Basics

Depending on their range, missiles are divided into several categories. However, no common understanding exists on where the shift from one category to the other occurs. In this blog the following widely used ranges will be applied:

short-range ballistic missile (SRBM): up to 1,000 km
medium-range ballistic missile (MRBM): 1,000km – 3,000km
intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM): 3,000km – 5,500km
intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM): more than 5,500km

For an overview of the missiles the various countries have / had in stock take a look at this chart at MissileThreat.com which provides information on the missiles’ name, class, payload, range and status. For more comprehensive (even though slightly outdated) information use the Missile.index.

For an overview over the strategic missile defense debate you might want to take a look at the Arms Control Association’s treat assessment brief “Strategic Missile Defense: A Reality Check“.