Pershing II

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	Weapon: Pershing II Type: Rocket Artillery Country of Origin: United States Year Adopted: 1983 Overall Length (mm): 15000.0 Overall Length (in): 590.55 Weight (kg): 35000.00 Weight (pounds): 77161.79

The Pershing II missile was an intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) developed by the United States during the late 1970s as a modernization of the earlier Pershing I system. Equipped with a two-stage solid-fuel propulsion system, the Pershing II could deliver its payload with extreme accuracy over a range of 1,100 miles (1,770 kilometers). Its advanced radar-guidance system, coupled with a maneuverable reentry vehicle, allowed for pinpoint targeting, making it a highly effective weapon against hardened and strategic targets.

The missile entered service in 1983, with production figures estimated at around 120 units. Deployed in Europe as part of NATO's response to the Soviet SS-20 missiles, the Pershing II played a crucial role in the escalating tensions of the Cold War. Its deployment in West Germany marked a significant element of NATO's nuclear strategy, designed to deter Soviet aggression and demonstrate resolve in defending Western Europe.

The Pershing II became a symbol of Cold War brinkmanship and was central to the protests and political debates surrounding nuclear arms in the 1980s. Its presence heightened tensions between the U.S. and the Soviet Union, but it also served as a catalyst for arms control negotiations. The missile was ultimately dismantled following the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, which marked a significant step in reducing the nuclear arsenals of both superpowers. Despite its brief operational history, the Pershing II left a lasting impact on the geopolitics of the Cold War era.