Missile Defense Project

Authoritative analysis on missile defense and related issues

The Missile Defense Project at CSIS looks at a wide range of policy, program, and strategic issues related to missile defense. Technological and geopolitical factors have driven increased global supply and demand for high-velocity, unmanned, missile-based weapons and their corresponding counters. Besides more recognized cruise and ballistic missile threats, global missile proliferation now consists of a spectrum including precision-guided rockets, anti-ship missiles, air defenses, hypersonic delivery systems, and counterspace weapons.  

About the Missile Defense Project

Learn more about the Missile Defense Project and the network of experts, staff, and non-resident affiliates who contribute to our analysis.

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Photo: Airman 1st Class Jack Rodriguez

Photo: Airman 1st Class Jack Rodriguez

HTK Series

A public discussion series with Heather Williams, Tom Karako, and Kari Bingen offering real-time context and commentary on national security developments and strategic forces issues

Featured Analysis

Photo: CSIS Missile Defense Project

Photo: CSIS Missile Defense Project

Mesh Sensing for Air and Missile Defense

Affordable mass has become the watchword of defense modernization, be it swarms of drones or satellite constellations. What could such an approach mean for air and missile defense? Networks of passive, proliferated sensors could make one meaningful contribution. 

Report by Masao Dahlgren, Patrycja Bazylczyk, and Tom Karako — July 21, 2025

Featured Project

Photo: U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Derek Hamilton/Released

Photo: U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Derek Hamilton/Released

Strategic Landpower Dialogue  

The Strategic Landpower Dialogue is a quarterly event series featuring senior Army officers and leaders to discuss critical landpower issues

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Long-Range Strike Systems

Missile Threat

Missile Threat brings together a wide range of information and analysis relating to the proliferation of cruise and ballistic missiles around the world and the air and missile defense systems designed to defeat them.

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The Truth of the Matter

All About the Missiles

CSIS’s director of the Missile Defense Project Tom Karako joins the podcast to talk about missile escalations in the Ukraine Russia war, plus how missiles are critical to the conflicts in the Middle East.

Podcast Episode by H. Andrew Schwartz and Tom Karako — December 2, 2024

CSIS the truth of the matter

Defense Priorities in the Open-Source AI Debate

Open-source model regulation is the hottest debate in AI policy. Despite appeals made to national security, proposed constraints on open-source AI distribution might put defense supply chains at risk. This brief assesses those implications for the Joint Force.

Brief by Masao Dahlgren — August 19, 2024

The Defense of Guam

Please join the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) and the Association of the U.S. Army (AUSA) for our fifth Strategic Landpower Dialogue event, featuring Lieutenant General Robert Rasch and Brigadier General Frank Lozano. 

Event — July 30, 2024

Air and Missile Defense in the High North

The CSIS Missile Defense Project is hosting a half day conference on Arctic security and homeland cruise missile defense. The conference features a keynote discussion between Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK) and Dr. Tom Karako, Director of the Missile Defense Project. The keynote discussion will be followed by a panel discussion featuring GEN (ret.) Charles Jacoby and other government officials. 

Event — July 11, 2024

MDA and the 2025 Budget

The CSIS Missile Defense Project will host an event featuring Lt. Gen. Heath Collins, Director, Missile Defense Agency. The discussion will explore the Agency's FY2025 programs, priorities, and budgets.

Event — June 6, 2024