Part of: Prelims and GS-II – International Relations and GS-III Defence and security
Context Iran displayed three ballistic missiles recently.
The missiles — known as Dezful, Qiam and Zolfaghar — have official ranges of up to 1,000 km and are already-known models
Ballistic missile
Aa ballistic missile follows a ballistic trajectory (projectile motion) to deliver one or more warheads on a predetermined target.
Short-range ballistic missiles stay within the Earth’s atmosphere, while intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) are launched on a sub-orbital trajectory.
It is a rocket-propelled self-guided strategic-weapons system
It can carry conventional high explosives as well as chemical, biological, or nuclear munitions.
The Hague Code of Conduct against Ballistic Missile Proliferation (HCOC), is a political initiative aimed at globally curbing ballistic missile proliferation.
India is a signatory to this convention.
The voluntary Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) aims to limit the spread of ballistic missiles and other unmanned delivery systems that could be used for chemical, biological, and nuclear attacks.