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The Pershing II was a mobile, intermediate-range ballistic missile deployed by the U.S. Army at American bases in West Germany beginning in 1983. It was aimed at targets in the western Soviet Union. Each Pershing II carried a single, variable-yield thermonuclear warhead with an explosive force equivalent to 5-50 kilotons of TNT. Under the terms of the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty between the United States and the Soviet Union, all Pershing IIs and their support equipment were removed from the inventory and rendered inoperable. This missile is a trainer, but its dimensions and weight are identical to an operational Pershing II. It was built by Martin Marietta and transferred by the Army Missile Command to NASM in 1990.

Display Status

This object is not on display at the National Air and Space Museum. It is either on loan or in storage.

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Object Details
Key Accomplishment(s) Stepping Back from Nuclear War Brief Description The Soviet SS-20 and U.S. Pershing II are two of more than 2,600 nuclear missiles banned by the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, the first international agreement to eliminate an entire class of nuclear weapons. Country of Origin United States of America Type CRAFT-Missiles & Rockets Manufacturer Martin Marietta Aerospace
Dimensions Other: 3 ft. 3 5/8 in. diameter x 34 ft. 9 5/8 in. tall (100.6 x 1060.7cm)
Materials Metal
Alternate Name Pershing II Inventory Number A19910037000 Credit Line Transferred from the United States Army Missile Command. Data Source National Air and Space Museum Restrictions & Rights Open Access (CCO)
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