After listing major programmes and key drivers beyond the acquisition of these technologies, this paper considers their development under the prism of arms control, and analyses whether current mechanisms (non-proliferation arrangements, bilateral arms control treaties and confidence-building measures) dealing with missiles are adapted to these weapons.

Missile defence has become increasingly attractive in recent years, following the demonstration of its efficacity in the Israeli-Iranian conflict, and has epitomised by the ambitious Golden Dome programme. However, its relationship with missile proliferation is ambiguous. Arms control, non-proliferation and confidence building measures can to some extent address some of the most destabilizing features of this offense-defence competition.