Safeguard Program

Safeguard is the name given to the American missile defense system, which was installed in the 1970s.

This system was mainly used to protect the Minuteman missile silos and - but secondary - the protection of cities during the Cold War against the Soviet nuclear force. Components of the system were a radar extremely large range and resolution and nuclear -tipped missiles for defense of approaching missiles. In addition to the Spartan- long-range missiles, the so-called Sprint missiles short range (40 km) were available.

The few completed components of the SafeGuard system were shut down after a short time.

The SafeGuard system is a precursor to America's efforts in the 1990s to build such a system without nuclear warheads. This led to the termination of the ABM Treaty.