History of Intercontinental ballistic missile in Timeline

An intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) is a long-range ballistic missile, exceeding 5,500 kilometers, primarily designed for delivering nuclear weapons. Though capable of carrying conventional, chemical, or biological payloads, these have not been deployed on ICBMs. Modern ICBMs often feature multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles (MIRVs), enabling a single missile to strike multiple distinct targets with individual warheads. Currently, the United States, Russia, China, France, India, the United Kingdom, Israel, and North Korea possess operational ICBMs. Pakistan, while a nuclear power, lacks ICBM capabilities.

1943: Prediction of ICBM Technology

In 1943, US General of the Army Hap Arnold predicted the development of ICBM technology.

1944: V-2 Rocket Use

From mid-1944, Nazi Germany widely used the liquid-fueled V-2 rocket, designed by Wernher von Braun and his team, to bomb British and Belgian cities, particularly Antwerp and London.

February 1945: A9/A10 Rocket Testing

In February 1945, the second stage of the A9/A10 rocket, an ICBM developed by von Braun's team under Projekt Amerika, was tested a few times.

March 1945: V-2 Rocket Bombing

In March 1945, Nazi Germany continued using the liquid-fueled V-2 rocket, designed by Wernher von Braun's team, to bomb British and Belgian cities, specifically Antwerp and London.

1946: US Initiates ICBM Research

In 1946, the United States initiated ICBM research with the RTV-A-2 Hiroc project, a three-stage effort.

1948: Funding Cut for Hiroc Project

In 1948, funding was cut for the RTV-A-2 Hiroc project after only three partially successful launches of the second stage design.

1953: Korolev Directed to Develop ICBM

In 1953, Sergei Korolev was directed to start development of a true ICBM able to deliver newly developed hydrogen bombs in the Soviet Union.

1953: Soviet Thermonuclear Weapon Testing

In 1953, the Soviet testing of their first thermonuclear weapon changed the US Air Force's perspective on ICBM development.

1954: Atlas Missile Program Priority

In 1954, the Atlas missile program was given the highest national priority in the United States.

May 1957: First Launch of R-7

On 15 May 1957, the first launch of the R-7 in the Soviet Union took place, leading to an unintended crash 400 km from the site.

June 1957: First Flight of Atlas A

On 11 June 1957, the Atlas A first flew, but the flight lasted only about 24 seconds before the rocket exploded.

August 1957: Successful Test of R-7

On 21 August 1957, the first successful test of the R-7 took place; it flew over 6,000 km and became the world's first ICBM.

October 1957: Sputnik Launch

On 4 October 1957, the same R-7 launch vehicle placed the first artificial satellite, Sputnik, into space.

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November 1958: Successful Atlas Missile Flight

On 28 November 1958, the first successful flight of an Atlas missile to full range occurred.

January 1959: Atlas D Operational Declaration

In January 1959, the first armed version of the Atlas, the Atlas D, was declared operational at Vandenberg, although it had not yet flown.

February 5, 1959: Successful Launch of Titan I

On February 5, 1959, the Titan I, another US multistage ICBM, had a successful launch with Titan I A3.

February 1959: First Strategic-Missile Unit Operational

On 9 February 1959, the first strategic-missile unit became operational at Plesetsk in north-west Russia, using the R-7.

July 1959: First Test Flight of Atlas D

On 9 July 1959, the first test flight of the Atlas D was carried out.

April 1961: First Human Spaceflight

On 12 April 1961, the first human spaceflight in history was accomplished on a derivative of R-7, Vostok, by Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin.

1961: First Successful ABM Test by Soviets

In 1961, the Soviets conducted the first successful ABM (anti-ballistic missile) test.

1964: China Tests Nuclear Weapon

In 1964, China first tested a domestic built nuclear weapon.

1972: Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty

In 1972, anti-ballistic missile systems were restricted by the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty.

1972: SALT Treaty

In 1972, the SALT treaty froze the number of ICBM launchers of both the Americans and the Soviets at existing levels.

1975: DF-5 Used as Launch Vehicle

Beginning in the early 1970s, the DF-5 ICBM was developed and used as a satellite launch vehicle in 1975.

1979: SALT II Talks

From 1972 to 1979, SALT II talks were held and actually reduced the number of nuclear warheads held by the US and Soviets.

1981: First DF-5 Pair in Service

By 1981, the first pair of silo deployed DF-5 ICBMs was in service in China.

1986: US Withdrawal from SALT II

In 1986, the Reagan administration "withdrew" from SALT II after accusing the Soviets of violating the pact.

1991: START I Treaty Agreement

In 1991, the United States and the Soviet Union agreed in the START I treaty to reduce their deployed ICBMs and attributed warheads.

2000: China's Military Modernization

Between the early 2000's, China rapidly modernized its nuclear arsenal, along with the rest of its military forces.

2005: Peacekeeper Missiles Phased Out

In 2005, the powerful MIRV-capable Peacekeeper missiles were phased out in the United States.

2008: Deployment of Jericho III

In 2008, Israel is believed to have deployed a road mobile nuclear ICBM, the Jericho III, which entered service.

2008: Jericho III Enters Service

In 2008, Israel is believed to have deployed a road mobile nuclear ICBM, the Jericho III, which entered service.

2009: RS-28 Sarmat Development

From 2009, the RS-28 Sarmat, a Russian liquid-fueled, MIRV-equipped, super-heavy thermonuclear armed intercontinental ballistic missile, has been in development by the Makeyev Rocket Design Bureau.

2009: START I Treaty Expiration

In 2009, the START I treaty expired.

2010: New START Treaty Signed

In 2010, the New START treaty was signed by US President Barack Obama and Russian Federation President Dmitry Medvedev.

November 2011: Israel Tests Upgraded ICBM

In November 2011, Israel tested an ICBM believed to be an upgraded version of the Jericho III.

April 2012: India Successfully Tests Agni V

On 19 April 2012, India successfully test fired Agni V, with a strike range of more than 5,000 km, joining the ranks of ICBM armed nations.

April 2012: India Tests Agni-V Missile

On 19 April 2012, India successfully test fired its first Agni-V, a three-stage solid fueled missile, with a strike range of more than 7,500 km.

December 2012: North Korea Puts Satellite into Space

On 12 December 2012, North Korea successfully put a satellite into space using the 32-metre-tall Unha-3 rocket, which the United States claimed was a way to test an ICBM.

September 2013: Second Test Firing of Agni-V

On 15 September 2013, India conducted a second test firing of the Agni-V missile.

January 2015: Third Successful Test of Agni-V

On 31 January 2015, India conducted a third successful test flight of the Agni-V from the Abdul Kalam Island facility, using a roadmobile, canisterised version of the missile.

2016: ICBMs in UN Security Council Nations

As of 2016, all five of the nations with permanent seats on the United Nations Security Council have fully operational long-range ballistic missile systems.

July 2017: North Korea Claims ICBM Test

In early July 2017, North Korea claimed for the first time to have tested successfully an ICBM capable of carrying a large thermonuclear warhead.

2020: China's Military Modernization

Between the early 2020's, China rapidly modernized its nuclear arsenal, along with the rest of its military forces.

December 2022: India's Night Trial of Agni-V

On 15 December 2022, first night trial of Agni-V was successfully carried out by the Indian Strategic Forces Command from Abdul Kalam Island, Odisha.

February 2023: Russia Suspends Participation in New START Treaty

In February 2023, the Russian Federation suspended its participation in the New START treaty.

July 2023: North Korea ICBM Launch

In July 2023, North Korea fired a suspected intercontinental ballistic missile that landed short of Japanese waters.

March 2024: India Tests MIRV Technology

On 12 March 2024 India announced that it had successfully tested a 'multiple independently targetable reentry vehicle' (MIRV).

2026: China's ICBM Arsenal

In 2026, China has silo launched, submarine launched and road mobile ICBMs, with the third largest ICBM arsenal on earth at over 300 missiles, Including MIRVs and warheads in excess of 1 megaton.