MRBMs

MRBM stands for Medium-Range Ballistic Missile. It refers to ballistic missiles with ranges typically between 1,000 and 3,500 kilometers, though some definitions extend to about 5,500 km. This places MRBMs between short-range and intermediate-range missiles and makes them a tool for regional deterrence and strike options within a theater rather than global reach.

Design and capabilities commonly found in MRBMs include two- or multi-stage configurations powered by solid or liquid propellants. They may be deployed on road-mobile or rail-mobile launchers or from fixed silos. Guidance is usually inertial, with possible satellite updates or terminal guidance to improve accuracy. MRBMs can carry nuclear or conventional warheads and are designed for rapid flight to a target, making defense penetration and survivability topics central to their deployment.

Historically and in arms-control contexts, MRBMs have been central to regional strategic balance. The 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty banned ground-based MRBMs and IRBMs in the 500–5,500 km range, a constraint that the United States and Russia formally ended with their 2019 withdrawal. Since then, MRBMs have reappeared in various modernization programs and remain part of several states’ regional deterrence postures, subject to national treaties and export controls.

Strategic role and considerations include shorter flight times compared with longer-range systems, which enhances deterrence and rapid responsiveness within a region. At the same time, MRBMs face countermeasures from missile defenses and counter-proliferation efforts, influencing their deployment, mobility, and survivability.