Air Base. A facility, other than a heavy bomber flight test center or training facility, at which heavy bombers or former heavy bombers are based and their operation is supported.
Air-Launch Cruise Missile (ALCM). An air-to-surface cruise missile which has been flight-tested from an aircraft or deployed on a bomber after December 31, 1986.
Air-to-Surface Ballistic Missile (ASBM). A ballistic missile with a range in excess of 600 kilometers that is installed in an aircraft or on its external mountings for the purpose of being launched from the aircraft.
Ballistic Missile. A missile that is a weapon-delivery vehicle that has a ballistic trajectory over most of its flight path.
Bomber. An airplane which was initially constructed or later converted to be equipped for bombs or air-to-surface missiles.
Category. For heavy bombers, one of the following classifications based on the kind of armament for which they are equipped or on their purpose: heavy bomber equipped for long-range nuclear ALCMs, heavy bomber equipped for nuclear armaments other than long-range nuclear ALCMs, heavy bomber equipped for non-nuclear armaments, test heavy bomber or training heavy bomber.
Continuous Monitoring. The implementation of procedures that involve inspections of containers, launch canisters and vehicles leaving a monitored facility.
Continuous Monitoring Activities. Activities which include conducting an engineering site survey; establishing, operating and maintaining a perimeter and portal continuous monitoring system; and conducting continuous monitoring.
Conversion or Elimination Facility:
Cruise Missile. A missile that is an unmanned, self-propelled weapon-delivery vehicle that sustains flight through the use of aerodynamic lift over most of its flight path.
Deployed Heavy Bomber. Any heavy bomber other than a test heavy bomber, a training heavy bomber or a heavy bomber equipped for non-nuclear armaments.
Deployed ICBM. An ICBM that is contained, or is considered to be contained, in a deployed launcher of ICBMs.
Deployed Launcher of ICBMs. Any silo launcher of ICBMs other than a silo test launcher, a silo training launcher or a silo launcher located at a space launch facility, or any deployed mobile launcher of ICBMs.
Deployed Launcher of SLBMs. Any SLBM launcher installed on a submarine that has been launched.
Deployed Mobile Launcher of ICBMs. Any mobile launcher of ICBMs, other than a mobile test launcher or a mobile launcher of ICBMs at a space launch facility, that contains, or is considered to contain, an ICBM.
Deployed SLBM. An SLBM that is contained, or is considered to be contained, in a deployed launcher of SLBMs.
Deployment Area. An area, limited in size, within which routine movements and exercise dispersals of deployed road-mobile launchers of ICBMs and their associated missiles are conducted.
Distinguishable. Different on the basis of the totality of functional and external differences that are observable by national technical means of verification or, when such observations may be inconclusive in the opinion of the inspecting Party, that are visible during inspection.
Encapsulation. For telemetric information, recording and not broadcasting such information during the flight test of a missile, and recovering it subsequently.
Encryption. For telemetric information, the reversible transformation of such information that gives it a random character to prevent unauthorized access to such information.
Facility. An ICBM base, submarine base, air base, rail garrison, maintenance facility, restricted area, parking site, silo launcher group, ICBM loading facility, SLBM loading facility, production facility, repair facility, storage facility, training facility, conversion or elimination facility, test range, heavy bomber flight test center, space launch facility or static display site.
Facility Subject to Continuous Monitoring. A facility at which continuous monitoring activities are permitted but have not yet commenced.
Fixed Structure for Mobile Launchers of ICBMs. A fixed structure for road-mobile launchers of ICBMs or a fixed structure for rail-mobile launchers or ICBMs.
Fixed Structure for Rail-mobile Launchers of ICBMs. A unique structure at a parking site for rail-mobile launchers of ICBMs that can contain a train of standard configuration with rail-mobile launchers of ICBMs.
Fixed Structure for Road-mobile Launchers ICBMs. A unique structure, within a restricted area, that can contain road-mobile launchers of ICBMs.
Flight Test. For a missile, the launch and subsequent flight of a missile.
Former Heavy Bomber. A reconnaissance, tanker or jamming airplane that is not equipped for nuclear armaments or non-nuclear air-to-surface armaments and that was initially constructed on the basis of the airframe of an existing type of heavy bomber or that has been converted from a heavy bomber in accordance with the Conversion or Elimination Protocol.
Former Type. For ICBMs or SLBMs, a type of existing ICBMs or SLBM which had been deployed prior to entry into force of the Treaty, but which were not deployed when the Treaty entered into force and are not currently deployed.
Front Section. That portion of the payload of the final stage that contains the reentry vehicle or reentry vehicles and may, depending on design, include a reentry vehicle platform, penetration aids and a shroud.
Heavy Bomber. A bomber that has a range greater than 8,000 kilometers, or that is equipped for long-range nuclear ALCMs.
Heavy Bomber Equipped for Non-nuclear Armaments. A non-modern heavy bomber that is equipped only for non-nuclear armaments, and that satisfies the requirements for conversion in accordance with the Conversion or Elimination Protocol.
Heavy ICBM. An ICBM which has a launch weight greater than 106,000 kilograms or a throw-weight greater than 4,350 kilograms.
Heavy SLBM. An SLBM which has a launch weight greater than 106,000 kilograms or a throw-weight greater than 4,350 kilograms.
ICBM Base:
ICBM Emplacement Equipment. Equipment used to install an ICBM into a silo launcher of ICBMs.
ICBM for Mobile Launchers of ICBMs. An ICBM which has been contained on, or flight-tested from, a mobile launcher of ICBMs, or has been declared to be an ICBM for mobile launchers of ICBMs.
ICBM Launcher. A device intended or used to contain, prepare for launch and launch an ICBM.
ICBM Loading Facility. A facility, outside an ICBM base and outside a test range, where mobile ICBMs are loaded onto or unloaded from mobile launchers of ICBMs.
In-country Escort. A group of individuals designated by the inspected Party to accompany and assist inspectors, monitors and aircrew members throughout the in-country period.
In-country Period. The period of time from the arrival of the inspection team, monitors or aircrew members at the point of entry until their departure from the country through the point of entry.
Inspecting Party. The Party that conducts inspections or continuous monitoring activities.
Inspection. The START verification regime includes the following 12 types of inspections, as well as continuous monitoring:
Inspection Site. A facility or location at which inspections may be conducted.
Inspection Team. The group of inspectors assigned by the inspecting Party to conduct a particular inspection.
Inspector. An individual specified by one of the Parties to conduct inspections and included on that Party's list of inspectors.
Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM). A land-based ballistic missile with a range in excess of 5,500 kilometers.
Jamming. For telemetric information broadcast from a missile, creating interference on frequencies used for broadcasting such information.
Joint Compliance and Inspection Commission (JCIC). The venue established to promote implementation of the provisions of the START Treaty. The JCIC will be used to resolve compliance questions relating to obligations, agree upon additional measures to improve the viability and effectiveness of the Treaty and resolve questions related to the application of treaty provisions to new kinds of strategic offensive arms. Each Party provides a representative to the JCIC.
Launch-associated Railcar. A railcar that is directly associated with a rail-mobile launcher of ICBMs and that together with it provides for the preparation for launch and launch of a missile.
Launch Canister. A container that can be or has been used for transporting and storing an assembled ICBM, with or without its front section, and from which an ICBM can be or has been launched.
Launch Weight. The maximum weight of a fully loaded ICBM or SLBM at the time of first stage ignition.
Long-range ALCM. An ALCM with a range in excess of 600 kilometers.
Long-range Nuclear ALCM. A long-range ALCM that is nuclear armed.
Long-range Non-nuclear ALCM. A long-range ALCM that is not nuclear armed.
Maintenance Facility. A facility that is part of an ICBM base and at which ICBMs and ICBM launchers are maintained and their operation is supported.
Missile Tender. A naval ship that is used for storing, transporting and loading SLBMs into SLBM launchers.
Mobile Launcher of ICBMs. A road-mobile or rail-mobile launcher of ICBMs.
Monitor. An individual specified by one of the Parties to conduct continuous monitoring activities and included on that Party's list of monitors.
Monitoring Team. The group of monitors specified by the inspecting Party to conduct continuous monitoring activities.
New Type. For ICBMs or SLBMs, a type of ICBM or SLBM, the technical characteristics of which differ from those of an ICBM or SLBM declared previously in at least one of the following respects:
Non-deployed ICBM. A ICBM not contained, and not considered to be contained, in a deployed launcher of ICBMs.
Non-deployed Mobile Launcher of ICBMs. A mobile test launcher or a mobile launcher of ICBMs at a space launch facility, or a mobile launcher of ICBMs that does not contain, and that is not considered to contain, an ICBM.
Non-deployed SLBM. An SLBM not contained, and not considered to be contained, in a deployed launcher of SLBMs.
Non-modern Heavy Bomber. A heavy bomber which was initially based at an air base more than ten years earlier.
Nuclear Armaments other than Long Range Nuclear ALCMs. For heavy bombers, nuclear air-to-surface missiles with a range of less than 600 kilometers and nuclear bombs.
Perimeter and Portal Continuous Monitoring System. The physical barriers, buildings, and equipment along the perimeter, at the portal and at the other exits of a monitored facility, that may be established, operated and maintained by the monitors for continuous monitoring of a facility.
Period of Inspection. The period of time from completion of the pre-inspection procedures until the commencement of post-inspection procedures.
Point of Entry. The Treaty designates points of entry on each signatory's territory for foreign inspectors arriving to conduct START inspections at declared and undeclared sites. The points of entry in the United States are San Francisco, California, and Washington, D.C. In the former Soviet Union, they are Minsk, Belarus; Almaty, Kazakstan; Moscow and Ulan-Ude, Russia; and Kiev, Ukraine.
Prototype. A new type of ICBM or SLBM which has not been attributed with warheads or accountable throw-weight, no more than 20 of which have been flight-tested, and none of its launchers have been deployed.
Rail Garrison. An area in which one or more rail-mobile launcher parking sites are located and an associated maintenance facility may be located.
Rail-mobile Launcher of ICBMs. An erector-launcher mechanism for launching ICBMs and the railcar or flatcar on which it is mounted.
Range:
Rapid Reload. Reloading a silo launcher of ICBMs in less than 12 hours or a mobile launcher of ICBMs in less than four hours after a missile has been launched or removed from such a launcher.
Reentry Vehicle. That part of the front section that can survive reentry through the dense layers of the Earth's atmosphere and that is designed for delivering a weapon to a target or for testing such a delivery.
Restricted Area. An area within a deployment area, limited in size, in which deployed road-mobile launchers of ICBMs and their associated missiles are based and in which fixed structures for road-mobile launchers of ICBMs may be located.
Road-mobile Launcher of ICBMs. An erector-launcher mechanism for launching ICBMs and the self-propelled or trailer chassis on which it is mounted.
Silo Launcher of ICBMs. A fixed launcher of ICBMs in a silo structure located in the ground.
SLBM Launcher. A device intended or used to contain, prepare for launch and launch an SLBM.
SLBM Loading Facility. A shore-based facility, outside a submarine base, where SLBMs are loaded onto or unloaded from ballistic missile submarines.
Soft-site Launcher. Any land-based fixed launcher of ICBMs or SLBMs other than a silo launcher.
Solid Rocket Motor. That part of a stage that consists of the case filled with solid fuel.
Space Launch Facility. A specified facility from which objects are delivered into the upper atmosphere or space using ICBMs or SLBMs.
Stage. For ICBMs or SLBMs, a section of a missile that is equipped with a propulsion unit and that can provide its payload with an additional velocity of more than 1,000 meters per second.
Submarine Base. A facility at which ballistic missile submarines are based and that provides shore-based support for such submarines, which may include the assembly, loading, maintenance, and storage of SLBMs.
Submarine-launched Ballistic Missile (SLBM). A ballistic missile with a range in excess of 600 kilometers which has been contained in or launched from a submarine.
Telemetric Information. Information that originates on board a missile during its flight test that is broadcast or recorded for subsequent recovery.
Test Launcher. An ICBM launcher or an SLBM launcher located within a test range.
Test Range. A designated land area, other than an ICBM base, from which launches of ICBMs or SLBMs are conducted.
Train of Standard Configuration. A train consisting of a specified number of rail-mobile launchers of ICBMs and launch-associated railcars.
Training Heavy Bomber. A heavy bomber used for training that is not equipped for nuclear armaments or non-nuclear air-to-surface armaments.
Training Launcher. A silo training launcher or a mobile training launcher.
Training Model of a Missile. A full scale, inert model of an ICBM or SLBM that is not capable of being launched and that differs from an ICBM or SLBM by external and functional differences that are visible during inspection.
Transporter-loader. A vehicle that is capable of transporting an assembled ICBM for mobile launchers of ICBMs and from which such an ICBM can be loaded directly onto a mobile launcher of ICBMs, or onto which such an ICBM can be unloaded directly from a mobile launcher of ICBMs.
Warhead. A unit of account used for counting toward the 6,000 maximum aggregate limit and relevant sublimits as applied to deployed ICBMs, deployed SLBMs and deployed heavy bombers.
Weapon-delivery vehicle. For ballistic missiles and cruise missiles, a missile which has been flight-tested or deployed to carry or be used as a weapon that, when directed against any target, is designed to damage or destroy it.
Visit with Special Right of Access (SAV). Any Party can request a SAV at any facility to resolve compliance concerns that cannot be addressed by other means to ensure that the facility is not engaged in activity prohibited by START. The challenged Party is obligated to try and resolve the concern in the JCIC, but may refuse to grant the SAV request.
As of July 1996