a reduced payload. It can carry a total of 12 nuclear warheads.
6. DF-41 is a Chinese road-mobile intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), also known as Dongfeng-41 or CSS-20. It is the fourth and latest generation of the Dongfeng series, and is China’s longest-range missile with a potential range of 12,000-15,000 km. It is believed to be capable of carrying up to 10 MIRV warheads.
7. Dong Feng 31 (DF-31) is a mobile, long-range ICBM developed by China. This solid-fuel three-stage missile was designed in the 1980s as a successor to the DF-4. First unveiled during China’s National Day parade in 1999, the DF-31 is deployed in a large container mounted on an eight-wheeled trailer. This allows for rapid deployment of this heavy missile. With an estimated range of 8,000 to 11,700 kilometers, this missile can strike most targets in the United States.
8. JL-3 is a Chinese third-generation intercontinental-range submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM). It is the primary weapon of the Type 094 submarine. It is expected that China will also deploy this missile on the future Type 096 submarine. The range of the JL-3 missile is between 9,000 to 12,000 km.
9. The M51 is a French ballistic missile designed for launch from submarines. This missile has been specifically developed for the French Navy. The range of the M51 missile is 10,000 km with a low payload and 8,000 km with a full payload. It is manufactured by the Arianespace group. Each missile carries six to ten independently targetable TN 75 thermonuclear warheads.
10. Agni-5 is an indigenously developed, nuclear-capable intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) created by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) for the Indian Armed Forces. Its range exceeds 5,000 kilometers and it is designed to carry a 1.5-ton nuclear warhead. This missile is a three-stage solid-fueled missile, utilizing a composite motor casing in the second and third stages.