LGM-118 Peacekeeper

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	Weapon: LGM-118 Peacekeeper Type: Rocket Artillery Country of Origin: United States Year Adopted: 1980 Overall Length (mm): 17500.0 Overall Length (in): 688.98 Weight (kg): 36000.00 Weight (pounds): 79366.41

The LGM-118 Peacekeeper was an advanced intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) developed by the United States during the late stages of the Cold War to enhance its nuclear deterrence capabilities. Designed as a response to the growing sophistication of Soviet missile technology, the Peacekeeper featured a three-stage solid-fueled propulsion system and advanced guidance technology, enabling it to deliver up to ten independently targetable reentry vehicles (MIRVs). Each warhead had a yield of 300 kilotons, giving the missile the capability to strike multiple targets with high accuracy over intercontinental distances.

A total of 114 Peacekeeper missiles were planned, but only 50 were deployed between 1986 and 2005, housed in converted Minuteman III silos. The high cost of the program and the political landscape of arms reduction treaties limited further production and deployment. Despite its relatively short service life, the Peacekeeper was recognized for its unmatched accuracy and reliability, cementing its place as one of the most advanced ICBMs of its time.

The Peacekeeper gained notoriety as a symbol of the arms race between the U.S. and the Soviet Union, embodying the era's strategic emphasis on technological superiority. It also played a key role in arms control negotiations, influencing the terms of treaties like START I. While retired in 2005 as part of disarmament efforts, the Peacekeeper's technological innovations continue to inform the development of modern missile systems, ensuring its legacy in the field of strategic weaponry.