Penaid Nonproliferation: Hindering the Spread of Countermeasures Against Ballistic Missile Defenses

Abstract

This research describes an approach to hindering the spread of countermeasures against ballistic missile defenses. (Such countermeasures, when incorporated in an attacker’s missile, are also called penetration aids, or penaids.) The approach involved compiling an unclassified list of penaid-relevant items that might be subject to internationally agreed-upon export controls. The list is formatted to fit into the export-control structure of current international policy against the proliferation of missiles capable of delivering weapons of mass destruction. This policy, the Missile Technology Control Regime, creates two levels of control. One is a set of tight restrictions against a small number of items, such as complete missiles or their major subsystems. The other is a set of case-by-case export reviews for lower-level components and dual-use items.