UGM-27 Polaris

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	Weapon: UGM-27 Polaris Type: Rocket Artillery Country of Origin: United States Year Adopted: 1960 Overall Length (mm): 11600.0 Overall Length (in): 456.69 Weight (kg): 30000.00 Weight (pounds): 66138.68

The UGM-27 Polaris was the United States' first submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM), developed during the late 1950s and early 1960s. Designed as part of the United States Navy's strategic deterrent forces, the Polaris introduced solid-fuel rocket technology for greater reliability and storage stability compared to earlier liquid-fuel missiles. The missile was compact enough to be carried aboard specially designed ballistic missile submarines, such as the George Washington-class, allowing covert deployment and a near-invulnerable second-strike capability.

The Polaris program saw several variants, including the A-1, A-2, and A-3 models, each featuring improvements in range and payload capacity. Production totaled over 1,200 units, which equipped U.S. Navy submarines and those of the Royal Navy under the Polaris Sales Agreement. The missile was capable of delivering nuclear warheads with ranges of up to 2,500 nautical miles (A-3 variant), making it a critical component of the nuclear triad during the height of the Cold War.

The Polaris missile achieved notoriety as a game-changer in nuclear strategy, enabling a hidden and mobile deterrent that complicated adversaries' planning and significantly enhanced the survivability of U.S. and allied nuclear forces. Though retired from U.S. service in the early 1980s and replaced by the Trident series, the Polaris program left a lasting legacy in SLBM design and strategic policy. The missile also played a central role in bolstering NATO's nuclear capabilities, strengthening Western alliances during a period of intense global tension.