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Which nuclear weapons and delivery systems were covered by the START negotiations?
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Strategic Arms Reduction Talks
U.S. Pres. Barack Obama talking with Russian Pres. Dmitry Medvedev, just before the two leaders issued a joint statement about their continued cooperation on the New START Treaty, December 4, 2009.
The Strategic Arms Reduction Talks (START) focused on reducing arsenals of nuclear warheads and the delivery systems capable of carrying them, specifically missiles and bombers.1
The scope of these negotiations included:
- Delivery Vehicles: The treaties primarily limited strategic nuclear delivery vehicles, which include intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs), and nuclear-armed bombers.21
- Warheads: START agreements set specific caps on the number of deployed strategic warheads.21
- Cruise Missiles: During START I negotiations, limits on nuclear-armed cruise missiles were addressed through separate political declarations, as their verification was complex.1
- Specific Technologies: START II sought to eliminate multiple independent reentry vehicles (MIRVs) on ICBMs, specifically targeting systems like the U.S. Peacekeeper missile and the Russian SS-18.1
- New START: This treaty limits deployed strategic warheads and delivery vehicles, including ballistic missile launchers and nuclear-armed bombers, while allowing flexibility in the mix of systems to accommodate different force structures.21