History of Missile Defence

Prof. Mike Gruntman of the University of Southern California gave a guest lecture on the genesis of missile defence with specific focus on Russia/the former Soviet Union: On 4 March 1961, a guided missile intercepted and destroyed the approaching warhead of an intermediate range ballistic missile at the Saryshagan test site in the Kazakhstan desert. This event led to the emergence of a powerful political, military, scientific-technological, and industrial missile defense complex in the Soviet Union, a major factor in shaping U.S. defense programs and technologies during the Cold War. A new chapter in the eternal competition between protecting and avenging, between the sword and the shield, had begun with the issue of Missile defense remaining on the table in the 21st century - especially in light of recent developments in Ukraine and the Middle east (as would be shown dramatically just two days later). After opening remarks by Professor emeritus Christian Brünner, Board Member of the European Centre for Space law and former rector of the University of Graz, Prof. Gruntman shared his expertise on missile defence. The event was moderated by Hannes Mayer.