Treaty on the Limitation of Anti-ballistic Missile Systems

Treaty on the Limitation of Anti-ballistic Missile Systems

 

Article I. 1. Each Party undertakes to limit anti-ballistic missile (ABM)
systems and to adopt other measures in accordance with the provisions of this
Treaty.

2. Each Party undertakes not to deploy ABM systems for a defense of the
territory of its country and not to provide a base for such a defense, and
not to deploy ABM systems for defense of an individual region except as
provided for in article III of this Treaty.

Article II. 1. For the purposes of this Treaty an ABM system is a system to
counter strategic ballistic missiles or their elements in flight trajectory,
currently consisting of:

(a) ABM interceptor missiles, which are interceptor missiles constructed
and deployed for an ABM role, or of a type tested in an ABM mode;

(b) ABM launchers, which are launchers constructed and deployed for
launching ABM interceptor missiles; and

(c) ABM radars, which are radars constructed and deployed for an ABM role,
or of a type tested in an ABM mode.

2. The ABM system components listed in paragraph 1 of this article include
those which are:

(a) operational;

(b) under construction;

(c) undergoing testing;

(d) undergoing overhaul, repair or conversion; or

(e) mothballed.

Article III. Each Party undertakes not to deploy ABM systems or their
components except that:

(a) within one ABM system deployment area having a radius of one hundred
and fifty kilometers and centered on the Party’s national capital, a
Party may deploy: (1) no more than one hundred ABM launchers and no
more than one hundred ABM interceptor missiles at launch sites, and (2)
ABM radars within no more than six ABM radar complexes, the area of
each complex being circular and having a diameter of no more than three
kilometers; and

(b) within one ABM system deployment area having a radius of one hundred
and fifty kilometers and containing ICBM silo launchers, a Party may
deploy: (1) no more than one hundred ABM launchers and no more than one
hundred ABM interceptor missiles at launch sites, (2) two large
phased-array ABM radars comparable in potential to corresponding ABM
radars operational or under construction on the date of signature of
the Treaty in an ABM system deployment area containing ICBM silo
launchers, and (3) no more than eighteen ABM radars each having a
potential less than the potential of the smaller of the above-mentioned
two large phased-array ABM radars.

Article IV. The limitations provided for in article III shall not apply to
ABM systems or their components used for development or testing, and located
within current or additionally agreed test ranges. Each Party may have no
more than a total of fifteen ABM launchers at test ranges.

Article V. 1. Each Party undertakes not to develop, test, or deploy ABM
systems or components which are sea-based, air-based, space-based, or mobile
land-based.

2. Each Party undertakes not to develop, test, or deploy ABM launchers for
launching more than one ABM interceptor missile at a time from each launcher,
nor to modify deployed launchers to provide them with such a capability, nor
to develop, test, or deploy automatic or semi-automatic or other similar
systems for rapid reload of ABM launchers.

Article VI. To enhance assurance of the effectiveness of the limitations on
ABM systems and their components provided by this Treaty, each Party
undertakes:

(a) not to give missiles, launchers, or radars, other than ABM interceptor
missiles, ABM launchers, or ABM radars, capabilities to counter
strategic ballistic missiles or their elements in flight trajectory,
and not to test them in an ABM mode; and

(b) not to deploy in the future radars for early warning of strategic
ballistic missile attack except at locations along the periphery of its
national territory and oriented outward.

Article VII. Subject to the provisions of this Treaty, modernization and
replacement of ABM systems or their components may be carried out.

Article VIII. ABM systems or their components in excess of the numbers or
outside the areas specified in this Treaty, as well as ABM systems or their
components prohibited by this Treaty, shall be destroyed or dismantled under
agreed procedures within the shortest possible agreed period of time.

Article IX. To assure the viability and effectiveness of this Treaty, each
Party undertakes not to transfer to other States, and not to deploy outside
its national territory, ABM systems or their components limited by this
Treaty.

Article X. Each Party undertakes not to assume any international obligations
which would conflict with this Treaty.

Article XI. The Parties undertake to continue active negotiations for
limitations on strategic offensive arms.

Article XII. 1. For the purpose of providing assurance of compliance with the
provisions of this Treaty, each Party shall use national technical means of
verification at its disposal in a manner consistent with generally recognized
principles of international law.

2. Each Party undertakes not to interfere with the national technical means
of verification of the other Party operating in accordance with paragraph 1
of this article.

3. Each Party undertakes not to use deliberate concealment measures which
impede verification by national technical means of compliance with the
provisions of this Treaty. This obligation shall not require changes in
current construction, assembly, conversion, or overhaul practices.

Article XIII. 1. To promote the objectives and implementation of the
provisions of this Treaty, the Parties shall establish promptly a Standing
Consultative Commission, within the framework of which they will:

(a) consider questions concerning compliance with the obligations assumed
and related situations which may be considered ambiguous;

(b) provide on a voluntary basis such information as either Party considers
necessary to assure confidence in compliance with the obligations
assumed;

(c) consider questions involving unintended interference with national
technical means of verification;

(d) consider possible changes in the strategic situation which have a
bearing on the provisions of this Treaty;

(e) agree upon procedures and dates for destruction or dismantling of ABM
systems or their components in cases provided for by the provisions of
this Treaty;

(f) consider, as appropriate, possible proposals for further increasing the
viability of this Treaty, including proposals for amendments in
accordance with the provisions of this Treaty;

(g) consider, as appropriate, proposals for further measures aimed at
limiting strategic arms.

2. The Parties through consultation shall establish, and may amend as
appropriate, Regulations for the Standing Consultative Commission governing
procedures, composition and other relevant matters.

Article XIV. 1. Each Party may propose amendments to this Treaty. Agreed
amendments shall enter into force in accordance with the procedures governing
the entry into force of this Treaty.

2. Five years after entry into force of this Treaty, and at five year
intervals thereafter, the Parties shall together conduct a review of this
Treaty.

Article XV. 1. This Treaty shall be of unlimited duration.

2. Each Party shall, in exercising its national sovereignty, have the right
to withdraw from this Treaty if it decides that extraordinary events related
to the subject matter of this Treaty have jeopardized its supreme interests.
It shall give notice of its decision to the other Party six months prior to
withdrawal from the Treaty. Such notice shall include a statement of the
extraordinary events the notifying Party regards as having jeopardized its
supreme interests.

Article XVI. 1. This Treaty shall be subject to ratification in accordance
with the constitutional procedures of each Party. The Treaty shall enter into
force on the day of the exchange of instruments of ratification.

2. This Treaty shall be registered pursuant to article 102 of the Charter of
the United Nations.

DONE at Moscow on May 26, 1972, in two copies, each in the English and
Russian languages, both texts being equally authentic.

Conclusion

Notes

See Also

References and Further Reading

About the Author/s and Reviewer/s

Author: international

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