LGM-118A Peacekeeper

The Peacekeeper sesrved as the United States Air Force's most powerful, accurate, and technologically advanced Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) deterrent. Conceived to replace the Minuteman ICBMs, its development began in the early 1970s under the name "Missile, Experimental," or MX. Later, it received the official name "Peacekeeper." The first test flight took place in 1983 at Vandenberg AFB, California. Peacekeepers became operational in 1986.

Constructed with an airframe made of a Kevlar epoxy composite, the Peacekeeper was much lighter than previous ICBMs, and it could carry more warheads When combined with new Multiple Independently Targeted Re-entry Vehicles (MIRV) technology, one Peacekeeper could accurately deliver a number of nuclear warheads on different targets at the same time. A four-stage missile, Peacekeeper was the first Air Force ICBM to use the "cold launch" technique similar to the system used to launch missiles from submarines.

The Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) II, signed in 1993 with Russia, removed all multiple-warhead ICBMs. As a result of the changed strategic world situation and START II, the United States deactivated all 50 LGM-118As between 2003 and 2005. Some Peacekeepers were eventually used as satellite launch vehicles.

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