Menu
Home
People
Places
Arts
History
Plants & Animals
Science
Life & Culture
Technology
Reference.org
Ballistic missile submarine
open-in-new
<p>A ballistic missile submarine is a <a href="/facts/Submarine/6fhcAKHV">submarine</a> capable of deploying <a href="/facts/Submarine-launched_ballistic_missile/AypqGmQ9">submarine-launched ballistic missiles</a> (SLBMs) with <a href="/facts/Nuclear_warhead/QVdBcMdm">nuclear warheads</a>. These submarines became a major weapon system in the <a href="/facts/Cold_War/spJdJQ3q">Cold War</a> because of their <a href="/facts/Deterrence_theory/rllU6aJf">nuclear deterrence</a> capability. They can fire missiles thousands of kilometers from their targets, and <a href="/facts/Acoustic_quieting/VYCrgelK">acoustic quieting</a> makes them difficult to detect (see <a href="/facts/Acoustic_signature/hN7Slhn6">acoustic signature</a>), thus making them a survivable deterrent in the event of a <a href="/facts/Pre-emptive_nuclear_strike/pDvHGqxC">first strike</a> and a key element of the <a href="/facts/Mutual_assured_destruction/ImetP5jV">mutual assured destruction</a> policy of nuclear deterrence. The deployment of ballistic missile submarines is dominated by the <a href="/facts/United_States/P0sCdLe5">United States</a>, <a href="/facts/Russia/jfkCwyxn">Russia</a> (following the collapse of the <a href="/facts/Soviet_Union/m7wWsPto">Soviet Union</a>) and <a href="/facts/China/lTjIXY5p">China</a>. In fact, 70% of nuclear warheads in the USA are carried by ballistic missile submarines. </p><p>Smaller numbers are in service with <a href="/facts/France/CxIeIKM3">France</a>, the <a href="/facts/United_Kingdom/kuPAILt2">United Kingdom</a> and <a href="/facts/India/QW4TV4sy">India</a>; <a href="/facts/North_Korea/Q41laakP">North Korea</a> is also suspected to have an experimental submarine that is diesel-electric powered. </p><p>Ballistic missile submarines should be distinguished from so-called <a href="/facts/Nuclear_submarine/EwB3jEwd">nuclear submarines</a>, which does not refer to a submarine carrying nuclear weapons, but instead refers to submarines with a <a href="/facts/Nuclear_marine_propulsion/gVcaF3kF">nuclear propulsion engine</a>. </p>