strategic defense initiative

English - English

Definition of strategic defense initiative in English English dictionary

A system proposed by U.S. President Ronald Reagan on March 23, 1983, to use ground-based and space-based systems to protect the United States from attack by strategic nuclear ballistic missiles. Abbreviation: SDI

the full name of SDI. also called Star Wars Proposed U.S. strategic defense system against nuclear attacks. Announced as a 20-year, $20 billion effort by Pres. Ronald Reagan in 1983, SDI was intended to defend the U.S. from a full-fledged Soviet attack by intercepting ICBMs in flight. The interception was to be effected by technology not yet developed, including space-and ground-based laser stations and air-and ground-based missiles. The space component of SDI led to its being derisively dubbed "Star Wars" after the popular film. Though the program was roundly criticized by opposition politicians and arms-control advocates as unworkable and as a dangerous violation of the Antiballistic Missile (ABM) Treaty of 1972, Congress granted initial funding for it. Early development efforts were largely unsuccessful, and with the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991 the concept lost urgency. During the Bush and Clinton administrations, ballistic missile defense was scaled back to focus on protecting the U.S. from limited attack by a "rogue" state or a single accidentally launched missile. In 2002 the U.S. withdrew from the ABM treaty to begin active testing of a limited antimissile program. See also antiballistic missile

Star Wars", American military plan for destroying incoming nuclear missiles while they are still in the air (first announced by former President Ronald Reagan), SDI

Hyphenation

stra·te·gic de·fense in·i·ti·a·tive

Turkish pronunciation

strıticîk dîfens înîşyıtîv

Synonyms

star wars

Pronunciation

/strəˈtēʤək dəˈfens əˈnəsʜyətəv/ /strəˈtiːʤɪk dɪˈfɛns ɪˈnɪʃjətɪv/