Missile Defense

Missile Defense

The proliferation and improvement of missile technology is one of the more consequential developments in 21st-century warfare. How will the United States deter attack and defend itself and its allies from the ever more capable missile arsenals of potential adversaries? Atlantic Council work focuses on the strategic and tactical implications of missile defense, with particular attention to the impact of new capabilities like hypersonic weapons, space-based assets, and directed energy.

Content

Report

Mar 11, 2026

Air defense in the age of saturation: Europe after the post-Cold War peace dividend illusion and Turkey’s Steel Dome

By Can Kasapoğlu

As Russia’s invasion of Ukraine proved the importance of air and missile defense, Ankara's Steel Dome initiative can demonstrate a critical solution.

Defense Industry Defense Technologies

Report

Mar 9, 2026

Strategy for a new nuclear age

By Michael Albertson, Paul Amato, Henry "Trey" Obering, Ankit Panda, Kingston Reif, Amy Woolf

As it carries out strikes on Iran's nuclear program, the United States confronts a wider and ever more complex landscape of nuclear threats, with Russia, North Korea, and China all boosting their arsenals. In this new nuclear age, how should US policymakers think about force size, arms control, and missile defense?

Arms Control China

UkraineAlert

Mar 5, 2026

Iran war could save Vladimir Putin’s failing Ukraine invasion

By Peter Dickinson

While Russia’s inability to assist Iran is undoubtedly embarrassing for the Kremlin, Vladimir Putin could still emerge as a key beneficiary of the escalating conflict in the Middle East, writes Peter Dickinson.

Conflict Drones

In the News

Mar 4, 2026

Costa quoted in The Hill article on resource strains and the conflict in Iran

By Atlantic Council

On March 4, Director of the Atlantic Council’s Forward Defense Program Joe Costa was quoted in an article from The Hill on US interceptor capacity. Costa described the high attrition rate for key missile defense capabilities in the conflict in Iran and expressed concern over the strain to resources as the conflict progresses.

Defense Technologies Iran

UkraineAlert

Mar 2, 2026

Ukraine’s experience is indispensable in the fight against Iranian drones

By Peter Dickinson

Britain has announced plans to deploy Ukrainian drone warfare specialists to the Middle East as part of international efforts to counter the growing threat posed by swarms of Iranian drones, writes Peter Dickinson.

Conflict Defense Technologies

UkraineAlert

Mar 2, 2026

Missiles made in Ukraine are bringing Putin’s invasion home to Russia

By David Kirichenko

Ukraine is investing in a domestic missile program to create the kind of long-range strike potential that could force Putin to the negotiating table and serve as a deterrent against future Russian aggression, writes David Kirichenko.

Conflict Defense Industry

UkraineAlert

Feb 26, 2026

Putin’s plan: Make Ukraine unlivable by destroying essential infrastructure

By William Dixon, Maksym Beznosiuk

With the Russian army currently unable to achieve any meaningful breakthroughs on the battlefield, Putin's plan for 2026 looks set to focus on escalating bombardment of Ukrainian civilian infrastructure in a bid to make the country unlivable, write William Dixon and Maksym Beznosiuk.

Conflict Defense Policy

UkraineAlert

Feb 7, 2026

Death by cold: Russia is attempting to freeze millions of Ukrainian civilians

By Kristina Hook

Russia is methodically bombing Ukraine's power and heating infrastructure amid arctic weather conditions in a bid to freeze millions of Ukrainian civilians and make much of the country unlivable, writes Kristina Hook.

Conflict Drones

UkraineAlert

Jan 27, 2026

Unable to win on the battlefield, Putin escalates war on Ukrainian civilians

By Peter Dickinson

A war crime of staggering proportions is currently unfolding in full public view across Ukraine as Russia methodically bombs the country’s utilities in a calculated bid to freeze millions of civilians in their own homes and spark a humanitarian catastrophe, writes Peter Dickinson.

Conflict Drones

Report

Jan 21, 2026

Countering Russian escalation in space

By John Klein, Clementine G. Starling-Daniels

Current US space policy and acquisitions are inadequate to address the growing threats from Russia in space. The United States needs a more resilient space architecture, able to withstand major-power conflict—and Russia’s designs to place a nuclear weapon in orbit. Here are fifteen recommendations to make that happen.

China Missile Defense
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Experts

Fellow

Paul Amato

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Forward Defense Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Missile Defense Nuclear Deterrence

Fellow

Nicholas Blanford

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Arabic Conflict

Fellow

Ian Brzezinski

Senior Fellow

Europe Center Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Central Europe Defense Policy

Staff

Joe Costa

Director

Forward Defense Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Defense Industry Defense Policy

Fellow

Marek Jestrab

2022-23 Senior US Navy Fellow

Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Defense Industry Indo-Pacific

Staff

Matthew Kroenig

Vice President, Geostrategy and Fellows and Senior Director, Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

China Defense Policy
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