Intercontinental ballistic missile

An intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) is a ballistic missile with a range greater than 5,500 kilometres, designed primarily for nuclear weapons delivery. Some modern ICBMs can carry multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles, allowing several warheads to strike different targets. Development was central to the Cold War nuclear arms race, and the first ICBM, the Soviet R-7 Semyorka, was tested in 1957. ICBMs have greater range and speed than other ballistic missile categories.

Range

Greater than 5,500 kilometres (3,400 mi)

First ICBM

R-7 Semyorka, tested in 1957

Operational ICBM states

United States, Russia, China, France, India, the United Kingdom, Israel, and North Korea